# Koji Kondo

Koji Kondo (Japanese: 近藤 浩治, Hepburn: Kondō Kōji, born August 13, 1961) is a Japanese composer and senior executive at the video game company Nintendo. He is best known for his contributions for the Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda series, with his Super Mario Bros. theme being the first piece of music from a video game included in the American National Recording Registry. Kondo was hired by Nintendo in 1984 as their first dedicated composer and is currently a Senior Officer at their Entertainment Planning & Development division.

## Early life

Kondo was born in Nagoya, Japan, on August 13, 1961. Kondo began taking Yamaha Music classes from kindergarten, where he learned to play the electronic organ from the age of five. Kondo also played the marimbas in his elementary school band. He later improved his skills with the electronic organ in a cover band that played jazz and rock music. Kondo studied at the Art Planning Department of Osaka University of Arts, but was never classically trained or academically dedicated to music.
With a love of arcade video games such as Space Invaders and the early Donkey Kong series, he said video games were the only place where he could find the kind of sound creation that he was looking for. He gained experience in composing, arranging pieces and computer programming through using the piano, and a computer to program music into the Famicom using Famicom BASIC.

## Career

Kondo applied for a music composition and sound programming job at Nintendo as a senior in 1984. He recalls, "I found my way to Nintendo by looking at the school's job placement board. You're supposed to apply to many different companies, but I saw the Nintendo ad, and had a love of making synthesizers, and loved games, and thought – that's the place for me. I interviewed with one company, Nintendo, and that's where I've been ever since." Kondo was the third person hired by Nintendo to create music and sound effects for its games, joining Hirokazu Tanaka and Yukio Kaneoka. However, he was the first at Nintendo to actually specialize in musical composition.
His first work at Nintendo was the audio design for the 1984 arcade game Punch-Out!!. As the Famicom had become popular in Japan by then, Kondo was assigned to compose music for the console's subsequent games at Nintendo's new development division, Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development (EAD). His second work at Nintendo was an instruction manual on how to program Japanese popular music into the Famicom using the peripheral Family BASIC. To conclude his first year at Nintendo, he created some of the music of Devil World, alongside Akito Nakatsuka. In 1985, Nintendo started marketing the Famicom abroad as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) to capitalize on the 1983 video game crash that had devastated Atari, Inc. and other companies. Super Mario Bros. was Kondo's first major score. The game's melodies were created with the intention that short segments of music could be endlessly repeated during the same gameplay without causing boredom. The main theme is iconic in popular culture and has been featured in more than 50 concerts, been a best-selling ringtone, and been remixed or sampled by various musicians.
Kondo's work on The Legend of Zelda scores has also become highly recognized. He produced four main pieces of background music for the first installment of the series; the overworld theme has become comparable in popularity with the Super Mario Bros. main theme. After the success of The Legend of Zelda, he provided the score for two Japanese-exclusive games, The Mysterious Murasame Castle (1986) and Shin Onigashima (1987). He created the soundtrack to Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987), which was later rebranded outside Japan as Super Mario Bros. 2 in 1988.
Kondo returned to the Super Mario series to produce the scores to Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) and the SNES launch title Super Mario World (1990). Koichi Sugiyama directed a jazz arrangement album of Super Mario World's music and oversaw its performance at the first Orchestral Game Musical Concert in 1991. After finishing the soundtrack to Super Mario World, Kondo was in charge of the sound programming for Pilotwings (1990), while also composing the "Helicopter Theme" for it, and created the sound effects for Star Fox (1993). In 1995, he composed for the sequel to Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island. Until the early 2000s, Kondo would usually write all compositions by himself on a project, with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's being the last one Kondo worked on alone. Since then, he has been collaborating with other staff members at Nintendo, advising and supervising music created by others, as well as providing additional compositions for games, including Super Mario Galaxy, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and Super Mario 3D World. He also served as the sound director and lead composer of Super Mario Maker and its sequel, Super Mario Maker 2. He has also worked alongside Brian Tyler to compose for The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

### Concerts

Kondo attended the world premiere of Play! A Video Game Symphony at the Rosemont Theater in Rosemont, Illinois in May 2006, where his music from the Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda series was performed by a full symphony orchestra. He also attended and performed in a series of three concerts celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda series in late 2011. He performed piano with the American rock band Imagine Dragons live at The Game Awards 2014 ceremony in December 2014.

