Dragon Quest Composer Koichi Sugiyama Has Passed Away at 90

Square Enix announced that composer Koichi Sugiyama, most well known for his work on the Dragon Quest series passed away on September 30 2021 due to septic shock.

He was 90 years old when passing. In their statement regarding his passing, Square Enix said:

“In accordance with the wishes of the bereaved family, we would like to decline any condolences, incense, offerings, or flowers. We are planning to hold a farewell party with everyone at a later date, but the date and other details are yet to be determined.”

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Koichi Sugiyama was born on April 11, 1931, in Tokyo.

He has written many hit songs for the Dragon Quest game series acting as the main composer for every numbered entry in the series from Dragon Quest I in 1986 to Dragon Quest XI in 2017. Square Enix has announced that the upcoming Dragon Quest XII will be his last work.

Beyond being the Dragon Quest composer, Koichi Sugiyama had composed music for films like Space Runaway Ideon, Return of Ultraman, Godzilla vs Hedorah, and Godzilla vs Biollante.

His music for the Dragon Quest series would go on to receive critical acclaim and be performed live by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 2016 he was even recorded into the Guinness Book of World Records as “the world’s oldest composer of video game music”. Later that year, he would also be awarded the “Order of the Rising Sun”, an order from the Japanese government for citizens who have made distinguished achievements. In 2020, one of his composed songs, the “Lotto Theme” was used for the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Prominent creators of the Dragon Quest franchise, series creator Yuji Hori and artist Akira Toriyama have also commented on his passing:

すぎやま先生がお亡くなりになりました。先生は35年間、ドラクエの世界に音楽という命を吹き込んできてくださいました。ドラクエは先生の音楽とともにありました。ゲームとともに、ユーザーの皆さんの心の中に、先生は生き続けるでしょう。すぎやま先生、長い間、本当にありがとうございました。

— 堀井雄二 (@YujiHorii) October 7, 2021

Mr. Sugiyama has passed away. For 35 years, Mr. Sugiyama has brought music to the world of Dragon Quest. Dragon Quest would not have been the same without his music. Within the games, Mr. Sugiyama will continue to live in the hearts of the players. Thank you very much, Mr. Sugiyama, for all you have done.

On DenFaminicoGamer, Akira Toriyama says:

I was surprised to hear the news of Mr. Sugiyama’s death. I was surprised to hear the news of his passing because I had an impression of him when I met him just a few years ago. In a good sense, I thought of him as a wizard with eternal life.

My image of Dragon Quest was that of a wizard with eternal life. The image of Dragon Quest was created by Mr. Sugiyama, who had loved the game since that time. It is no exaggeration to say that the image of Dragon Quest was determined by the many wonderful and impressive songs of Mr. Sugiyama, who loved the game from that time.

I was truly honored to have worked with him for so long! From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all the best.

Sugiyama has also been the center of controversy due to his far-right conservative views. Most notably, him being a Nanjing Massacre denialist, who wrote a letter to oppose the United States House of Representatives Resolution 121 in 2007 that asked for the Japanese government to apologize for comfort women.

Even with these distorted viewpoints, Koichi Sugiyama’s work has left an undeniable legacy on the Dragon Quest series and gaming as a whole.

The latest in the Dragon Quest series, Dragon Quest XI which contains Sugiyama’s music, is available for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.

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