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Kenji Yamamoto is a composer working for Nintendo, known for providing the soundtrack for several titles in the Metroid series among other games. He joined the company in 1986.
He is not the same person as the programmer who also works at Nintendo or another composer with the same name who has worked on the soundtrack of Dragon Ball games and anime.
History[]
After graduating with a Degree in Music in the Osaka University of Arts (the same university Koji Kondo attended), he joined Nintendo in 1987. While he started in the R&D2 department composing the soundtrack to the NES Punch-Out!, he would later switch to the R&D1 department, where he worked on games such as the Famicom Detective Club series and Super Metroid.
Years later, he became the Group Manager of the Sound Department of Nintendo SPD, where he served as supervisor for other composers working on that department. Currently he is mostly involved as sound director or supervisor on various games, but he has still composed music on projects like Metroid Prime or Excite Truck.
Game Works[]
- Punch-Out!! (NES) (1987) - Music Composer
- Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir (1988) - Music Director (as Kenji Tanaka)
- Famicom Wars (1988) - Sound (as Metal Kenji)
- Alleyway (1989)[1]
- Famicom Detective Club Part II: The Girl Who Stands Behind (1989) - Music
- Radar Mission (1990)[2]
- Super Scope 6 (1992)[1][3]
- Super Metroid (1994) - Sound Program and Sound Effects, Music Composer
- Galactic Pinball (1995) - Director, Sound Composer
- BS Tantei Club: Yuki ni Kieta Kako (1997) - Music, Sound Effects
- Game Boy Camera (1998) - Additional Staff
- Famicom Detective Club Part II: The Girl Who Stands Behind (SFC) (1998) - Music / Sound Effects, Original Staff
- Famicom Bunko: Hajimari no Mori (1999) - Music
- Mobile Golf (2001) - Supervisor
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2001) - Sound Support
- Sakura Momoko no Ukiuki Carnival (2002) - Sound Advisor
- Metroid Fusion (2002) - Sound Director
- Metroid Prime (2002) - Music
- Metroid: Zero Mission (2004) - Music Composition
- Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (2004) - Music
- Metroid Prime Pinball (2005) - Music
- Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! (2005) - Sound Director
- English Training: Have Fun Improving Your Skills! (2006) - Sound Director
- Metroid Prime Hunters (2006) - Sound Supervisor
- Photo Channel (2006)[2]
- Forecast Channel (2006)[2]
- Excite Truck (2006) - Music
- Practise English!: Speak English Every Day (2007) - Sound Director
- Ganbaru Watashi no Kakei Diary (2007)[2]
- Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (2007) - Music
- Zekkyō Senshi Sakeburein (2007)[2]
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) - Music Arrangement
- Magnetica Twist (2008) - Sound Adviser
- Jam with the Band (2008) - Sound Advisor
- Nintendo DSi Menu (2008)[2]
- Nintendo DSi Camera (2008)[2]
- Master of Illusion Express (2008)[2]
- Brain Age Express: Math/Arts & Letters/Sudoku (2008) - Sound Director
- DS Uranai Seikatsu (2009) - Sound Advisor
- Touch Solitaire (2009)[2]
- Hobo Nichi Rosenzu 2009 (2009)[2]
- New Play Control! Metroid Prime (2009) - Music
- Ganbaru Watashi no Osaifu Ouendan (2009)[2]
- ExciteBots: Trick Racing (2009) - Music Chief
- Punch-Out!! (Wii) (2009) - Music of NES "Punch-Out!!"
- Pocket Rurubu (2009)[2]
- New English Training: Learn with Tempo (2009)[2]
- New Play Control! Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (2009) - Music
- Metroid Prime Trilogy (2009) - Music
- Mono ya Okane no Shikumi DS (2009) - Sound Director
- PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff (2009) - Sound Director
- Sleep Clock: Record and Analyze Your Sleep Patterns (2009) - Sound Supervisor
- Excitebike: World Rally (2009) - Music Supervisor
- Trajectile (2009) - Sound Supervisor
- Photo Dojo (2009) - Sound Supervisor
- Starship Defense (2009) - Sound Supervisor
- Flametail (2010) - Sound Supervisor
- DS Kokoro Nurie (2010)[2]
- ThruSpace (2010) - Sound Supervisor
- Fossil Fighters: Champions (2010) - Sound Adviser
- Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010) - Music Supervisor
- Nintendo 3DS Menu (2011)[2]
- Mii Maker (3DS) (2011)[2]
- AR Games (2011)[2]
- StreetPass Mii Plaza (2011)[2]
- Pilotwings Resort (2011) - Sound Supervisor
- Wii Play: Motion (2011) - Sound Director
- Rhythm Heaven Fever (2011) - Sound Support
- Ketzal's Corridors (2011) - Sound Supervisor
- Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword (2011) - Music Director
- Swapnote (2011) - Sound Supervisor
- Sparkle Snapshots 3D (2011) - Sound Supervisor
- Kiki Trick (2012) - Sound Supervisor
- Just Dance Wii 2 (2012) - Sound Coordinator
- Brain Age: Concentration Training (2012) - Sound Supervisor
- Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone! (2012) - Music Supervisor
- Style Savvy: Trendsetters (2012) - Sound Supervisor
- Wii U Chat (2012)[2]
- Nintendoji (2013) - Music Director
- Tomodachi Life (2013) - Sound Supervisor
- Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (2013) - Sound Supervisor
- Mii Force/Flower Town/Warrior's Way/Monster Manor (2013) - Sound Director
- Rusty's Real Deal Baseball (2013)[2]
- Daigasso! Band Brothers P (2013) - Sound Advisor
- Dr. Luigi (2013) - Sound Supervision
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014) - Music Supervisor
- Pokémon Art Academy (2014) - Sound Supervisor
- Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (2014) - Music Arrangement
- Ultimate Angler/Battleground Z (2015) - Sound Director
- Style Savvy: Fashion Forward (2015) - Sound Supervisor
- Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure (2015)[2]
- Rhythm Heaven Megamix (2015) - Sound Support Staff
- Art Academy: Home Studio (2015) - Sound Supervisor
- Real Dasshutsu Game x Nintendo 3DS (2015) - Sound Director
- Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash (2015) - Sound Supervisor
- Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE (2015) - Sound Support [Note: miscredited as Kenichi Yamamoto]
- Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge (2016) - Music Supervisor
- Disney Art Academy (2016) - Sound Supervisor
- Slot Car Rivals/Market Crashers/Ninja Launcher/Feed Mii/Mii Trek (2016) - Sound Director
- Miitopia (2016) - Sound Supervisor
- Hey! Pikmin (2017) - Sound Progress Management
- Metroid: Samus Returns (2017) - Music Director, Original Metroid Music
- Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido (2018) - Sound Support
- Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir (Switch) (2021) - Music Composition [note: not a composer of the original game]
- Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind (Switch) (2021) - Music Composition [note: original FDS and Super Famicom games]
- Metroid Dread (2021) - Music Director, Original Metroid Music
- Metroid Prime Remastered (2023) - Music Producer
Special Thanks[]
- Electroplankton (2005)
- bit Generations: Digidrive (2006)
- Style Savvy (2008)
- Ide Yousuke no Kenkou Mahjong DSi (2009)
- Mario Party 9 (2012)
- Tokyo Crash Mobs (2012)
- Nintendo Land (2012)
- Nintendo 3DS Guide: Louvre (2013)
- Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (2014) - Supervisor (Original Games)
- Bayonetta 2 (2014)
- Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Switch) (2018)
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) - Original Game Supervisor
- Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch (2019)
Song Credits[]
Punch-Out!! (NES)[]
Kenji Yamamoto is the only person listed on Punch-Out!! on Wii as "Music of NES "Punch-Out!!"", which implies that he was the sole composer of this title despite the fact that the NES title credits more people as "Music Composer"
Famicom Detective Club Part II: The Girl Who Stands Behind[]
Kenji Yamamoto was the sole composer for this title
Super Metroid[]
- Theme of Super Metroid -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Planet Zebes - Crateria Arrival -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Crateria - Space Pirates Appear -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Brinstar - Plant Overgrowth Area -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Brinstar - Red Soil Wetland Area -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Norfair - Scorching Lava Area -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Norfair - Ancient Ruins Area -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Samus Aran's Last Cry -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Mysterious Statue Chamber -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Planet Zebes Explosion -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Ending -- Composition (w/Minako Hamano)[4]
Famicom Detective Club Part II: The Girl Who Stands Behind (Super Famicom)[]
Kenji Yamamoto was the sole composer for this title
Metroid Prime[]
While Kenji Yamamoto is the only person credited under "Music" in the western release of this title, Koichi Kyuma is credited as "Music (Assistant)"; however, Kyuma's contributions to the soundtrack if any are currently unknown
Nintendo Sound Selection vol.2 Koopa <Loud Music>[]
- Oni Fortress -- 1st Guitar
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes[]
Kenji Yamamoto was the sole composer for this title
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption[]
- SkyTown -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Theme of Rundas -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Theme of Gandrayda -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Ending Credits -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[]
- Main Theme (Metroid) -- Arrangement[6]
- Opening / Menu (Metroid Prime) -- Composition & Arrangement[6]
Metroid Prime Trilogy[]
- Menu -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
Donkey Kong Country Returns[]
- Mine Menace -- Composition & Arrangement[7]
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[]
- Donkey Kong Country Returns (Vocal) -- Arrangement[8]
Interviews[]
- Super Metroid Staff Interview (translated by Metroid Database)
- Nintendo Dream: Famicom Disk System (translated by Metroid Database)
- OSV: Metroid Prime 3
- Super NES Classic: Super Metroid
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://metroiddatabase.com/old_site/sm/interview.php
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 Listed on the Canadian Copyright Database entry for the title
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.uk/News/2017/September/Nintendo-Classic-Mini-SNES-developer-interview-Volume-3-Super-Metroid-1285309.html
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 https://vgmdb.net/album/883
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 https://vgmdb.net/album/68952
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Super Smash Bros. Brawl sound test
- ↑ https://twitter.com/David_Wise/status/981039932650283008
- ↑ Super Smash Bros. for Wii U sound test