Hiroki Kikuta — Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana Composer | Scarlet Moon Artists

About Hiroki Kikuta

Hiroki Kikuta is a composer based in Tokyo, Japan who's known for his varied inspirations from around the globe. Having studied and obtained a degree in Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Cultural Anthropology and after a short stint as a manga illustrator, Kikuta got his start in music scoring several anime series before striking out to compose music for games. After submitting a demo to Squaresoft and creating an impression with his demos that drew on Kikuta's appreciation of progressive rock music, Kikuta was hired in 1991 and began creating sound effects for ROMANCING SAGA and composed the now-iconic soundtrack for SECRET OF MANA (SEIKEN DENSETSU 2 in Japan). The score delighted fans around the world with its progressive rock, ambient, and world music stylings and remains his most famous work to date. Kikuta continued his work at Squaresoft with the Super Nintendo sequel TRIALS OF MANA (SEIKEN DENSETSU 3 in Japan) and the Japan-only PlayStation title SOUKAIGI where Kikuta was able to try his hand recording live session players for the first time.

After departing Squaresoft in 1998, Kikuta formed his own game production studio, Sacnoth, where he directed, produced, and scored the horror RPG, KOUDELKA. This was followed by freelance work in Japan's vibrant but largely underground indie game community where he worked on over a dozen smaller titles leading up to work with SEGA on SHINING HEARTS and SHINING BLADE, with Namco Bandai on SOULCALIBUR V, and again with Square Enix on RISE OF MANA and SECRET OF MANA REMAKE. He also started Nostrillia Label and Metaphasic Child at this time through which he's released a dozen original works spanning chiptunes, progressive rock, ambient music, and more.

In 2014, Hiroki Kikuta joined forces with Scarlet Moon to bring his love for indie game development and the raw creativity they inspire to a worldwide audience. With Scarlet Moon, he's contributed to over a dozen indie titles ranging from the beautiful RPG from Lab Zero Games, INDIVISIBLE and the retro roguelike TANGLEDEEP to the upcoming 8-bit pop-infused ORANGE ISLAND and Greek-flavored SNES-style HAZELNUT BASTILLE. His latest masterpiece is VISIONS OF MANA, a return to the beloved Mana franchise, alongside contributions to TRINITY TRIGGER, a charming Japanese RPG created by industry veterans.

Hiroki Kikuta is represented by Scarlet Moon Artists and is available for videogame music composition and arrangement commissions. His world music approach — blending progressive rock, ambient, ethnic, and whimsical themes drawn from cultures around the globe — makes him an ideal fit for developers seeking rich, emotionally evocative scores for RPGs, action-adventure titles, and indie games of all kinds. To hire Hiroki Kikuta for your game's soundtrack, contact Scarlet Moon.

Learn More

hirokikikuta.bandcamp.com
Hiroki Kikuta's Interview About Working on Indie Games

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Twitter (Japanese)
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Listen to Hiroki Kikuta

Selected Videogame Credits

Visions of Mana	2024	Composer
FAIRY TAIL Dungeons	2024	Composer
Pixel Noir	2024	Composer
Sin Chronicle MEMORIAL	2023	Composer
Dungeon Drafters	2023	Composer
TRINITY TRIGGER	2022	Composer
Rakugaki Kingdom	2020	Composer
YIIK: A Postmodern RPG	2019	Composer
Indivisible	2019	Composer
Last Labyrinth	2019	Composer
Secret of Mana Remake	2018	Composer
Tangledeep	2018	Composer
Battle of Blade	2017	Composer
Rise of Mana	2014	Composer
Shining Arc	2013	Composer
Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky	2013	Composer
SOULCALIBUR V	2012	Composer
Shining Blade	2012	Composer
DEMONS' SCORE	2012	Composer
Mebius Online	2011	Composer
Wizardry Online	2011	Composer
Shining Hearts	2010	Composer
Concerto Gate Forte	2010	Composer
Concerto Gate	2007	Composer
Koudelka	1999	Composer, Director, Producer
Soukaigi	1998	Composer
Seiken Densetsu 3 (Trials of Mana)	1995	Composer
Secret of Mana (Seiken Densetsu 2)	1993	Composer