Composer Joe Hisaishi Signs with HarrisonParrott 

The acclaimed Japanese film composer has signed with the HarrisonParrott agency for global management

The award-winning Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi has now joined the roster of HarrisonParrott for worldwide general management. He will be represented by Jasper Parrott, Moema Parrott, and Yukiko Shishikura.

Hisaishi began his career as a contemporary music composer, graduating from a music conservatory in Japan. His solo career launched with the premiere of his work MKWAJU in 1981, plus the release of his first album “Information” the following year.

Since then, he has written more than 100 film scores and featured in nearly 40 studio albums. Among his contemporary concert works include TRI-AD for large orchestra; The Border, a concerto for three horns and orchestra; and Viola Saga.

Renowned for his long-standing collaboration with the Japanese anime director Hayao Miyazaki and the Studio Ghibli films, Hisaishi has won top international awards for his films scores to Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Ponyo, among others. 

As a conductor, Hisaishi has led the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Toronto and Seattle Symphony Orchestras, the Royal and Helsinki Philharmonic orchestras, and the Vienna Symphony. In 2019, he established his own orchestra, the Future Orchestra Classics (FOC), and recorded the complete symphony cycles of Beethoven and Brahms.

As a Deutsche Grammophon exclusive artist, Hisaishi has released the titles “Merry-Go-Round of Life” and “A Symphonic Celebration,” and most recently, “Joe Hisaishi in Vienna,” which includes the world premiere recordings of two of his compositions — Symphony No.2 and Viola Saga with Wiener Symphoniker and soloist Antoine Tamestit. 

Currently, he is the Music Partner of the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra; he has also been the Principal Guest Conductor with the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra from 2021, and will serve as its Music Director designate from the 2025/26 season. In 2024, he was appointed Composer-in-Association of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Among his many awards include the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon, The Order of the Rising Sun, and Gold Rays with Rosette from the Japanese government. 

“It is a tremendous honor that Joe Hisaishi, the great composer, conductor, and magician of the power of contemporary music and live symphonic concerts, has asked us to be his worldwide partners in the management of his successful international performing life,” said Executive Chairman HP Group and Associated Companies, Jasper Parrott in the press release. 

“Japan with its peerless culture and hugely creative people has been a major part of my life ever since my first stay there in 1975 and my more than 75 visits since,” Parrott added. “It is a great privilege for us to work with him in spreading his wonderful music to ever growing, diverse and loyal audiences around the world and we look forward with excitement to our future collaboration.”