is a Kyoto-based composer and sound artist whose work explores the subtle boundaries between sound, silence, memory, and space. His compositions blend field recordings, acoustic instruments, and electronics into quiet, immersive soundscapes.
Centered on the theme of strength within stillness, he creates music in various media, including piano-centered chamber music, field recordings, sound works using electronic sounds, stage performances, contemporary art, and film. He is a member of the Kyoto-based artist collective Dumb Type.
Biography Marihiko took piano lessons as a child, but he was a terrible student and quit around the age of 10. He didn't start playing the piano again until he was in junior high school. At age 13, he attended a concert by Ryuichi Sakamoto's trio at Festival Hall in Osaka in 1996, as part of the tour for the album "1996," where Jaques Morelenbaum and Everton Nelson performed together. He was so deeply impacted by the experience that it inspired him to become a composer. He began taking private composition lessons toward the end of his third year of junior high school and continued for three years. Although he excelled in harmony, he was not very skilled at piano performance or solfège. He initially aimed to attend music school but ultimately decided against going to a music university in Tokyo. He eventually enrolled and graduated from the Faculty of Education, Kyoto University. At university, he bought a Mac and started what's called DTM (Desktop Music). He had been composing since around junior high school, started using samplers, synthesizers and sequencers around high school, and then switched to computers when he entered university.
He withdrew from the Master's program in the Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University.
He has a younger brother, Rurihiko Hara, who is a researcher of Japanese gardens and Noh theater.
Hara composed a music for the opening ceremony at the 2020 Olympic Games. In 2020 he won two awards at the Music Awards Japan for the music of the film Kokuo. In 2026 Hara also composed the music for the show Realive held by two-times Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu.
Works
Film YearTitleNotesRef.2022The Wandering MoonDirected by Lee Sang-il2023Do Unto OthersDirected by Tetsu Maeda2025On Summer SandDirected by Shinya Tamada2025KokuhoDirected by Lee Sang-il2026Children UntoldDirected by Miwa Nishikawa
Television YearTitleNotesRef.2023Koun na HitoDirected by Masae Ichiki2024Deaf VoiceDirected by Kazutaka Watanabe
Documentary Film YearTitleNotesRef.2019AgniyoganaCo-music with Ryuichi Sakamoto2020BeingDirected by Moe Wada2023SHUNGADirected by Junko Hirata2024CACAO y los JaponesesDirected by Moe Wada2024Dearest VietDirected by Kohei Kawabata2025Guardians of the HarvestDirected by Riko Hiro
Short Film YearTitleNotesRef.2021TRINITYDirected by Yukihiko Tsutsumi2024A Tiny Story for TRINITY LES POCHESDirected by Yuri Kanchiku
Animation Film YearTitleNotesRef.2015COLUMBOSDirected by KAWAI + OKAMURA2019MOOD HALLDirected by KAWAI + OKAMURA
Theatre/Performance YearTitleNotesRef.2021MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCETokyo Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony, performance by Mirai Moriyama2024JUNGLEKorea National Contemporary Dance Company 2026Yuzuru Hanyu REALIVE an ICE STORY projectComposed 10 songs for the 2nd half of the show, "Prequel: before the WHITE" Setlist: Video 1: A Quiet Chaos M1: Before the WHITE M2: Magenta Paradox Video 2: Realive Interlude M3: Tiny Yellow Video 3: Awaking M4: Still in Motion M5: Chroma Ending credits: Hiss Coda M6: Curtain Call
Awards Recipient of the Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Award Encouragement Prize for fiscal year 2021 Kyoto City New Artist Award, 2025 For the film Kokuho 67th Japan Record Awards - Special Award Winner (Broadcast on TBS Television and TBS Radio on December 30, 2025) Winner of the Music Award at the 80th Mainichi Film Awards The 49th Japan Academy Film Prize Winner of the Best Music Award Winner of the Best Theme Song ("Luminance" by Marihiko Hara feat. Satoru Iguchi) Osaka Cinema Festival 2026 Music Award Winner
Discography Solo Album Year Title Ref. 2011 Credo 2013 Flora 2017 Landscape in Portrait 2020 PASSION
EP Year Title Ref. 2008 unrhymed 2017 Habit 2017 Radix 2021 3 States for TRANSDUCER 2021 Marihiko Hara Selected Live Recordings 2018-2019 2021 Resonant I 2021 Resonant II 2021 ALL PEOPLE IS NICE 2024 Blue
Soundtrack Year Title Ref. 2021 FAKESPEARE Original Soundtrack 2022 Wandering Original Soundtrack 2022 Sol Torainoashioto Original Soundtrack 2023 Do Unto Others Original Soundtrack 2023 NHK TV Show Koun na Hito Original Soundtrack 2023 NODA・MAP Usagi, Nami wo Hashiru Original Soundtrack 2024 NHK TV Show Deaf Voice Original Soundtrack 2024 CACAO y los Japoneses Original Soundtrack 2024 SHUNGA Original Soundtrack 2024 UP AND DOWN Directed by Kodue HibinoMusic for Children 2024 DEAREST VIET Original Soundtrack 2024 NODA・MAP Love in Action Original Soundtrack 2025 KOKUHO Original Soundtrack
Notes and references Citations
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