Obituary: Death of Koichi Sugiyama, Music of "Dragon Quest" series, etc.

Composer Koichi Sugiyama (real name: Koichi Sugiyama) passed away on October 7, 2021, Square Enix announced.

According to Square Enix, Mr. Sugiyama passed away on September 30, 2021. The cause of death and other details are undisclosed. He was 90 years old.

Along with the news of his death, Yosuke Matsuda, the chairman and representative director of Square Enix Co.
He said, "From the birth of the 'Dragon Quest' series to the present day, words cannot express how much he has contributed to the series.I can recall his conducting the orchestra at Dragon Quest concerts as if it were only yesterday," he said. We would also like to express our deepest condolences.

Koichi Sugiyama was born on April 11, 1931 in Shimotani Ward (now Taito Ward), Tokyo. After graduating from the Department of Educational Psychology in the Faculty of Education at the University of Tokyo, he joined Bunka Hoso Broadcasting Co. He later moved to Fuji Television Network, Inc. Along with his work as a director, he also worked energetically as a composer.
After leaving Fuji Television, he worked as a freelance director before devoting himself to music in the late 1960s. He provided many hit songs for The Tigers, The Peanuts, and others.
From the 1970s to the 1990s, he also began working on anime soundtracks, including "Science Ninja Squad Gatchaman" (BGM), "Densetsu Kyojin Ideon" (theme song and BGM), and "Magic Knight Rayearth" (music supervision).
In the mid 1980s, he also entered game music. 1986's "Dragon Quest" became a huge hit in 1986, he shifted his focus to game music. In addition to composing music for the numbered "Dracula" titles, he also provided music for the "Shiren the Wanderer" series, "Hanjuku Hero: Oh, Hanjuku na nareru Sekai yo Hanjuku nare...‼" and many other titles.
In addition to his composing activities, he also had a great impact on improving the status of game music as an orchestra conductor.

We pray for his soul rest in peace.