{"id":2419,"date":"2013-07-01T05:15:43","date_gmt":"2013-07-01T05:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/?p=2419"},"modified":"2025-08-13T11:06:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T18:06:29","slug":"241","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/241\/","title":{"rendered":"Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> Movie Discography"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Yamato<\/em> movie was the biggest blockbuster in Japanese cinema history. This new phenomenon was full of surprises. Never before had thousands of fans camped out overnight, nor had a merchandising campaign taken off so swiftly, nor had music played such a powerful role in bringing an anime to the public eye.<\/p>\n

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The 1977 premiere of the feature film was the pivotal flashpoint in Yamato<\/em>‘s history, the moment when all doubt was erased literally overnight and it became the biggest blockbuster in Japanese cinema history. This new phenomenon was full of surprises. Never before had thousands of fans camped out overnight to see a “cartoon” on the big screen. Never before had a merchandising campaign taken off so swiftly that stores could not stock their shelves fast enough to meet the demand. And never before had a single record album so strongly seized the anime world as the one most closely associated with this movie.<\/p>\n

Composer Hiroshi Miyagawa summed it up as well as anyone could have in his commentary from the film’s program book:<\/p>\n

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In every way,<\/em> Yamato is the best of the Japanese animated films. I have participated in many projects, but none of my other works excited me as much. I was fascinated with the creation of producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki, and as a result I put all of my creative energy into the music. Usually, producers don’t get intimately involved in the specialty of each staff member, but he persistently requested detailed cooperation from all of us in order to accomplish what he envisioned, and I firmly believe that I completely met his expectation. <\/em><\/p>\n

I now miss the time when the two of us kept up heated discussions even long after we looked like ghosts, and spent almost twenty hours recording the theme song. We had a toast in the early morning hours, swearing we would get through it. One usually does not have many chances to exceed himself in his lifetime, but<\/em> Yamato taught me how to live as a man of passion. Those of you who are touched by the film will also learn this, whether you realize it or not. My words sound serious, but this work is, without a doubt, beyond reproach. I absolutely want to recommend <\/em>Yamato not only to everyone in Japan, but all over the world as well.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Space Battleship Yamato<\/em><\/h3>\n

Drama Album, 7\/25\/1977
\nNippon Columbia, LP: CS-7033 Cassette: CAK-617<\/em><\/p>\n

The release of this album was the first signal that everything in the anime world was about to change. “Story” records for children were already well-established before Yamato<\/em> came along, but never was one as hotly anticipated as this, especially in the days when TV reruns were scarce. Such reruns had created a groundswell of fans whose devotion only got stronger with the passage of time. In order to promote the forthcoming movie, Nippon Columbia released an EP with a drama track in early July and followed up with this LP later in the month. Both of these gave fans a chance to listen to parts of the score that hadn’t been released yet, and their response was thunderous. When the album had been conceived, Columbia’s expectations were practically nil. Suddenly, they had a monster hit on their hands.<\/p>\n

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The LP provided an 47-minute version of the the TV series and was the first means of reliving the story on demand in audio form (unless you had the resources to get tape recordings from your TV). In its day, it was the equivalent of home video; many fans listened to it so often they could recite the lines. An even better bonus was a large collection of color stills, and when the movie finally did break it was the only major piece of merchandising on the shelves. Until it sold out, anyway.<\/p>\n

The hastily-conceived cassette version (at right and below) included a foldout insert that recycled art from the earlier EPs, which probably counted against it when compared to the deluxe packaging of the LP. Fortunately, Nippon Columbia got the message and improved the production values of later cassettes to measure up to their LP counterparts.<\/p>\n

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Below left: poster given away in stores with purchase<\/p>\n

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Top right: first CD release, April 1995 (Nippon Columbia, COCC-12477)
\nBottom right: second CD release, August 2014 (limited edition Sound Almanac bonus disc)<\/p>\n

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Space Cruiser Yamato<\/em><\/h3>\n

Drama Album, 11\/25\/1977
\nNippon Columbia, LP: CZ-7004 Cassette: CAK-631<\/em><\/p>\n

