Shunsuke Kikuchi passed away at 89 years of age.
Shunsuke Kikuchi, responsible for the music of Dragon Ball and other anime classics, died in Tokyo at the age of 89.
According to Japanese media, the causes of Kikuchi’s death had to do with complications derived from pneumonia he suffered, although it is not known if it was due to COVID-19.
It was also revealed that his death is not so recent, however, the family decided to hide it in order to be able to mourn closely.
Who was Shunsuke Kikuchi?
Kikuchi Shunsuke was born on November 1, 1931, and officially started to work on film soundtracks in 1961, as the soundtrack for many movies released by Toei and Shochiku. One of his famous songs created in animations and movies also earned him the title of “Master of Soundtrack”, which is known to the world.
Shunsuke Kikuchi composed more than 400 pieces of music for the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z series between the 1980s and 1990s.
Early in his career, he made samurai and gangster films. His notable projects also include Doraemon, the 1979 anime that ran for more than 27 years.
Kikuchi’s compositions feature all 16 blues rhythms and a pentatonic base. His most representative works have been commonly related to Toei’s productions.
In 2017 the musician retired due to serious health problems, however, his name appeared for the last time in the credits of ” Dr. Goku’s office”, a parody of the martial arts franchise made in Mexico.
Throughout his career, Shunsuke Kikuchi has put music to some of the most iconic scenes in anime. It would be impossible to conceive of some of the most spectacular battles in Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z without their instrumental themes.
His work also reached Hollywood. Quentin Tarantino featured Kikuchi’s music composed for Champions of Death in his Kill Bill movie . It is certainly a sad loss to the community of anime lovers.
In addition to this “Song of Doraemon”, Shunsuke Kikuchi has also created theme songs for many classic works, including “Kamen Rider”, “Tiger Face Man”, etc., and also served as the soundtrack for “Dragon Ball” and other works.
作曲家・菊池俊輔さん、誤嚥性肺炎で死去 89歳https://t.co/LonBGLnosT
— ORICON NEWS（オリコンニュース） (@oricon) April 28, 2021
From the writing of Hobby Consolas, we want to convey our condolences to Kikuchi-san’s family and friends.
In 1983, at the 6th Oscar Film Awards in Japan, Shunsuke Kikuchi won the Outstanding Music Award. In the 2015 Japan Record Awards, Kikuchi Shunsuke also won the Merit Award (similar to the Lifetime Achievement Award).
The schedule of Kikuchi’s farewell party has not yet been determined.
As we grow up little by little, the people in the memory leave one by one. . . It is really sad to know this news. I hope that Mr. Shunsuke Kikuchi will be well in heaven. This cheerful and lovely “Song of Doraemon” will always resound in our memory, and everyone will always hum this melody and remember this amazing soundtrack forever Master.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
