Motoi Sakuraba is a veteran videogame composer and progressive rock perfromer based in Japan. He got his start in music at a young age, enjoying a variety of artists ranging from Pink Floyd and J.S. Bach to Yellow Magic Orchestra and Chick Korea during his formative years in the 1970s and '80s. Throughout the 1980s, he performed with the popular Japanese rock band, Deja Vu, and several other acts, but decided to pursue a career as a composer given the stability it would provide.

Sakuraba became an in-house composer at Telenet Japan, working on dozens of titles in a matter of years and bringing his unique composition sensibilities incorporating rock and orchestral elements to his work. After becoming a freelance composer, he built strong relationships with several studios, kicking off one of the most prolific careers in game music. His big break came with 1995's TALES OF PHANTASIA, which was a huge hit and kicked off his association with this and several other series. To date, he's worked on over 16 mainline TALES titles and their remakes as well as a slew of other RPGs from the early 32-bit era such as BEYOND THE BEYOND and SHINING THE HOLY ARK before becoming associated with several big franchises through the end of that era with STAR OCEAN, VALKYRIE PROFILE, GOLDEN SUN, and BATEN KAITOS. He continues to work on these series as well as new ones, as seen with PHANTASY STAR NOVA and EIYUDEN CHRONICLE: HUNDRED HEROES. He also partnered with Nintendo as their go-to resource for their sports titles, MARIO GOLF, MARIO TENNIS, and MARIO SPORTS, in addition to contributing to the several titles in the SUPER SMASH BROS. series and KID ICARUS: UPRISING. He also demonstrated his ability to create dark orchestral atmospheres throughout the DARK SOULS series which his music has come to define. He never lost his love for live performance and solo recording work, however, and has regularly produced progressive rock albums of his game works, created and performed live concerts of this material, and has release several original works ranging from rock to light piano.

Given his status in the industry and unique progressive rock-infused sound, Sakuraba has become a highly sought-after arranger. In addition to the arrangements and concerts he's produced of his own work and the arrangement work he's done for Nintendo, he's contributed to several iconic franchises over the years. These include MONSTER HUNTER, RAGNAROK ONLINE, ETRIAN ODYSSEY, SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI, PHANTASY STAR, and as a participant of the official Famicom 20th anniversary album where he had the honor of contributing an arrangement of the original SUPER MARIO BROS. theme. He's also participated in arrange albums for several shmup series such as DEATHSMILE, DARIUSBURST, and DODONPACHI.

Sakuraba is pleased to partner with Scarlet Moon to work partner with studios outside of Japan who may have a need for his signature sound.


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Selected Videogame Credits
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (2024) Composer
Star Ocean The Second Story R (2023) Composer
Another Eden (2023) Composer
Sin Chronicle (2022) Composer
Star Ocean 6: The Divine Force (2022) Composer
Valkyrie Elysium (2022) Composer
Mario Golf: Super Rush (2021) Composer Tales of Arise (2021) Composer
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) Arranger
Mario Tennis Aces (2018) Composer
Tales of the Rays (2017) Composer
Mario Sports Superstars (2017) Composer
Tales of Berseria (2016) Composer
Dark Souls III (2016) Composer
Star Ocean 5: Integrity and Faithlessness (2016) Composer
Tales of Zestiria (2015) Composer
Mario Tenis: Ultra Smash (2015) Composer
Super Smash Bros. 3DS/Wii U (2014) Arranger
Mario Golf: World Tour (2014) Composer
Phantasy Star Nova (2014) Composer
Monster Hunter: 10th Anniversary Compilation Album (2014) Arranger
Dark Souls II (2014) Composer
Ragnarok Online Elemental Tunes (2013) Arranger
Kid Icarus: Uprising (2012) Composer
Mario Tennis Open (2010) Composer
Tales of Xillia 2 (2012) Composer
Steel Batallion: Heavy Armor (2012) Composer
Otomdeius-X (2012) Composer/Arranger
Labyrinth no Kanata (2012) Composer
Dark Souls (2011) Composer
Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon X (2010) Composer
DEATHSMILES IIX (2010) Arranger
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn (2010) Composer
DARIUSBURST REMIX WONDER WORLD (2010) Arranger
Tales of Graces (2009) Composer
dodonpachi DAI-OU-JOU (2009) Arranger
Star Ocean: The Last Hope (2009) Composer
Tales of Hearts (2008) Composer
Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume (2008) Composer
Infinite Undiscovery (2008) Composer
Super Mash Bros. Brawl (2008) Arranger
Tales of Vesperia (2008) Composer
Etrian Odyssey II Super Arrange Version (2008) Arranger
Tales of Tempest (2006) Composer
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria (2006) Composer
Baten Kaitos II (2006) Composer
Tales of the Abyss (2005) Composer
Tales of Rebirth (2004) Composer
Mario Power Tennis (2004) Composer
Mario Golf: Advance Tour (2004) Composer
Phantasy Star Online Episode I and II Premium Arrange (2004) Arranger
Famicom 20th Anniversary Arrange Sound Tracks (2004) Arranger
Baten Kaitos (2003) Composer
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (2003) Composer
Star Ocean Till the End of Time (2003) Composer
Tales of Symphonia (2003) Composer
Tales of Destiny 2 (2002) Composer
Golden Sun: The Lost Age (2002) Composer
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Arrange Tracks (2001) Composer
Tales of Eternia (2000) Composer
Mario Tennis (2000) Composer
Mario Golf (1999> Composer
Valkyrie Profile (1999) Composer
Star Ocean The Second Story (1998) Composer
Shining Force III (1997) Composer
Star Ocean (1996) Composer
Beyond the Beyond (1995) Composer
Shining the Holy Ark (1996) Composer
Tales of Phantasia (1995) Composer