## Musical style and influences

Kondo's music for Super Mario Bros. was designed around the feeling of motion that mirrors the player's physical experience. This followed the philosophy of series creator and designer Shigeru Miyamoto, who demanded that audio for the game be made "with substance" and synchronized with elements of the game. As a result, Kondo based most of the score around genres that are primarily used for dancing, such as Latin music and the waltz.
In the first The Legend of Zelda, Kondo juxtaposes the game's overworld theme with the theme that plays in dungeons. Kondo remarked on the importance of projecting distinct characters through music, so that players know almost immediately where they are within the game. Kondo used this contrast in other games, such as Super Mario Bros.
Kondo has cited Deep Purple, Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Casiopea as influences.

## Works
### Music and sound design

| Year | Title | Role(s) |
| 1984 | Punch-Out!! | Music, sound effects |
| 1984 | Golf | Sound effects |
| 1984 | Devil World | Music with Akito Nakatsuka |
| 1985 | Soccer | Music, sound effects |
| 1985 | Arm Wrestling | Music, sound effects |
| 1985 | Kung Fu | Sound effects |
| 1985 | Super Mario Bros. | Music, sound effects |
| 1986 | The Legend of Zelda | Music, sound effects |
| 1986 | The Mysterious Murasame Castle | Music, sound effects |
| 1986 | Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels | Music, sound effects |
| 1986 | Volleyball | Music, sound effects |
| 1987 | Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic | Music, sound effects |
| 1987 | Shin Onigashima | Music, sound effects |
| 1988 | Super Mario Bros. 2 | Music, sound effects |
| 1988 | Super Mario Bros. 3 | Music, sound effects |
| 1990 | Super Mario World | Music, sound effects |
| 1990 | Pilotwings | Sound programmer; composed "Helicopter Theme" |
| 1991 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | Music, sound effects |
| 1993 | Star Fox | Sound effects |
| 1995 | Yoshi's Island | Music, sound effects |
| 1996 | Super Mario 64 | Music |
| 1997 | Star Fox 64 | Music with Hajime Wakai |
| 1998 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | Music |
| 2000 | The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask | Music with Toru Minegishi |
| 2002 | Super Mario Sunshine | Music with Shinobu Tanaka |
| 2002 | The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | Music with Kenta Nagata, Hajime Wakai, and Toru Minegishi |
| 2004 | The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures | Music with Asuka Hayazaki |
| 2006 | New Super Mario Bros. | Sound director; composed "Overworld Theme" |
| 2006 | The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | Music with Toru Minegishi and Asuka Hayazaki |
| 2007 | Super Mario Galaxy | Music with Mahito Yokota |
| 2008 | Super Smash Bros. Brawl | "Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros.)" |
| 2009 | The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks | "Ending Theme" |
| 2010 | Super Mario Galaxy 2 | Music with Mahito Yokota and Ryo Nagamatsu |
| 2011 | The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword | "An Ages-Old Tale" |
| 2013 | Super Mario 3D World | Music with Mahito Yokota, Toru Minegishi, and Yasuaki Iwata |
| 2014 | Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U | "Super Mario Bros. Medley" |
| 2015 | Super Mario Maker | Music with Naoto Kubo and Asuka Hayazaki |
| 2017 | Super Mario Odyssey | Music with Shiho Fujii and Naoto Kubo |
| 2018 | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | "King Bowser (Super Mario Bros. 3)" |
| 2019 | Super Mario Maker 2 | Music with Atsuko Asahi, Toru Minegishi, and Sayako Doi |
| 2023 | Super Mario Bros. Wonder | Music with Shiho Fujii, Sayako Doi, and Chisaki Shimazu |

