How did you get started doing music for animation? Did you want to do it or did some director or producer ask you to do it?

They just asked me. I didn't want to do animation because I don't know animation and I don't like to see TV shows. Even now, I only see my work, not other animation.



Are there any hidden skills or hobbies that we don't know of besides your music?

I used to take ballet lessons so I'm pretty good at choreography.



The music on both your solo albums and your soundtracks, there's such a wonderful blend of so many styles of music. How were you exposed to so many styles of music living in Japan?

In Japan, various genres of music that are reflected in my work are already played on the airwaves in the forms of commercials and whatnot so I was exposed to it. Especially in Tokyo.

Things like choir music and blues guitars, things of that nature?

I remember a lot of the styles if I listen to it once. So if I'm ever exposed to it once, that's how I do it.



What challenges does composing for anime have that are different from live action or your personal compositions?

There is no difference. Usually you'd think that you'd be bound to the limitation in the animation, but I don't feel that way. I feel it's the same.

Even in terms of timing?

Yes.



Recently Sunrise made the announcement of the Escaflowne Movie. How's the music going to contrast to what was in the TV series?

I haven't thought of it yet because I haven't gotten the plot script for the movie yet.

So the music hasn't been started yet?

Well... [laughing] A couple of the songs will be similar to the TV series, but the music hasn't been started yet.



From what I saw and heard of your performances at Otakon, it was more jazz piano than anything else. Are there jazz performers in the US that you have learned from or would enjoy playing with as part of a combo?

I don't know that many jazz composers, but I would like to play with Pat Methany.



You say you watch the visuals for your normal compositions. What do you have for inspiration for your compositions?

I usually look at the visuals or the plot of the thing, but sometimes I imagine myself dancing along to the tune that I'm creating, or for like the more military-like things, I imagine a military parade inside of my eyes and sometimes I get a little serious about my composing and I start crying as a result.



Since this is your first Anime Expo, what are your impressions or what do you think of AX and do you have any plans on coming to the next one or, in the near future, another one?

I would like to come again if my schedule permits. In Japan, most of the people are too shy to say what they think is good, but in the case of the Americans here at Expo, they weren't too shy to say what they liked and they weren't afraid to have a standing ovation. It gave me a lot of courage and power. And I don't know how I got so famous.



You've done a lot of compositions, have you ever sung vocally yourself in the past or on any of your songs?

Uh, me? I can't tell you. [laugh] It's top secret. Just imagine.



For all of the soundtracks you have done for anime, there is such a large amount of music, like several CDs for each series. Do you get to decide which songs go on which CDs and is there a lot of music that you compose for a series that doesn't end up on the CDs?

I do all of them. I pick the song titles and also, I usually get involved in the creation of the liner notes and the jacket cover.

Is there a lot that is not included at all on any of the CDs?

There is a lot.