© 1998,2025 Lawrence Tuczynski

Info courtesy of Sam Scali

Title Japan Philharmonic Plays Symphonic Film Spectacular 12
The Greatest Japanese Film Scores
CD Label King Record Co., Ltd.
CD Number KICC-1581
Music by: Various composers
Music Performed by: Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Taizo Takemoto.
Concertmaster: Masaaki Tanokura, Accordion: Tomomi Ota, Guitar: Shunsuke Matsuo, Piano: CHIAKi, Takafumi Fujita, Chorus: Bukimisha, Electone: Yo Yamazaki.
Recorded March 30-31, 2021, Tokyo College of Music
Number of tracks 22
Running time 62:36
Number of discs 1
Year of release/manufacture September 9, 2021

REVIEW

June 27th, 2025

This CD features newly-recorded performances of classic film themes by a wide selection of Japanese composers, with Akira Ifukube having the largest share of tracks. The disc opens with Toshiro Mayazumi's rousing finale theme for the 1965 documentary, TOKYO OLYMPIAD. Takanobu Saito's music for TOKYO STORY (1953) has a more yearning, romantic feel, and Masaru Sato's suite from Akira Kurosawa's RED BEARD (1965) is elegantly spectacular. Two more Kurosawa scores are honored with Shinichiro Ikebe's stately and powerful title music from KAGEMUSHA (1980), and Toru Takemitsu's suite from RAN (1985) is chilling and otherworldly.

Naozumi Yamamoto's languid, accordion-laced main title from the 1969 comedy TORO-SAN lightens the mood, but the relief is temporary. The scene is set for a volley of Akira Ifukube's iconic themes, starting with the magnificent opening music to his very first film scoring assignment, SNOW TRAIL (1947). This is followed by the maestro's towering theme from GODZILLA (1954) and his 1956 RODAN march (a direct descendant of the SNOW TRAIL motif). Next is a superb rendering of the main title from KING KONG VS. GODZILLA (1962), featuring powerhouse guest vocals by the inimitable Bukimisha chorus. The stirring title march from MONSTER ZERO (1965) leads into the bombastic opening to DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968), followed by that film's catchy march and a healthy dose of monster attack music.

Next up is a trio of lyrical, beautifully-performed cues from Yasushi Akutagawa's MT. HAKKODA (1977), and a selection of Sei Ikeno's sinister, dissonant music from SPOOK WARFARE (1968) brings the disc to an eerie close.

This CD offers an excellent cross-section of vintage Japanese film music, with wonderful performances and superb sound. It is highly recommended for dedicated fans as well as casual listeners.

Japan Philharmonic Plays Symphonic Film Spectacular 12 - The Greatest Japanese Film Scores (KICC-1581)

  1. Toshiro Mayuzumi: "Tokyo Olympiad" - Ending Theme (1965)

    2. Takanobu Saito: "Tokyo Story" (1953)

  2. Theme
  3. Nocturne

  4. Masaru Sato: "Red Beard" (1965)
  5. Shinichiro Ikebe: "Kagemusha" - Main Title (1980)

    6. Toru Takemitsu: "RAN" Suite (1985)

  6. [I]
  7. [II]
  8. [III]
  9. [IV]

  10. 10. Naozumi Yamamoto: "Toro-san" - Main Title (1969)

    11. Akira Ifukube:

  11. "Snow Trail" - Main Title (1947)
  12. "Godzilla" - Main Title (1954)
  13. "Rodan! The Flying Monster" (1956)
  14. "King Kong vs. Godzilla" - Main Title (1962)
  15. "Monster Zero" - Main Title (1965)

    16. "Destroy All Monsters" (1968)
  16. Main Title
  17. March
  18. Great Tokyo Attack

    19. Yasushi Akutagawa: "Mt. Hakkoda" (1977)

  19. Main Theme
  20. Tokushima Team
  21. Ending Theme

  22. Sei Ikeno: "Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare" (1968)