He’s still working while the rest of us are counting the days until retirement.
At 84 years and 292 days, what do you expect to be doing? We imagine we’ll have a walker, eat tasteless food and spend our afternoons yelling at those pesky kids in between numerous naps. No where in this fictional future scenario do any of us see “RocketNews24 writer” as our job title nor do we expect to become Guinness World Record holders for oldest Japanese “news” reporter. But if you happen to be the music composer for the Dragon Quest series, you might look at the official world record certificate you just received and call us super lazy.
Koichi Sugiyama was recently recognized as the oldest video game music composer as he is currently hard at work creating the iconic tunes of the soon to be released Dragon Quest XI. Sugiyama is quite familiar with the series as he has worked on all the Dragon Quest games dating back to the very first one in 1986.
【祝】DQシリーズの楽曲を手がける作曲家すぎやまこういちさんが、84歳292日で「最高齢でゲーム音楽を作曲した作曲家」としてギネス世界記録に認定!DQ11でも新曲を作曲中!めざせ記録更新! #すぎやまこういち #DQ30th pic.twitter.com/KYiyW4ezh9
— ドラゴンクエスト宣伝担当 (@DQ_PR) September 5, 2016
He’s also been responsible for many other hit songs, anime themes and music in commercials working on projects such as Magic Knights Rayearth and Cyborg 009.
そうか、すぎやまこういち先生は「世界最高齢でゲームミュージックを作曲した作曲家」としてギネス認定されたのね! 84歳292日。素晴らしい! pic.twitter.com/zitVVHnSDa
— 佐久間真理子🌗 (@sakumariko) September 4, 2016
His passion appears to be Dragon Quest as he has tirelessly composed and arranged the music for each game in the series. If you ever find yourself humming a tune from one of the games, you now know who to thank for it. Although if you are a true fan, Sugiyama is already a name you know very well. At 85 years young, he still has plenty of time left to continue pursuing his video game music passion, and with such high life expectancy rates in Japan, how awesome would it be to play a game with music created by a centenarian. We hope that we have the pleasure of listening to hours and hours more of his iconic work!
Source: My Game News Flash
Featured image: Twitter/@DQ_PR

Dragon Quest composer Koichi Sugiyama passes away
The unforgettable Dragon Quest theme music took an amazingly short time to write, composer says
Japanese Dragon Quest fan finds her one-button fix for composer’s questionable politics
Theatrhythm: Dragon Quest announced for Nintendo 3DS
Dragon Quest at Olympics opening ceremony? Game theme, Eva-connected song heard coming from stadium
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Japanese airport rebrands itself as “Sushi Airport” to attract foreign tourists
New Mt. Fuji overnight bus takes travelers from downtown Tokyo straight to the most popular hiking trail
Tochigi man shares his family’s process for creating 16 years worth of rice paddy art
Climbing season officially opens for Japan’s Mt. Hiyoriyama, the shortest mountain in the country
Yoshinoya and Dragon Quest slaying scalpers with shift to made-to-order collaboration merch
Tokyo revises accommodation tax amidst tourism boom, Airbnb rentals now included
7-Eleven Japan now has Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, but how do they taste?[Taste test]
Raw chicken dishes to be regulated by Japanese government
Japan now has a Pokémon airport that features every species of Flying-type ever[Video]
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
A visit to Sri Lanka’s knockoff knockoff Uniqlo (no, we didn’t stutter) to see its rare “Pikachus”
Starbucks Japan teams up with Converse Tokyo for a new limited-edition collection in honour of Tanabata
Don’t judge this Kiki’s Delivery Service book by its cover, because it’s not actually a book!
7-Eleven Japan releases chocolate cookies that taste like freshly baked melon bread
Japanese overnight sightseeing train returns for summer with ramen stops and ocean views
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
Forget Tokyo go-karts – there’s a new way to sightsee on four wheels in Japan
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Japanese commercial for upcoming Dragon Quest XI evokes nostalgia and excitement all at once
Percussionists recreate classic 8-bit video game music with enormous xylophones 【Videos】
Have a Double Dose of Nostalgia Listening to the Dragon Quest Theme Played On a Moog Synth Courtesy of Google’s Latest Doodle
Twitter users claim Dragon Quest theme is eerily similar to university song, North Korea’s anthem
Fit’s gum collaborating with Slime for Dragon Quest’s 30th anniversary
Fortune smiles upon thee, Sir Sato. Thou hast found the 30th Anniversary Dragon Quest sake
Tokyo’s Shibuya Station now sending trains on their way by playing the Dragon Quest theme 【Video】
Japanese kid turns dad’s retro game collection into awesome Dragon Quest clock【Photos】
I had no idea you could win crane game prizes in Japan the way my friend won this Dragon Quest Slime