Shigeru Umebayashi Explained

(born February 19, 1951) is a Japanese composer.^[1]

Once the leader and bass player of Japan's new wave rock band EX, composer Shigeru Umebayashi began scoring films in 1985 when the band broke up.^[2] He has more than 30 Japanese and Chinese film scores to his credit^[3] and is perhaps best known in the West for "Yumeji's Theme" (originally from Seijun Suzuki's Yumeji), included in director Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love (2000). Umebayashi scored most of Wong Kar-wai's follow-up film, 2046 (2004), and House of Flying Daggers. He is also the composer for the music of the first Serbian spectacle, Charleston & Vendetta. Umebayashi received the special "Tomislav Pinter Award" at Avvantura Film Festival Zadar (Croatia) in 2013 during his stay as member of the official Jury.

Filmography

1980s

• Itsuka Darekaga Korosareru (1984)
• Tomoyo Shizukani Nemure (1985)
• Sorekara (1985)
• Sorobanzuku (1986)
• Shinshi Domei (1986)
• Kyohu no Yacchan (1987)
• Getting Blue in Color (1988)

1990s

• Hong Kong Paradise (1990)
• Tekken (1990)
• Yumeji (1991)
• Ote (1991)
• Goaisatsu (1991)
• Arihureta Ai ni Kansuru Chosa (1992)
• Byoin he Iko 2 Yamai ha Kikara (1992)
• Nemuranai Machi Shinjuku Zame (1993)
• Izakaya Yurei (1994)
• Zero Woman (1995)
• Kumokiri Nizaemon (1995)
• Boxer Joe (1995)
• Kitanai Yatsu (1995)
• Hashirana Akan Yoake Made (1995)
• The Christ of Nanjing (1995)
• Shin Gokudo Kisha (1996)
• Izakaya Yurei 2 (1996)
• Ichigo Domei (1997)
• Isana no Umi (1997)
• Watashitachi ga Sukidatta Koto (1997)
• G4 Option Zero (1997)
• Fuyajo (1998)
• Belle Epoch (1998)

2000s

• 2000 A.D. (2000)
• Shojo (2000)
• In the Mood for Love (2000)
• Midnight Fly (2001)
• Hikari no Ame (2001)
• Onmyoji (2001)
• Zhou Yu's Train (2002)
• Onmyoji II (2003)
• Floating Land Scape (2003)
• House of Flying Daggers (2004)
• 2046 (2004)
• Hibi (2004)
• Fearless (2006)
• Daisy (2006)
• Curse of the Golden Flower (2006)
• Hannibal Rising (2007)
• Absurdistan (2008)
• Incendiary (2008)
• Tears for Sale (2008)
• The Real Shaolin (2008)
• Murderer (2009)
• A Single Man (2009)

2010s

• True Legend (2010)
• Days of Grace (2011)
• Trishna (2011)
• The Grandmaster (2013)
• Rise of the Legend (2014)
• The Bride (2015)
• (2016)
• The Wasted Times (2016)

2020s

• In the Belly of a Tiger (2024)^[4]

Discography

1980s

• "Someday Someone will be Killed" Soundtrack (1984)
• Sorekara (1985)
• Bazaar (1986)
• "Sorobanzu" Original Soundtrack (1986)
• Main Title (1986)
• I Can't Lose My Heart Tonight (1986)
• "Yachijin of Terror" Original Soundtrack (1987)
• Do It To Me / Boys / All I Want Is You (1988)
• Ume (1988)

1990s

• Nightingale's Drum (1992)
• "Teacher Summer Vacation Story" Original Soundtrack (1992)

2000s

• "Yin Yang Shi" Original Soundtrack (2001)
• Yemeni's Theme (2001)
• Une Adolescente (2002)
• "Yin Yang Division II" Original Soundtrack (2003)
• "House of Flying Daggers" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2004)
• Fire (2005)
• The World Of Shigeru Umebayashi 1985-2005 (2006)
• "Jet Li's Fearless" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2006)
• "Daisy" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2006)
• "Curse Of The Golden Flower" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2007)

2010s

• For the Record (2010)
• "The Grandmaster" Original Scores By Shigeru Umebayashi And Nathaniel Mechaly (2013)
• "Sword of Destiny" Soundtrack (2016)
• "Rise Of The Legend" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2016)

2020s

• Ghost of Tsushima (2020)

See also

• List of soundtrack composers

Accolades

• 2023 – Lifetime Achievement Award at the 18th Rome Film Festival.^[5]

External links

• Official website
• October 2009 video interview in Greek, from the Ghent Film Festival 2009
• February 2005 interview
• Oticons Film Music Composers Agency - Shigeru Umebayashi Profile
  • Discogs discography

Notes and References

1. Web site: Shigeru Umebayashi. 文化庁. August 5, 2021.
2. Web site: 音楽と映画の密接な関係featuring 梅林茂 優秀な映画音楽家 . BARKS Janpan Music Network. 13 May 2001 . August 5, 2021.
3. Web site: Biography.
4. Web site: Siddhartha Jatla's 'In the Belly of a Tiger' set for its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival . . 19 February 2024 . 3 November 2024.
5. Web site: Il compositore Shigeru Umebayashi premiato alla Festa del Cinema di Roma 2023: ecco le sue colonne sonore più belle. Composer Shigeru Umebayashi awarded at the 2023 Rome Film Fest: here are his best soundtracks. Marco . Torcasio . 19 October 2023. 30 September 2024 . . it.