I know “Japanese soundtrack composers” sounds like a pretty niche interest, but hear me out. J-pop is even more manufactured and sterile than American Top 40. So instead of pursuing stardom, many of the most talented and interesting musicians in Japan end up getting a lot of soundtrack work. The music they make is far more intriguing and varied than what you might expect if you think of orchestral scores when you hear the word “soundtrack.” Not all of the music in this post is soundtrack music – but I found all of these artists on the soundtrack to an anime or movie.
