News ► Nomura confirms Takeharu Ishimoto and Tsuyoshi Sekito are working on Kingdom Hearts 3 Soundtrack

[Chaser]

Famitsu published an interview with Kingdom Hearts Series Creator Tetsuya Nomura and Takeharu Ishimoto, composer for Dissidia Final Fantasy NT. During the interview—which was primarily about Dissidia—Nomura confirmed that Takeharu Ishimoto and Tsuyoshi Sekito have also been working on music for Kingdom Hearts 3 alongside series composer Yoko Shimomura.

Takeharu Ishimoto and Tsuyoshi Sekito are no strangers to the Kingdom Hearts series. Ishimoto was a Synthesizer Programmer for Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II, and he and Sekito have worked alongside Yoko Shimomura to compose and arrange tracks for both Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance.

Among their most memorable contributions are Ishimoto's Enter the Darkness, Enter the Void, Unbreakable Chains and Twister -Kingdom Mix-, and Sekito's Black Powder, Majestic Wings, Wild Blue and Storm Diver. They have also worked on songs for The Grid, Pranksters Paradise and other worlds in the Kingdom Hearts series. 

Thanks to Zephyr, we have translations of the excerpt:

—So Nomura-san, do you have any final words for Ishimoto-san?

Nomura: Ishimoto-san has worked on several songs for the KINGDOM HEARTS series, and both he and Sekito-san are involved with KINGDOM HEARTS III. There are more songs than before, and we've reached the point where we have to ask for songs for important battles, so I hope to continue this collaboration. Even in the future, I thank you for your continued support. (laughs)

 

[DarkosOverlord]

Hello new divisive topic! I've been reading about this here and there, and already people have very different stances upon them. Usually "UNTAMABLE" from DDD is seen as a con, while "Unbreakable Chains" from BbS is seen as a pro, with "Majestic Wings" being kinda in-between.

Oh well. Music is possibly the most subjective of the arts. I'm kinda "meh" on the whole thing, frankly while music plays an important part in my gaming experience is really rare that a track I dislike manages to *ruin* it.

 

[Elysium]

What about Yoko Shimomura?

 

[Dreaded_Desire62]

Hello new divisive topic! I've been reading about this here and there, and already people have very different stances upon them. Usually "UNTAMABLE" from DDD is seen as a con, while "Unbreakable Chains" from BbS is seen as a pro, with "Majestic Wings" being kinda in-between.

Oh well. Music is possibly the most subjective of the arts. I'm kinda "meh" on the whole thing, frankly while music plays an important part in my gaming experience is really rare that a track I dislike manages to *ruin* it.

I never purchased a soundtrack before. I didn't really see the appeal in it. I have been interested in it.

 

[Recon]

What about Yoko Shimomura?

Asking the important questions around here.

 

[Squood!]

What about Yoko Shimomura?

Tbh I'm actually confused if this is sarcasm or not, even though it probably is sarcasm.

But anyway, can't wait for Ishimoto to give us the inevitable remix of Enter the Darkness/Unbreakable Chains.

 

[UltimaXOmega]

Type-0,Crisis Core and the PSP Dissidias have amazing soundtracks so this is fine.

 

[Sign]

Love both their work, so I'm glad to see they're confirmed to return. Not that I ever doubted it, of course

 

[Chaser]

What about Yoko Shimomura?

Yoko was always going to return. She was even in an interview with Nomura post-world tour but pre-D23 in July last year where Nomura was telling her she has over 700 songs to write and record (a hyperbole, for sure).

 

[Sonicfan2525]

I do think they are great composers and all, but I am definitely more interested in Shimomura's contributions to the game. I'm assuming she'll still get to do most of the music, which is exactly what I want.

 

[Ranma]

I really like Enter the Darkness. The others, not so much. Just give me new Shimomura.

 

[Aramagon]

Enter the Darkness is one of my favorite villain themes ever. I'm super excited to see more contributions like that one in KHIII!
Still, I vastly prefer Yoko's compositions overall, so I really hope she gets to do most of the music in the game, especially World Themes and important Boss Fights.

 

[Elysium]

Tbh I'm actually confused if this is sarcasm or not, even though it probably is sarcasm.

But anyway, can't wait for Ishimoto to give us the inevitable remix of Enter the Darkness/Unbreakable Chains.

I swear it wasn't, lol. I honestly just didn't know who these two were at all... Listening to the tracks attributed to them in the first post, I like Sekito's work.

When I read the opening post, I knew it didn't say anything about Shimomura not returning or anything, but the first thought that entered my head was, "Don't tell me they actually got Utada on board for the final game in this saga and then lost Yoko."

 

[Alpha Baymax]

As long as their contributions to the soundtrack don't sound too distinct from Shimomura's then I'm absolutely happy for their involvement. The Kingdom Hearts soundtrack is a key part of the franchise identity and I don't want that to be compromised.

 

[luuizhenriquem]

So happy they are coming back

 

[SoraForeverKH]

"There are more songs than before?" This makes me so excited! All I can think about right now is KHIII. I wonder if that is how it will be through this whole year. Probably! I'm so excited!!! 2018!!!!!!!

 

[luuizhenriquem]

"There are more songs than before?" This makes me so excited! All I can think about right now is KHIII. I wonder if that is how it will be through this whole year. Probably! I'm so excited!!! 2018!!!!!!!

Yeah me too!! I keep hoping they will now drop news every now and then since the game is supposed to come out this year

 

[Sephiroth0812]

Can't say I'm too surprised about it.

Not only has the music side of KH practically been a triumvirate since BBS (of course with Shimomura still having the biggest slice of work), KH III being generally bigger in scope than any entry in the series beforehand already somewhat hints at there being so much to do that Yoko simply cannot do it all alone anymore.

 

[FudgemintGuardian]

"There are more songs than before."

Usually "UNTAMABLE" from DDD is seen as a con

I never heard dislike for the track before so I'm a little surprised hearing this. I think it's a fun track.

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

As long as their contributions to the soundtrack don't sound too distinct from Shimomura's then I'm absolutely happy for their involvement. The Kingdom Hearts soundtrack is a key part of the franchise identity and I don't want that to be compromised.

The fact that you haven’t complained about their music in BBS or KH3D should already signal to you how well they work with Shimomura.

Ishimoto’s best work from Crisis Core and Type-0 is some of the best game music I’ve ever heard and fits very well with Shimomura. And his entire library of TWEWY music is what put him on the map for many people.

And despite only composing the first time in BBS, both Sekito and Ishimoto have been involved with the series for years as arrangers and music programmers.