Joe Hisaishi (6 December 1950-) is a Japanese composer probably best known for his music collaborations with director Hayao Miyazaki on various Studio Ghibli films. Yesterday he turned 70 years old and I think it is a perfect time to share a couple of his best-known compositions for animations: Merry-Go-Round of Life from Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) and The Name of Life from Spirited Away (2001).
Joe Hisaishi: Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) & Spirited Away (2001)
Thoughts on Papyrus 
Love his osts.
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Our child sings these songs daily! They are so catchy.
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They are! 🙂
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Howl’s Moving Castle is still one of my favorite movies! In Portugal it’s called ‘O Castelo Andante’ and it’s absolutely brilliant!
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It is perfect! And, how interesting! It is called something similar in other countries too, including a walking or travelling castle.
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The music from these films is always one of the best parts. When COVID lockdown hit, two of my kids and I decided to get the music to Princess Monoke and work up a trio, also by Hisaishi. Great fun.
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I’m totally enthralled by the visuals by Hayao Miyazaki, so now I need to pay more attention to the music!!!
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The visuals are just gorgeous, but the music is often just as breath-taking!
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All of your content is just amazing 🙂
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Love everything Miyazaki and Ghibli
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Thank you for the musical interlude this evening. It was delightful!
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Diana thank you for posting this, the Howl’s Moving Castle theme song is so uplifting! I have formed a new memory of it now, outside of the film itself. Have you seen this? haha so cute, and so now this song reminds me of cosy cats inside of pianos 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1mWfvbcjcI
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Very cute, thanks for sharing! Poor kitties, though, it looks like they just want to sleep and to rest 🙂
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Yeah I don’t know why but they seemed relaxed to me, maybe they hated being there though 🤔 Hope you have a good weekend Diana 😊
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Gosh, just any song from Studio Ghibli is beautiful! I grew up with so many of these films. I even learned to play a few of their songs on the piano. The arrangements are so moving!
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They are beautiful, and that’s so nice, learning some on the piano is also on my list of things to accomplish in future! If I could play the easiest arrangement of “Always With Me” from “Spirited Away” I think I will be the happiest 🙂
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