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Photo of Kitarō

Photo: Domo Music Group / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Kitarō

Kitarō was born February 4, 1953 (age 73). From Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Composer / Arranger / Music Producer. 11 credited works.

Grammy- and Golden Globe-winning Japanese new-age composer

  • From Aichi Prefecture
  • Composer
  • Arranger
  • Music Producer

My Take

I'll be honest, Kitarō is one of those artists I put on when my brain needs to leave the building. He's a guy from Toyohashi in Aichi who sat down at a synthesizer and somehow conjured entire deserts, star fields, and that whole Silk Road horizon out of thin air. No vocals, no theatrics, just patient washes of sound that feel like watching the planet from orbit. And yet the world clearly couldn't ignore him: a Golden Globe for the Heaven & Earth score and a Grammy on the new age side. What I love is how unbothered he seems by trends, hair down, eyes closed, building his own cosmos at his own pace like some serene mountain hermit. Quiet, but enormous in scale. Genuinely one of the most calming, expansive musicians I've stumbled onto.

This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.

Overview

Kitarō is a Japanese composer, arranger, and music producer born on February 4, 1953, in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture. He is internationally recognized as a pioneer of new-age music, known for lush synthesizer-driven soundscapes that evoke imagery of the Silk Road and the cosmos. He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score in 1994 and the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 2001, making him one of the most decorated Japanese composers on the world stage. He attended Aichi Prefectural Toyohashi Commercial High School before embarking on his musical career.

1. Profile

Name (English)
Kitarō
Name (Japanese)
喜多郎
Reading
きたろう
Born
February 4, 1953 (age 73)
Origin
Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Occupation
Composer / Arranger / Music Producer / Musician / Film Score Composer
Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
Aquarius / Snake

2. Background

High school
Aichi Prefectural Toyohashi Commercial High School

Awards & achievements

  • 2001 — Grammy Award, Best New Age Album
  • 1994 — Golden Globe Award, Best Original Score

3. Works & records

Works summary

Works
11 (1982–2012)
By year (titles with a known year)
1982: 1, 1983: 2, 1984: 1, 1992: 1, 2000: 1, 2012: 1, year unknown: 4
Debut work
ユートピアの旅

Filmography / notable works

CategoryTitleYear
2012年 レット・マザー・アース・スピーク2012
Single母なる大河2000
SingleIsland Of Life1992
Singleクオリティの四季1984
Singleノアの箱舟/少年の夢1983
1983年 ノアの箱舟1983
Singleユートピアの旅1982
SingleA1:Winter
SingleA2:Spring
SingleB1:Summer
SingleB2:Autumn

5. About this entry

Tags

  • From Aichi Prefecture
  • Composer
  • Arranger
  • Music Producer
Last updated

Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. Works and profile fields sourced from Wikipedia reflect content as of 2026-08-26. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.

Frequently asked questions

When was Kitarō born?

Kitarō was born on February 4, 1953 and is 73 years old.

Where is Kitarō from?

Kitarō is from Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

What does Kitarō do?

Kitarō works as Composer, Arranger, Music Producer, Musician, Film Score Composer.

Which high school did Kitarō attend?

Kitarō attended Aichi Prefectural Toyohashi Commercial High School.

What is Kitarō known for?

Kitarō's notable works include Island Of Life, A1:Winter, A2:Spring.

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