Interview with Music Composer Tarō Iwashiro

This document presents a comprehensive interview with Japanese composer Tarō Iwashiro, conducted in July 2018 during the third edition of the MOSMA Festival (Málaga, Spain), a festival dedicated to film music and audiovisual soundtracks. The interview explores Iwashiro’s early life, musical education, and career trajectory, covering his work in film, anime, and video games, as well as his collaborations with renowned directors such as John Woo and Bong Joon-ho. Iwashiro discusses his compositional methodology, including how he approaches music for cinema versus video games, his interactions with directors and orchestras worldwide, and his views on musical influences ranging from classical composers such as Beethoven, Wagner, Bartók, and Debussy, to contemporary musicians including Pat Metheny, Jean-Michel Jarre, and Ennio Morricone. The interview also highlights Iwashiro’s experiences conducting orchestras, working with international teams, and engaging with fans, as well as insights into the role of music as a universal language. This source offers invaluable information for researchers and enthusiasts of Japanese film music, anime soundtracks, and video game music, and provides a primary source on compositional practices and cross-cultural collaborations in contemporary Japanese music. Language: EnglishPublication Type: Interview (Primary Source)Event: MOSMA 2018 – Festival of Film and Audiovisual Music, Málaga, SpainDate of Interview: July 2018Originally published on: CoolJapan.es