Norihiko Hibino

Composer / Arranger / Saxophonist / Voice Over Director
Trained as a jazz saxophonist at Berklee College of Music, Norihiko Hibino has gone on to create award- winning soundtracks as both a part of Konami in Japan and as the founder of his own audio production team, GEM Impact.

While at Konami, Hibino acted as lead composer for both METAL GEAR SOLID 2: SONS OF LIBERTY and METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SNAKE EATER, the latter which earned him a Game Audio Network Guild (GANG) for “Best Original Vocal Song – Pop.” He also composed the electronic score for ZONE OF THE ENDERS, created several soundtracks for the YU-GI-OH franchise, and contributed to YAKUZA 2. With GEM Impact, Hibino and his team of composers and arrangers continued to contribute to the Metal Gear series with METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS and METAL GEAR SOLID: PEACE WALKER along with projects for an array of clients such as small ensemble music for ETRIAN ODYSSEY, anime- style pop for LOVE PLUS, comedic action in WONDERFUL 101, and more powerful orchestral score for the BAYONETTA and ACE COMBAT franchises.

Most recently, Hibino founded Hibino Sound Therapy Lab, a venture that explores therapeutic applications of music. Through his channel, Hibino has recorded live chamber music for the top-selling iOS health app, PRESCRIPTION FOR SLEEP, developed a therapeutic sound system called Rinshu, and recorded several albums in the Billboard-charting PRESCRIPTION FOR SLEEP: GAME MUSIC LULLABIES album series and therapeutic tracks for videogames including 9 YEARS OF SHADOWS and OPPAIDIUS SUMMER TROUBLE!. Hibino serves as Content Director for All Fischer-Price bilingual toys and Audio Director for studios including Blizzard, EA, and THQ, providing localization and voice over services in English, Japanese, and other languages.

Hibino’s entrepreneurial spirit produced GEM Impact offices in several countries around the globe and even saw him owning and managing a jazz night club. All of Hibino's various activities were consolidated into Hibino Sound Therapy Lab (HSTL), Inc. in 2022. For his achievements, he was awarded the “Distinguished Alumni Award” by his alma mater at Berklee College of Music, where he continues to visit to teach game audio workshops and mentor students.


Learn more
hstl.net




Videogame Credits
Contra: Operation Galuga (2024) Composer
9 Years of Shadows (2023) additional music
Tangledeep (2018) composer
Sinmara Saga (2016) composer (with Dale North)
Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015) arranger
Bayonetta 2 (2013) composer
Wonderful 101 (2013) composer
Shinobi 3D (2011) composer
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon (2011) composer, orchestrator
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010) composer, sound engineer
Bayonetta (2009) composer
Love Plus (2009) composer
Half-Minute Hero (2009) composer
Ninja Blade (2009) composer, producer
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008) composer, producer
Blassreiter (2008) composer, producer
1942: Joint Strike (2008) composer, producer
Etrian Odyssey 2 (2008) composer, producer
Metal Gear Solid BD2 (2007) composer, producer
Commando 3 (2007) composer, producer
Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops (2006) composer, producer
Yakuza 2 (2006) composer, producer
Rumble Roses XX (2006) composer
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) composer
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (2004) composer
Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django (2004) composer
Yu-Gi-Oh: The Dawn of Destiny (2004) composer
Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand (2003) composer
Yu-Gi-Oh: Duel Monsters 8 (2003) composer
Zone of the Enders 2 (2003) composer
Yu-Gi-Oh: Duel Monsters 7 (2002) composer
Beatmania 6 th mix (2002) composer
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) composer
Zone of the Enders (2001) composer