Asei Kobayashi
Description
Asei Kobayashi was a Japanese composer, lyricist, actor, and entertainer. He was born on August 11, 1932, in Tokyo, Japan, and died on May 30, 2021. While his primary profession was music composition, he also had a career as a performer, including voice acting roles in anime films.
As a composer, Kobayashi was exceptionally prolific, creating over six thousand pieces of music. His work was a significant part of Japanese popular culture, especially in television. He composed theme songs and background music for numerous classic anime series. Some of his most famous anime composition credits include the ending theme for the science fiction series Gatchaman, music for the magical girl series Sally the Witch, and the ending theme for the mecha series Chōdenji Robo Combattler V. His musical influence extended beyond animation, as he also wrote widely recognized commercial jingles, such as the long-running song Kono Ki Nanno Ki for Hitachi, Ltd.
In the field of voice acting, Kobayashi's roles were sporadic and primarily in animated theatrical features. His most frequently cited voice role is as the Music Teacher, also known as Professor Low Note, in the 1985 Japanese animated film A Journey Through Fairyland. This fantasy film, directed by Masami Hata, featured him in this supporting character role. Another of his anime voice credits from this period is the character Sunday in the 1983 film Noel's Fantastic Trip. His work as a voice actor was a complement to his larger career as a composer and live-action performer.
Beyond animation, Kobayashi appeared as an actor in several live-action films. His film acting credits include roles in Akira Kurosawa's 1993 film Madadayo, where he played Reverend Kameyama, and the 2008 film Gu Gu, the Cat, in which he portrayed Taisuke Yamamoto. Known for his signature shaved head and cheerful public persona, he was a familiar face on Japanese television and in cinema. His contributions to music and entertainment were recognized with awards, including the Japan Record Awards Achievement Prize.
As a composer, Kobayashi was exceptionally prolific, creating over six thousand pieces of music. His work was a significant part of Japanese popular culture, especially in television. He composed theme songs and background music for numerous classic anime series. Some of his most famous anime composition credits include the ending theme for the science fiction series Gatchaman, music for the magical girl series Sally the Witch, and the ending theme for the mecha series Chōdenji Robo Combattler V. His musical influence extended beyond animation, as he also wrote widely recognized commercial jingles, such as the long-running song Kono Ki Nanno Ki for Hitachi, Ltd.
In the field of voice acting, Kobayashi's roles were sporadic and primarily in animated theatrical features. His most frequently cited voice role is as the Music Teacher, also known as Professor Low Note, in the 1985 Japanese animated film A Journey Through Fairyland. This fantasy film, directed by Masami Hata, featured him in this supporting character role. Another of his anime voice credits from this period is the character Sunday in the 1983 film Noel's Fantastic Trip. His work as a voice actor was a complement to his larger career as a composer and live-action performer.
Beyond animation, Kobayashi appeared as an actor in several live-action films. His film acting credits include roles in Akira Kurosawa's 1993 film Madadayo, where he played Reverend Kameyama, and the 2008 film Gu Gu, the Cat, in which he portrayed Taisuke Yamamoto. Known for his signature shaved head and cheerful public persona, he was a familiar face on Japanese television and in cinema. His contributions to music and entertainment were recognized with awards, including the Japan Record Awards Achievement Prize.
All Characters
- JapaneseAnime overview: A Journey Through Fairyland