The next release was a real oddball, almost certainly meant to get something, anything else into stores while the iron was still hot. A substantially re-edited English-language version of the movie had been produced in 1976 and sold to overseas markets under the name Space Cruiser Yamato.<\/em> (A full report on the making of that film can be read here.<\/a>) Looking for a way to capitalize on the runaway success of their first Drama album, Nippon Columbia assembled this one from the English-language soundtrack and released it in a keepsake box that included a poster and a translated script book. It’s likely that many Japanese fans were underwhelmed, particularly those who still longed for an actual soundtrack album. Fortunately, the very next release would deliver what they wanted–and then some.<\/p>\n

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Yamato<\/em> Sound Almanac Series, 1977-II Space Cruiser Yamato<\/em><\/h3>\n

CD, 7\/18\/12
\nNippon Columbia, COCX-37383<\/em><\/p>\n

This album finally came to CD 35 years after its first release in the massive Yamato<\/em> Sound Almanac series. Read all about the series and find liner notes here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Symphonic Suite Yamato<\/em><\/h3>\n

Symphonic album, 12\/25\/1977
\nNippon Columbia, LP: CQ-7001 Cassette: CAK-642<\/em><\/p>\n

It was first heard on December 2, 1977 as part of the soundtrack to the 4-hour Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> radio drama on All Night Nippon. Fans who had dissected every minute of the Drama LP must have been transfixed. Out of the blue, here were completely new versions of their favorite tracks, exquisitely rearranged to take full advantage of the world-class Symphonic Orchestra Yamato.<\/em> The orchestra included some heavy hitters from the ranks of Japan’s best musicians such as violinist Shigeru Toyama and guitarist Yoshio Kimura, all of whom brought their ‘A’ game to the task.<\/p>\n

A Yamato<\/em> devotee couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas present when the album arrived on December 25th. Even now, over 30 years later, it towers over all competition. It begins with the majestic Overture<\/em> featuring the famous vocal scat by Kazuko Kawashima, then explodes into the finest rendition of the Yamato<\/em> Theme (titled Birth)<\/em> that has ever been recorded. The third track, titled Sasha,<\/em> was originally recorded with a longer prelude which was omitted to aid the flow of the album. Another highlight starts side 2 of the LP, a fast-paced samba arrangement of The Scarlet Scarf<\/em> that instantly demonstrated the potential for fresh interpretation.<\/p>\n

These arrangements would become the basis for many live performances in the coming years and set a standard not only for future Yamato<\/em> productions but the entire artform of anime music.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to read the liner notes<\/p>\n


\nPoster given away in stores with purchase<\/em><\/p>\n

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The first taste of Symphonic Suite<\/em> in live concert form came on a 1978 Columbia LP titled The World of Hiroshi Miyagawa,<\/em> shown above left. (Read more about that album here.<\/a>) Symphonic Suite<\/em> was also one of the first three Yamato<\/em> albums released on CD, along with the Farewell to Yamato<\/em> symphonic album and the 1984 Grand Symphony.<\/em> Columbia rolled it out on three separate occasions; twice in the packaging shown above center under two catalog numbers: 32C35-7529 (1985) and COCC-12227 (1995), then remastered for the Eternal Edition Premium box set (above right, 2004). Read all about this set here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Yamato<\/em> Sound Almanac Series, 1977-I Symphonic Suite Yamato<\/em><\/h3>\n

CD, 7\/18\/12
\nNippon Columbia, COCX-37382<\/em><\/p>\n

The Sound Almanac series was an ambitious 2-year project (2012-2014) to reissue the entire Yamato<\/em> catalog on 30 discs, all remastered to “Blu-spec CD” quality and brimming with bonus tracks. Extensive new liner notes introduced classic Yamato<\/em> music to new fans brought in by Yamato 2199<\/em> and also contained plenty of previously-unknown trivia for the veterans.<\/p>\n

Read all about the series and find liner notes here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Symphonic Suite from
Space Battleship Yamato<\/em><\/h3>\n

33-1\/3 rpm EP, 3\/25\/1978
\nNippon Columbia, CH-61<\/em><\/p>\n

Anyone who still hadn’t caught the buzz three months later could sample the album from the three tracks on this single. A foldout insert with the EP reproduced liner notes from the album, which had included this charmingly humble commentary from Hiroshi Miyagawa:<\/p>\n

