Kenichi Tokoi - Sega Retro (original) (raw)

Photos tokoi.jpg
Kenichi Tokoi
Place of birth: Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
Date of birth: 1969-07-13 (age 55)
Employment history: Sega Enterprises Wave Master Sega Divisions: Global Entertainment R&D Dept. 1 Sega Games Sega
Role(s): Composer, Musician, Sound Director

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Kenichi Tokoi (床井 健一) is a Japanese bassist and Sega of Japan and Wave Master musician and composer. His distinct jazz style is heard most prominently in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, particularly the two games for which he acted as Sound Director: Sonic and the Secret Rings, and Sonic Colors.

Contents

Early life

Despite growing up in a non-musical household, at 3 years old Kenichi Tokoi he wanted to play the piano[1][2]. His passion for music grew over the years as he joined a brass band, took piano lessons at home and joined a Sunday choir.[2]

He took an interest in synthesizers in middle and school, being inspired by Yellow Magic Orchestra, leading to his parents buying him a Yamaha DX7 synthesizer and a Ryuichi Sakamoto sound ROM.[2]

While at university, Tokoi played synth and bass in various bands that were actively played shows all over Tokyo. He also began composing and recording and music from home, taking out a 2 million yen loan to purchase his equipment.[2]

Career

Before entering the games industry, Kenichi Tokoi worked a completely different job that paid well but gave him lots of free time[2], letting him wrote music in his spare time (some of which appeared on compilation albums[2]) and frequented live music venues, even getting an offer from a record company that eventually fell through. He joined Sega after reading a magazine ad looking for video game music composers.[3] His first project was Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition, a racing game much like Sega Rally Championship which he enjoyed at the time.[2]

He quickly became attached to the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise through Sonic Jam, followed by Sonic Adventure, which, among a variety of memorable background tracks like "Mt. Red: a Symbol of Thrill" and "Mechanical Resonance", he also composed "Unknown From M.E.", the theme song of his favourite character Knuckles.[2] He continued as frequent composer for this series with Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Battle, Sonic and the Secret Rings, etc.

In 1999 he began collaborating with Naofumi Hataya on the Space Channel 5 franchise.

He began a frequent career working on the Phantasy Star franchise with Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution. This was Tokoi's first time as sound director, and saw the team collaborating with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and, for the game's theme song "Let the Winds Blow" written by Tokoi, with the young soprano Krzysztof Przygudzki.[2] Tokoi continued on the series with Phantasy Star Universe, Phantasy Star Online 2 and Idola: Phantasy Star Saga.

Kenichi Tokoi joined the Mario & Sonic series with its second entry Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, instantly taking on a sound producer role for this and the following 3 games and composing their main themes.

Artistry

Kenichi Tokoi stands out among the Sega Sound Team for his remarkable rhythm arrangement,[4][5] brass arrangement[4] and melody writing.[4]

Influences

Tokoi is influenced by Yellow Magic Orchestra[6]

Equipment

Akai Sampler[6], Digital Performer[6]

Production history

Games

Videos

Music

Song credits

Main article: Kenichi Tokoi/Song credits.

Daytona USA Championship Circuit Edition

Sonic Adventure

Radio DC

Space Channel 5

Sonic Adventure 2

Space Channel 5 Part 2

Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution

Sonic Battle

Sonic Advance 3

Astro Boy

Feel the Magic: XY/XX

Shadow the Hedgehog

Sonic Riders

Phantasy Star Universe

Sonic and the Secret Rings

Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus

NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity

Sonic Unleashed

Sonic and the Black Knight

Yakuza 4

Sonic Colors (Wii version)

Sonic Colors (DS version)

Sonic Generations (PS3, Xbox 360 and PC versions)

Phantasy Star Online 2

Uta Kumi 575

Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

Puyo Puyo Chronicle 25-shuunen Anniversary CD

Sonic Forces

Idola: Phantasy Star Saga

Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash!

Magazine articles

Main article: Kenichi Tokoi/Magazine articles.

Interviews

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Photographs

Main article: Photos of Kenichi Tokoi

References

  1. htt (Wayback Machine: 2002-06-18 15:51)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannelOld/creators/014/003.html
  3. https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannelOld/creators/014/002.html
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Nintendo Dream, "Vol. 100 2003-11-06" (JP; 2003-10-xx), page 15
  5. File:NiGHTSJODST Music JP Booklet.pdf, page 11
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 htt (Wayback Machine: 2002-05-14 08:58)
  7. File:Daytona USA CCE credits.pdf
  8. File:Daytona USA Circuit Edition Saturn credits.pdf
  9. File:Sonic Jam Saturn credits.pdf
  10. File:Pro Yakyuu Team mo Tsukurou! Saturn credits.pdf
  11. File:Sonic Battle GBA credits.pdf
  12. File:Sonic Advance 3 GBA credits.pdf
  13. File:SARemix CD JP booklet.pdf, page 9
  14. File:SC5OST CD JP card4.pdf, page 2
  15. File:SC5UUNSMM CD JP card4.pdf, page 2
  16. File:SC5P2MMCRS CD JP card4.pdf, page 2
  17. File:PSOBBSoundTrack CD JP Box.jpg
  18. File:SonicRidersOST CD JP booklet.pdf, page 3
  19. File:SevenRingsInHand CD JP booklet.pdf, page 11
  20. File:SRZGOST CD JP booklet.pdf, page 7
  21. File:LGATVGDUSAAB Music JP inlay back.jpg
  22. File:PSP2OSTWoU CD JP Booklet.pdf, page 11
  23. File:VividSound CD JP booklet.pdf, page 18
  24. File:SC520AGGS CD JP card6.pdf, page 2
  25. https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm23718406
  26. http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/soundcolumn/ohtani/20160624_001063/index_2.html