Diggin' in the Carts

From humble beginnings to worldwide recognition, Japanese video game music has inspired a generation. Meet Junko Ozawa, developer of the 'Namco sound', and iconic Nintendo composer Hirokazu Tanaka.

Advanced technologies during Japan's 'Bubble Era' enabled companies like Konami and Sunsoft to push video game music to the next level by creating thicker sounds and combining musical genres.

While the race to claim market share between Sega and Nintendo was a tight one, the Sega system had access to an FM synth, used by Yuzo Koshiro to produce the masterful Streets of Rage soundtrack.

The drama and emotion in Japanese role-playing games have inspired iconic melodies, such as Nobuo Uematsu’s music from Final Fantasy, which has been recreated in orchestral renditions.

The arrival of 32-bit systems enabled composers to expand their creativity. While this ended the chiptune era, people around the world recognise the importance and contribution of Japanese 8-bit music.