Bringing games to life through music

Since joining, I have been in charge of creating music, sound effects, and voice data for the "Like a Dragon" series and implementing them into the game. This includes running playtests to check the audio in-game, balancing the volume, both directing and mastering instrumental recordings at external studios, and preparing multi-language audio support for worldwide releases.

From dramatic storylines and charming characters to the adventures and various trials you'll overcome together, the extraordinary experiences you can find in video games have appealed to me since I was a kid. Maybe it's not too much of a stretch to say that I've learned the most important life lessons from games, haha. Back then, the concept of using various means of audio to set the scene in a game's world piqued my interest. At university, I picked up a lot of composition, sound design, and programming knowledge. As SEGA wasn't hiring for fresh graduates at the time, I joined the company as a part-timer and gained experience as a sound designer working on the "Like a Dragon" series.

Our workflow starts with the music director, who sets the guidelines and stylistic themes for the sound track, and we composers produce music in line with these rules.

An extensive amount of music is needed for "Like a Dragon" games, which feature many characters and cutscenes. If a composer has an idea for a song, they flesh it out once they get the greenlight. Prior to composing, I research what kind of music fans and the production staff would like to see and communicate with the other departments involved. During the production process, the requests I receive range from outsourcing SFX production to recording instrumental performances for a critically important scene. However, that's part of our company culture: having the freedom to take the wheel and pursue what you'd like for the sake of improving quality.

Another thing that I pay particular attention to is the audio balancing. Simply layering all the audio tracks can create an information overload. If there's music, sound effects, voices playing simultaneously, you'd be lost trying to process what to focus on. Sound production requires greater knowledge of what to add or remove to achieve balance. It's about interpreting the scene in the form of audio.
This is easier said than done and I always find myself at a loss for what to do during production. However, I must say that the true joy of my job lies in hearing how fans enjoy my work.

Until now, my main duties have been in creating music. However, I'd love to share all of my experiences with newer employees so that we can further raise the bar for our future work in sound production. At SEGA, there are many project teams, including ones for Sonic and Puyo Puyo—this goes for the Sound Team too. You'll have many chances to interact with all kinds of professionals who'll stimulate your creativity and skills further. SEGA offers a variety of paid leave for various occasions beyond standard paid holidays. Women can pursue long-lasting careers here, as SEGA provides ample support for employees to raise their kids while following their professional aspirations. If you have a passion for the intricate work involved in sound and are committed to seeing your responsibilities through until the moment the games reach the players' hands, I encourage you to join our team.