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Hajime Wakai (born July 5, 1973) is a sound director and composer at Nintendo EPD's Sound Management Group, mostly known for his work on the Star Fox, Pikmin, and The Legend of Zelda franchises.
History[]
Wakai originally joined Nintendo in the Nintendo 64 era and originally worked on Star Fox 64 alongside Koji Kondo, where Wakai composed all of the planet and battle themes; afterwards he worked on other N64 titles, such as the Pokémon Stadium series.
On the GameCube, Wakai became the sole composer of the original Pikmin, where he also provided the voice for the titular creatures. Afterwards, he was in charge of most of the battle themes for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, which were characterized for their interactivity with the on-screen actions of Toon Link against the enemies.[1]
Following his work on titles such as Nintendogs and Star Fox: Command, Wakai became sound director for some Wii titles, until he was appointed as lead composer for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, where he also coordinated the overall sound team; this title was characterized for being the first entry in the Zelda franchise to make an extensive use of a real orchestra.
After his work on some further titles, Wakai became sound director of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, while also contributing to the soundtrack; this title was characterized by forgoing the traditional musical direction of the Zelda series and instead focusing on ambient music and sound effects to fit the "open-air" concept of the title. After his work on this title, Wakai became an overall sound supervisor for the Zelda series, later reprising his sound director role on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Game Works[]
- Star Fox 64 (1997) - Sound Composer
- Yoshi's Story (1997) - Sound Effects
- F-Zero X (1998) - Sound Composer
- Pokémon Stadium (1999) - Sound Composer
- Pokémon Stadium 2 (2000) - Sound Composer
- Pikmin (2001) - Music
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002) - Music
- Pikmin 2 (2004) - Music
- Nintendogs (2005) - Music
- New Super Mario Bros. (2006) - Music
- Star Fox Command (2006) - Music Composition
- Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree (2007) - Sound Director
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) - Music Arrangement
- Mario Kart Wii (2008) - Sound Support
- Wii Music (2008) - Sound Director
- New Play Control! Pikmin (2008) - Music
- New Play Control! Pikmin 2 (2009) - Music
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011) - Music (Sound Director)
- Nintendo Land (2012) - Sound Director
- Pikmin 3 (2013) - Music
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (2013) - Music
- Pikmin Short Movies (2014) - Sound & Music
- Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (2014) - Music Arrangement
- Star Fox Zero/Star Fox Guard (2016) - Sound Supervisor
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) - Sound Director [note: also some music]
- Expansion Pass (2017) - Supervisor: Sound [note: also one song]
- Hey! Pikmin (2017) - Sound Supervisor
- Starlink: Battle for Atlas (2018) - Sound Supervision
- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Switch) (2019) - Sound Supervisor
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (2020) - Supervisor
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (2021) - Sound Supervisor
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023) - Sound Director [note: also some music]
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (2024) - Music Director
Special Thanks[]
- Star Fox Adventures (2002)
- Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (2014) - Supervisor (Original Games)
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) - Original Game Supervisor
- Cadence of Hyrule (2019)
Song Credits[]
Star Fox 64[]
- Training Mode -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Corneria -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Fichina and Sector Z -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Meteo -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Sector Y and Solar -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Katina -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Aquas -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Sector X -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Zoness -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Titania and Macbeth -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Area 6 -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Bolse -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Venom -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Warp -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- I'll Go It Alone -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Underground Base -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Star Wolf's Theme -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Boss Battle 1 -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Boss Battle 2 -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Boss Battle 3 -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Andross Battle -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Final Battle -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- VS Battle 1 -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- VS Battle 2 -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
F-Zero X[]
- All We Need Is 30 Deaths (Death Race) -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Staff Roll -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
