Wataru Hokoyama | |
|---|---|
 Hokoyama conducting in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | August 24, 1974 Aizu, Fukushima, Japan |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, conductor, orchestrator |
| Years active | 2000–present |
Wataru Hokoyama (鋒山 亘, Hokoyama Wataru, born August 24, 1974) is a Japanese composer, conductor, and orchestrator based in Hollywood, California. He left his birth nation of Japan at the age of 16 to attend the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. He later attended the Cleveland Institute of Music and the USC Thornton School of Music. His works include the original scores for Bean Cake, Ocha Cups for Christmas, One, Afrika, and Soul Sacrifice.
In 2008, Hokoyama composed, orchestrated, and conducted all the music for the video game Afrika. The soundtrack was released in Japan. The music was awarded Best Original Video Game Score by The Hollywood Music Awards 2008.[1] Movie Music UK has the only review of the soundtrack and gave it 4.5/5.0, saying "Hokoyama has left a strong impression with the wonderful music he has composed. This is a soundtrack you cannot pass up."[2]
In 2009, Hokoyama provided a few orchestral cues for cutscenes in Resident Evil 5.[3] Following that, Hokoyama then co-composed, orchestrated, and conducted the music for the 2013 PlayStation Vita game, Soul Sacrifice. He was assisted on the project by Yasunori Mitsuda. He would later rejoin Mitsuda to help compose new music for the sequel, Soul Sacrifice Delta. Also in 2013, he contributed some music and co-orchestrated the soundtrack to the PlayStation 4 game, Knack.[4]