Acclaimed composer Joe Hisaishi, widely celebrated for his iconic musical scores for Studio Ghibli films, announced on Tuesday that he has officially been awarded three Guinness World Records. The prestigious honors celebrate his incredible drawing power and performances: the record for the “most tickets sold by a classical composer at the Tokyo Dome (single run),” the “highest-selling classical run in the Hollywood Bowl,” and the “longest residency by a classical composer at Radio City Music Hall (single run)” in New York City.
Throughout his illustrious career, Hisaishi has scored every single feature film directed by Hayao Miyazaki at Studio Ghibli, starting with the 1984 masterpiece Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. His remarkable portfolio also includes the music for Isao Takahata‘s 2013 movie The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. Beyond film scores, he served as the executive producer for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s acclaimed stage adaptation of My Neighbor Totoro, which premiered at London’s Barbican Centre in 2022.
In recognition of his profound cultural impact, the Japanese government bestowed upon Hisaishi the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in November 2023.
Source: Joe Hisaishi‘s official Instagram account