When Producer Nishizaki called upon me to create<\/em> Yamato‘s Symphonic Suite, I figured it would be a fairly challenging piece work, but it would also be a bewitching job for a composer. Three years had passed since I created the soundtrack for<\/em> Space Battleship Yamato. I set my will on fire, and I wanted to create some new music with a deeper theme. <\/em><\/p>\n

At times, Mr. Nishizaki would get extremely passionate about his views, which resulted in a positive experience for a musician whose views held a wide horizon. Since there are many new arrangements here, those that have the drama album may think these are somewhat incompatible, but I feel that if you listen closely, you can catch the deeper themes I have added, and I believe they’ll fit right in with the broader tone of Yamato music. I figure that once you listen to the opening, you’ll understand that this LP is reasonably priced.<\/em><\/p>\n

A better word would have been ‘priceless.’<\/p>\n

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Starsha, Thoughts Among the Stars<\/em> b\/w symphonic track Starsha<\/em><\/h3>\n

45rpm single, 6\/10\/1978
\nNippon Columbia, CK-513<\/em><\/p>\n

Also heard in the radio drama, a violin ballad opens this ‘image song’ with drama and atmosphere that invokes a sad, lovely woman. The B-side featured Starsha,<\/em> the closing track from Symphonic Suite.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Starsha, Thoughts Among the Stars<\/h3>\n

Lyrics: Yu Aku
\nMusic: Hiroshi Miyagawa
\nVocal: Isao Sasaki<\/em>
\n
\nIscandar, the star is called
\nGoddess of love Starsha, Starsha
\nTo the wandering people who suffer
\nYou held out a gentle hand
\nIf it may be allowed
\nI take that hand and draw it toward me
\n
\nAh…ah…
\nThe sea of stars, your thoughts in the sea of stars
\nStarsha, Starsha
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\nIscandar, Iscandar, from the thought flows
\nGoddess of love Starsha, Starsha
\nAllured by the dream of peace
\nI remember a beloved heart
\nI hear a voice from distant heaven
\nI turn but my eye sees nothing<\/span>
\n\"\"<\/span>
\nAh…ah…
\nThe sea of stars, your thoughts in the sea of stars
\nStarsha, Starsha<\/p>\n

This song can be found on the following albums, shown at right:<\/p>\n

Main Title Hit Theme Collection
\nSong Collection
\nEternal Edition The Best II<\/em>
\nIsao Sasaki Best 24
\nIsao Sasaki: Poetry of Man<\/p>\n

(see other discographies for data)<\/p>\n

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Space Cruiser Yamato<\/em> b\/w The Red Scarf<\/em><\/h3>\n

45rpm Single, 12\/25\/1978
\nNippon Columbia, CK-517<\/em><\/p>\n

This product remains something of a curio, released in the wake of Farewell to Yamato<\/em> when practically anything with the name Yamato<\/em> on it was a guaranteed seller. Here, the OP and ED themes are sung phonetically in English by Isao Sasaki, maintaining the spirit of the original while rushing admirably through some obviously unfamiliar syllables.<\/p>\n

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Lyricist Donald P. Berger evidently had a partnership with Sasaki at the time; he also wrote English versions of other songs which were collected on an all-English LP from Nippon Columbia titled Isao Sasaki Singing his Beloved Anime Hits.<\/em> This album included an English version of the Space Pirate Captain Harlock<\/em> theme, among others.<\/p>\n

Mr. Berger (1931-2014) enjoyed a rich career of his own, starting as a journalist of Asian music for the Japan Times<\/em> in the late 1960s and later joining the faculty of the American School in Japan<\/a> as a teacher, musician, and arranger. His specialty was the Shakuhachi flute. He is pictured here with his wife Kaori (far right), with whom he lived out his last years in Georgia.<\/p>\n

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Space Cruiser Yamato<\/h3>\n

Lyrics: Donald P. Berger
\nMusic: Hiroshi Miyagawa
\nVocals: Isao Sasaki and the Royal Knights<\/em><\/p>\n

