Fantastic analysis and write-up on this man's music and legacy. I recognize your posts from another forum I frequent, and I actually have you to thank for introducing me to many a Japanese composer.
You might find this forum a tough audience for Japanese scores and composers. I've been trying to introduce people to Oshima, Kanno etc. and it's been difficult to say the least. The "CD or Bust" crowd is a tough one and most of them don't want to pay massive import prices nor track down scores for films/TV shows they've never seen or heard of. The quality of the music often comes second here to the convenience of name and filmic recognition, and many would rather see expanded releases of scores they already known than take a gamble on a thematic orchestral scores they've never heard of.
All the same, I hope others will check out your wonderfully-detailed celebration of Hisaishi's career!
As someone who's trying to get oriented in the Jap-soundtrack world (I basically know only Ifukube and Masamichi Amano) I find this analysis fantastically useful ..I am only perplexed by the nonstop superlatives and the extravagant comparisons that IMHO frankly seem a little over the top)..Anyway..thanks for your work!
