Motoi Sakuraba is a Japanese composer best known for his work across a wide swath of video game soundtracks, with his influence felt particularly strongly in role-playing games. Born on August 5, 1965, in Akita, Japan, Sakuraba began his career in music after graduating from Meiji University in Tokyo, where he studied composition and piano. Initially part of the progressive rock band "Deja Vu," which disbanded in the late 1980s, he transitioned to composing video game music, working for the game company Wolf Team, and later contributing significantly to the Tales series, developed by Namco Tales Studio, and the Star Ocean series, by tri-Ace.

Over the years, Sakuraba has become a giant in the video game music industry, lauded for his compelling compositions that blend symphonic elements with progressive rock and electronic music. His fame skyrocketed further with his work on the critically acclaimed "Dark Souls" series, composed under the banner of developer FromSoftware. The haunting, melancholic themes from titles such as "Dark Souls," including the iconic 'Gwyn, The Lord of Cinder,' have garnered a cult following. Equally impactful are his contributions to "Tales of Arise," the latest entry in the long-running "Tales" series as of his most recent releases. His ability to evoke emotion and atmosphere through his music has made Motoi Sakuraba a revered name among gaming enthusiasts and an influential figure in the composition of video game scores.

Genres

Japanese Vgm

Video Game Music

Related Artists

Nobuo Uematsu

Yoko Shimomura

Yasunori Mitsuda

Koji Kondo

Masashi Hamauzu

Michiru Yamane

Kohei Tanaka

Latest Release

Vordt, of the Borealis Valley (From Dark Souls 3)

Motoi Sakuraba

Single - Released July 6, 2023