Joe Hisaishi is a composer and director known for over 100 film scores and solo albums dating back to 1981.

While possessing a stylistically distinct sound, Hisaishi's music has been known to explore and incorporate different genres, including minimalist, experimental electronic, European classical, and Japanese classical. Lesser known are the other musical roles he plays; he is also a typesetter, author, arranger, and head of an orchestra.

He is best known for his work with animator Hayao Miyazaki, having composed many scores for many of his films including Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbour Totoro, and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind . He is also recognized for the soundtracks he has provided for filmmaker 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano, including Dolls, Kikujiro, Hana-Bi, Kids Return, and Sonatine.