Pokémon Stadium[]
- Pika Cup 2 -- Composition (w/Junichi Masuda), Arrangement[4]
Pokémon Stadium 2[]
Hajime Wakai was the sole composer of this title
Pikmin[]
Hajime Wakai was the sole composer of this title
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker[]
- Bokoblins Overhead -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Battle Theme -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Meeting Tetra -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Aryll Abducted -- Arrangement[6]
- Meeting the King of Red Lions -- Composition & Arrangement[6]
- The Tale of Ganon -- Composition & Arrangement[6]
- Search for a Sail -- Composition & Arrangement[6]
- Clash at Sea -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Intense Battle -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Gohma Appears -- Composition & Arrangement[6]
- Gohma Battle (First Phase) -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Gohma Battle (Second Phase) -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Boss Defeated -- Composition & Arrangement[7][6]
- Kalle Demos Appears -- Composition & Arrangement[6]
- Kalle Demos Battle -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Tower of the Gods -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Gohdan Appears -- Composition & Arrangement[6]
- Gohdan Battle -- Composition & Arrangement[1][5]
- Phantom Ganon Battle -- Arrangement[1][5]
- Reunited with Aryll -- Arrangement[6]
- Tetra to the Rescue -- Arrangement[6]
- Tetra Spies the Sword -- Composition & Arrangement[6]
- A Short-Lived Reunion -- Arrangement[6]
- Confronting the Helmaroc King -- Composition & Arrangement[6]
- Forsaken Fortress Tower -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Helmaroc King Appears -- Composition & Arrangement[6]
- Helmaroc King Battle -- Composition & Arrangement[7][5]
- Jalhalla Appears -- Composition & Arrangement[6]
- Jalhalla Battle -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Molgera Appears -- Composition & Arrangement[6]
- Molgera Battle -- Composition & Arrangement[7][5]
- Gohma Battle, Ganon's Tower (First Phase) -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Gohma Battle, Ganon's Tower (Second Phase) -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Kalle Demos Battle, Ganon's Tower -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Jalhalla Battle, Ganon's Tower -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Molgera Battle, Ganon's Tower -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Puppet Ganon (Puppet Form) -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Puppet Ganon Transforms -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Puppet Ganon (Spider Form) -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Puppet Ganon (Snake Form) -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
Nintendo Sound Selection vol.1 Peach & Healing Music[]
- Aryll's Theme -- Alto Saxophone
Nintendo Sound Selection vol.3 Luigi <B - Side Music>[]
- Luigi's Mansion -- Arrangement, Piano
- K.K. Soul -- Saxophone
Pikmin 2[]
While Hajime Wakai is the only person credited under "Music" in the game, the game files seem to contain data suggesting that sound director Kazumi Totaka also worked on the soundtrack[8]
- Flora and Fauna -- Composition & Arrangement[9]
Nintendogs[]
While Hajime Wakai was the sole composer credited for this title, it is unknown whether sound director Ryoji Yoshitomi was also involved in the soundtrack as well
New Super Mario Bros.[]
According to the credits from the Japanese manual, Hajime Wakai was the sole composer for the minigame mode
Star Fox: Command[]
Hajime Wakai was the sole composer of this title
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[]
- Area 6 (Star Fox 64) -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Area 6 Ver. 2 (Star Fox 64) -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
Touch Generations Soundtrack[]
- Nintendogs - Live Ver. (nintendogs) -- Composition, Flute
- Title - Live Ver. (Wii Sports) -- Flute
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword[]
- The Ballad of the Goddess (Main Theme) -- Composition (arr. Takeshi Hama)[11]
- Loftwing Located -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Wing Ceremony Opening -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Wing Ceremony -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Tablet Acquired -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- A Column of Light Emerges -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Bazaar -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Gliding with a Loftwing -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Seeing the Surface -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Sealed Grounds -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Battle Theme -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- A Strong Foe -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Skyview Spring -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Eldin Volcano -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Meeting the Mogmas -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Beneath Eldin Volcano -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Earth Temple -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- A Fierce Fight -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Dragon's Obstacle -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Boulder Trap -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Scaldera Appears -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Scaldera & Tentalus Battles -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Lanayru Mining Facility -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- An Excerpt from the Ballad of the Goddess -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Learning the Ballad of the Goddess -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Imprisoned Is Freed -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Imprisoned Battle -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Sealing Spike -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- A Successful Sealing -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Ballad of the Goddess (Harp Acc.) -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Farore's Courage (Harp Acc.) -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Empty Spirit Vessel -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Guardians Give Chase -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Full Spirit Vessel -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Silent Realm Cleared -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Lake Floria -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Water Dragon Restored -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Dragon's Den -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Nayru's Wisdom (Harp Acc.) -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Din's Power (Harp Acc.) -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Din's Silent Realm -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Volcano Summit -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Mogma Elder -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Conversing with Mogmas -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Runaway Plats -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Levias, Great Spirit of the Skies -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Imprisoned Takes Flight -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- All Tadtones Accounted For -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- An Excerpt from the Song of the Hero (Water Dragon) -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Infiltrating Eldin Volcano -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- An Excerpt from the Song of the Hero (Fire Dragon) -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- An Excerpt from the Song of the Hero (Thunder Dragon) -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- An Excerpt from the Song of the Hero (Great Sky Spirit) -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Song of the Hero? -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Song of the Hero (Harp Acc.) -- Composition (w/Koji Kondo), Arrangement[11]
- The Sky Keep -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Evil Incarnate Awakens -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Demise Battle -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Demise Strikes -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- The Epilogue -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Batreaux's Theme -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Batreaux's Transformation -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Dozing until Dawn -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Dozing until Dusk -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Materials Acquired -- Arrangement[11]
- Item Acquired -- Arrangement[11]
- Got a Treasure -- Arrangement[11]
- Important Item Acquired -- Arrangement[11]
- Heart Container Acquired -- Arrangement[11]
- Rupoor Acquired -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Puzzle Solved -- Arrangement[11]
- Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
- Wii Channel Logo -- Composition & Arrangement[11]
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD[]
- Tetra Located -- Arrangement[12]
- Meeting Tetra -- Composition & Arrangement[12]
- Below Deck -- Arrangement[12]
- Gohma Battle, Ganon's Tower (First Phase) -- Composition & Arrangement[12]
- Gohma Battle, Ganon's Tower (Second Phase) -- Composition & Arrangement[12]
- Molgera Battle, Ganon's Tower -- Composition & Arrangement[12]
- Puppet Ganon (Puppet Form) -- Composition & Arrangement[12]
- Puppet Ganon Transforms -- Composition & Arrangement[12]
- Puppet Ganon (Spider Form) -- Composition & Arrangement[12]
- Puppet Ganon (Snake Form) -- Composition & Arrangement[12]
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[]
- Tour (Animal Crossing: New Leaf) -- Arrangement[13]
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild[]
- One Hundred Years Ago -- Composition (w/Manaka Kataoka & Koji Kondo), Arrangement (w/Manaka Kataoka)[14]
- Kakariko Village[15] -- Composition (w/Koji Kondo), Arrangement[14]
- Impa Speaks -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Hateno Ancient Tech Lab -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Restoring a Great Fairy’s Power -- Composition (w/Manaka Kataoka & Koji Kondo), Arrangement (w/Manaka Kataoka)[14]
- Hinox Battle -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- By the Water -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Mind the Flowers! -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- A Heart Container Appears -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- A Divine Beast’s Majesty -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Mipha and the Divine Beast -- Arrangement[14]
- Revali and the Divine Beast -- Arrangement[14]
- Daruk and the Divine Beast -- Arrangement[14]
- Urbosa and the Divine Beast -- Arrangement[14]