### Executive and supporting roles

All works listed below credit Kondo in an executive or supporting role, such as a sound director or supervisor.
| Year | Title |
| 1993 | Super Mario All-Stars |
| 1998 | Mario Party |
| 1999 | Mario Golf |
| 1999 | Mario Party 2 |
| 2000 | Mario Tennis |
| 2000 | Mario Party 3 |
| 2001 | Mobile Golf |
| 2001 | Mario Kart: Super Circuit |
| 2002 | Mario Party 4 |
| 2002 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords |
| 2003 | Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour |
| 2003 | Mario Party 5 |
| 2003 | Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga |
| 2003 | Donkey Konga |
| 2004 | Mario vs. Donkey Kong |
| 2004 | Mario Power Tennis |
| 2004 | The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap |
| 2004 | Mario Party 6 |
| 2004 | Yoshi's Universal Gravitation |
| 2005 | Mario Party Advance |
| 2005 | Mario Superstar Baseball |
| 2005 | Mario Tennis: Power Tour |
| 2005 | Mario Party 7 |
| 2005 | Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time |
| 2006 | Mario Hoops 3-on-3 |
| 2006 | Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis |
| 2006 | Wii Sports |
| 2006 | Wii Play |
| 2007 | Mario Party 8 |
| 2007 | DK Jungle Climber |
| 2007 | Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games |
| 2007 | Mario Party DS |
| 2008 | Wii Music |
| 2008 | Mario Super Sluggers |
| 2009 | Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story |
| 2009 | Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! |
| 2009 | Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games |
| 2009 | New Super Mario Bros. Wii |
| 2010 | Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! |
| 2010 | Mario Sports Mix |
| 2011 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D |
| 2011 | The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition |
| 2011 | Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games |
| 2011 | Fortune Street |
| 2012 | Mario Party 9 |
| 2012 | Mario Tennis Open |
| 2012 | New Super Mario Bros. 2 |
| 2012 | New Super Mario Bros. U |
| 2012 | Paper Mario: Sticker Star |
| 2013 | Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon |
| 2013 | Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move |
| 2013 | New Super Luigi U |
| 2013 | Mario & Luigi: Dream Team |
| 2013 | Wii Party U |
| 2013 | Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games |
| 2013 | Mario Party: Island Tour |
| 2014 | Mario Golf: World Tour |
| 2015 | The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D |
| 2015 | Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars |
| 2015 | Mario Party 10 |
| 2015 | Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash |
| 2015 | Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam |
| 2016 | Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge |
| 2016 | Star Fox Zero |
| 2016 | Star Fox Guard |
| 2016 | Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games |
| 2016 | Mario Party: Star Rush |
| 2016 | Paper Mario: Color Splash |
| 2017 | Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle |
| 2017 | Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions |
| 2017 | Mario Party: The Top 100 |
| 2018 | Mario Tennis Aces |
| 2018 | Super Mario Party |
| 2018 | Starlink: Battle for Atlas |
| 2019 | Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 |
| 2020 | Paper Mario: The Origami King |
| 2021 | Mario Party Superstars |
| 2021 | Super Nintendo World |
| 2022 | Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope |
| 2023 | The Super Mario Bros. Movie |
| 2024 | Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door |

## Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2011 | Super Mario Galaxy 2 | British Academy Games Awards (Best Original Music) | Nominated |
| 2014 | Super Mario 3D World | British Academy Games Awards (Best Original Music) | Nominated |
| 2014 | Super Mario 3D World | Video Game Music Online (Best Soundtrack – Retro / Remixed) | Nominated |
Kondo was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame in 2024.