It is time to go, we know
\nFrom the Earth that we love so
\nMan the cruiser which is called Yamato<\/p>\n

Speeding onward toward the light
\nFor the shores of Iscandar
\nWe will save Earth by our might
\nAnd make the future bright<\/p>\n

We’ll return another day
\nOh we cannot stay away
\nFrom the friends we left behind
\nFrom the race of humankind<\/p>\n

Leaving now the Milky Way
\nMarching on toward Iscandar
\nSave the Earth from each dreaded foe
\nMen of Space Cruiser Yamato<\/p>\n

It is time to go, we know
\nFrom the Earth that we love so
\nMan the cruiser which is called Yamato<\/p>\n

Flying in the stars above
\nFighting for the Earth we love
\nSpeeding onward, roaring by
\nWe will return by and by<\/p>\n

But for now we must remain
\nWe must fight, endure the pain
\nFor the hopes of those we love
\nAre with Earth as we fly above<\/p>\n

Leaving now the Milky Way
\nMarching on toward Iscandar
\nSave the Earth from each dreaded foe
\nMen of Space Cruiser Yamato<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Red Scarf<\/h3>\n

Lyrics: Donald P. Berger
\nMusic: Hiroshi Miyagawa
\nVocals: Isao Sasaki<\/em><\/p>\n

See the girl, she’s waving to you
\nThe scarf, so bright and red
\nAs you race into the blue
\nShe is waving, waving to you<\/p>\n

As you travel on your way
\nAnd night turns into day
\nYou will carry in your heart
\nMemories of the bright red scarf<\/p>\n

Romance is yours as you travel out among the stars
\nRomance is yours as you speed along to distant mars
\nLa La La La La La…
\nLa La La La La La…
\nJust keep it near your heart, the bright red scarf<\/p>\n

You’ll return, don’t have any fears
\nSo sing a happy tune
\nThough the months turn into years
\nShe’ll be waiting, waiting for you<\/p>\n

You will find your hopes and your dreams
\nYour plans and all your schemes
\nYou will see as you depart
\nHer eyes and bright red scarf<\/p>\n

So have your dreams as you fly on to the end of space
\nThe bright moonbeams will lighten up her lovely face
\nLa La La La La La…
\nLa La La La La La…
\nRemember while apart the bright red scarf<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Listen to a hybrid edit of the Japanese and English lyrics here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These songs can be found on the following albums:
\n(see other discographies for data)<\/p>\n

\u2022Isao Sasaki Singing His Beloved Animation Hits
\n\u2022Eternal Edition The Best II<\/em>
\n\u2022Isao Sasaki Deluxe Collection<\/p>\n

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Symphonic Suite Yamato 2024 Mix<\/em><\/h3>\n

Columbia \/ December 25, 2024<\/em><\/p>\n

For this special 50th anniversary project, the engineers at Columbia Japan went all the way back to the 16 channel source tracks and digitized them from the ground up to produce a new mix for the ages. As fans themselves who grew up on this album, it held a special place in their hearts and needed to be handled exactly right.<\/p>\n

How do we know this? Because they explained it in a detailed interview published the same day on Phile Web<\/em>. Click here<\/a> to read it.<\/p>\n


\nPhoto posted on Twitter by Alpharing_77<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

A body of work with this much history behind it can’t be limited to one format, so it was also released on limited edition vinyl, digital download, and an unprecedented spatial audio version that makes you feel like you’re in the recording studio.<\/p>\n

Both the CD and LP contained the same interior content, though of course the LP version was much larger. Since the Symphonic Suite 2202<\/em> album (from January 2021) was simultaneously released on vinyl, the occasion merited a crossover in liner notes. Read them here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Order the album from Amazon.co.jp here<\/a> or CD Japan here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And while you’re waiting for it to arrive, listen to the whole thing for free on Youtube here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Continue to the Farewell to Yamato<\/em> Discography<\/a><\/p>\n

Bonus:<\/em> Two magazine ads for the Drama album<\/p>\n

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Special thanks to superfan Steve Harrison for research assistance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-music-video-space-battleship-yamato-the-movie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2419"}],"version-history":[{"count":54,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41524,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2419\/revisions\/41524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}