Atsuko Asahi (#14984)

[_if]

So what's the story behind this YouTube video her profile picture is taken from? She's a member of a band outside Nintendo?

[cal]

Minegishi is there too playing drums. Don't know the story behind it.

[_if]

I thought that looked like him! Didn't recognize anyone else though so I doubted it.

[dissident93]

Seems like she was the main composer for Mario Kart 8. This Kotaku interview reveals specific songs the MK8 sound team did. Hopefully Nintendo uses her more in the future because I really enjoyed her songs for the game.

[CHz]

Asahi did the title theme and Sunshine Airport, and maybe Dolphin Shoals? She's one to watch.

Few would argue that Asahi achieved his goal

:<

"The piece used there is a longer version than the one you hear during the race. You'll be able to hear one of Japan's top sax players ad-libbing with great feeling in it!" Nagamatsu is equally keen to pay tribute to the solo composers. "I'd be really happy if players listen out for the phrasing of each individual instrument."

Too bad Nintendo doesn't feel like paying tribute to the soloists by crediting the performers :<<

[cal]

Some of the musicians are credited at the end of this recording video which has "Mario Kart 8", "Dolphin Shoals" and "Moo Moo Meadows": http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm23447507

Electric Guitar: Takashi Masuzaki
Bass: Teppei Kawasaki
Drums: Satoshi Bandoh
Acoustic Guitar: Tetsuro Toyama
Trumpet 1: Eric Miyashiro
Trumpet 2: Koji Nishimura
Trumpet 3: Sho Okumura
Trombone 1: Yoichi Murata
Trombone 2: Kanade Shishiuchi
Alto Saxophone: Kazuki Katsuta
Alto Saxophone: Masato Honma
Tenor Saxophone: Masakuni Takeno
Baritone Saxophone: Takuo Yamamoto
Violin: Hitoshi Konno


Also lol at Kotaku not getting the gender of the person they interviewed correct.

[CHz]

Yeah, that list made it into the English version of the video too, but not the game, naturally.

[Guitarist500]

... ... ... ... ... ... .. .. .. .. .. . . . .

[cal]

She seems like a good composer and arranger based off her work on Mario Kart 8 though. Definitely someone to watch.

[CHz]

Originally Posted by _if

So what's the story behind this YouTube video her profile picture is taken from? She's a member of a band outside Nintendo?

The story behind the YouTube videos of Toru Minegishi and Atsuko Asahi performing together, like this one and this one (Mario cover whattup), is that they're both members of XCB, a band of ex-members/graduates of the Sophia Concert Band (SCB) of Sophia University. XCB performs a show once every year or two.

[dissident93]

So both of them are alumni of the school?

[CHz]

I haven't seen either of them say so directly on Facebook or an interview or anything, but I'd presume so.

[CHz]

Originally Posted by CHz

this one and this one (Mario cover whattup)

Hmm, just noticed that Shigetoshi Gohara is in both of these too playing sax, and he went to Todai, so it's not safe to presume that after all.

Found this info blurb about XCB's 13th performance, in 2013, on the site of Sophia's alumni association: http://www.sophiakai.gr.jp/news/others/2013041301.html. Toru Minegishi is listed as a full member of XCB who graduated in 1998 (this lines up well with his first works for Nintendo), while Asahi and Gohara are just listed as support members without graduation years.

[dissident93]

According to Kyoto Report (citing the ending credits, which apparently existed in the Global Test Punch demo), Asahi and Yasuaki Iwata were the composers of Arms.