- Challenging the Champ -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Minigame: Sand-Seal Race -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Sand-Seal Race: Lose -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Sand-Seal Race: New Record -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Sand-Seal Race: Win -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Molduga Battle -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Meeting the Deku Tree -- Composition (w/Yasuaki Iwata & Koji Kondo), Arrangement[14]
- Memories of the Sword -- Composition (w/Koji Kondo & Takeshi Hama), Arrangement[14]
- Tree and Sword: Words of Wisdom -- Arrangement[14]
- Hestu's Dance -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Akkala Ancient Tech Lab -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- The Blood Moon -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Recovered Memory: Return of Calamity Ganon -- Arrangement[14]
- Twelve Memories Recovered -- Arrangement[14]
- Hyrule Castle Town Ruins -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Staff Credits -- Composition (w/Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata, & Koji Kondo), Arrangement (w/Manaka Kataoka & Yasuaki Iwata)[14]
- Kilton -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Restoring Malanya’s Power -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Malanya’s Ritual -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Passing Time by the Fire -- Arrangement[14]
- Overnight Stay (Regular Bed) -- Arrangement[14]
- Overnight Stay (Soft Bed) -- Arrangement[14]
- Culinary Disaster -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Culinary Triumph -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Culinary Perfection -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Solving a Korok Puzzle -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Dyeing Cloth -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Reverting Cloth -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
Expansion Pass[]
- Daruk, the Stalwart -- Composition (w/Yasuaki Iwata), Arrangement[14]
Bonus Track[]
- 2014 E3 Trailer -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom[]
Please note that this list does not include tracks reused without changes from Breath of the Wild
- Reunion with Purah -- Composition & Arrangement[16]
- Report on Events in the Depths and the Sky -- Arrangement[16]
- Rito Village (During the Phenomenon) -- Arrangement[16]
- Frox Battle -- Composition & Arrangement[16]
- Memories: "The Gerudo Assault" -- Composition & Arrangement[16]
- The Blood Moon Rises Over Hyrule Castle -- Composition & Arrangement[16]
- Hateno School -- Composition & Arrangement[16]
- Hateno Ancient Tech Lab -- Composition & Arrangement[16]
- The Thunderhead Isles are Revealed -- Composition & Arrangement[16]
- Memories: "The Master Sword's Power" -- Arrangement[16]
- Hestu's Dance! -Upgrade- -- Composition & Arrangement[16]
- Zelda's Wishes in My Hands -- Arrangement[16]
- Memories: "Zelda's Wish" -- Arrangement[16]
- Koltin -- Composition & Arrangement[16]
- Satori Under the Cherry-Blossom Tree -- Composition & Arrangement[16]
- Paraglider Design Change -- Arrangement[16]
- Link's Humming[17] -- Arrangement[16]
- Killing Time -- Arrangement[16]
- Lodging (Normal) -- Arrangement[16]
- Lodging (Luxury) -- Arrangement[16]
Bonus Track[]
- 1st Trailer BGM -- Composition (w/Maasa Miyoshi & Manaka Kataoka), Arrangement (w/Maasa Miyoshi & Manaka Kataoka)
Gallery[]
Interviews[]
- N.O.M.: The Wind Waker
- N.O.M.: Pikmin 2
- Iwata Asks: Skyward Sword
- The Making of Breath of the Wild
- CEDEC 2017: Breath of the Wild
- Ask the Developer Vol. 9: Tears of the Kingdom
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20221026122530/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0301/sound/index.html
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 https://vgmdb.net/album/133
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://vgmdb.net/album/205
- ↑ https://vgmdb.net/album/1401
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 uses "w_zelda" sound bank associated with Hajime Wakai
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 via The Wind Waker HD game files (this track has the extension w.32.c4.dspadpcm, corresponding with confirmed Hajime Wakai tracks)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 https://vgmdb.net/album/75832
- ↑ https://www.pikminwiki.com/Music_in_Pikmin_2
- ↑ https://vgmdb.net/album/4341
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Super Smash Bros. Brawl sound test
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16 11.17 11.18 11.19 11.20 11.21 11.22 11.23 11.24 11.25 11.26 11.27 11.28 11.29 11.30 11.31 11.32 11.33 11.34 11.35 11.36 11.37 11.38 11.39 11.40 11.41 11.42 11.43 11.44 11.45 11.46 11.47 11.48 11.49 11.50 11.51 11.52 11.53 11.54 11.55 11.56 11.57 11.58 11.59 11.60 11.61 11.62 11.63 11.64 11.65 11.66 11.67 11.68 11.69 11.70 11.71 11.72 https://vgmdb.net/album/114738
- ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 via The Wind Waker HD game files (this track has the extension w.32.dspadpcm, corresponding with confirmed Hajime Wakai tracks)
- ↑ Super Smash Bros. for Wii U sound test
- ↑ 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 14.12 14.13 14.14 14.15 14.16 14.17 14.18 14.19 14.20 14.21 14.22 14.23 14.24 14.25 14.26 14.27 14.28 14.29 14.30 14.31 14.32 14.33 14.34 14.35 14.36 14.37 14.38 14.39 14.40 14.41 14.42 14.43 https://vgmdb.net/album/75831
- ↑ includes "Day" and "Night" versions
- ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 16.11 16.12 16.13 16.14 16.15 16.16 16.17 16.18 16.19 https://vgmdb.net/album/139332
- ↑ includes versions 1~10