Jun Miyake

Jun Miyake is a Japanese composer. His music was used in the film Pina, nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature in January 2012. He has also been awarded by the German critic's award, Der Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik, as Best Album of the Year for his last three albums, Stolen from Strangers, Lost Memory Theatre act-1, and Lost Memory Theatre act-2.

Early life

Miyake was born into a paradoxical household that shaped his artistic sensibility. His mother was a music enthusiast and introduced him to melodies. However, his father was a chemist and was staunchly against sounds of any kind. This contrast cultivated his fascination with music, particularly jazz, which he discovered at age 12. At this age, Miyake was drawn to the trumpet and pursued a passion for improvisation and dynamic sonic exploration.

Career

Discovered by Japanese jazz trumpeter Terumasa Hino, Miyake started his career as a jazz trumpet player, having studied at Berklee College of Music from 1976 to 1981. In 1981, he won the prize at the Massachusetts Artist Foundation award for his composition. Miyake’s early career saw him exploring jazz and contemporary music, building a reputation in Japan’s music scene. His artistry evolved significantly during the late 1990s, marked by a trilogy of albums released on Beams Records. These works combined elements of jazz improvisation with exotic and global influences, garnering critical praise.
After returning to Tokyo, he became an influential artist, as well as a successful composer. Miyake has now released 17 solo albums, and has worked on films, documentaries, dances, advertisement, theatre pieces, and served as a producer for numerous artists. His main instruments include the trumpet, flugelhorn, melodica, piano, keyboard, fender rhodes, and programming.
In 1983, he released his first album "June Night Love", which includes two tracks used in the TDK TV commercial starring Andy Warhol. He then continued on to working for over 3000 TV commercials, which led to winning many awards, including Cannes advertisement film festival and the Digital Media Grands prix.
Miyake has worked closely with Pina Bausch for pieces including Rough Cut, Vollmond, Sweet Mambo, Como El Musguito En La Piedra, Ay Si Si..., which led to the film Pina by Wim Wenders; his tracks were featured in the essential scenes. This film was awarded by European Film Award 2011 as Best Documentary; nominated for the Academy Awards 2012 as Best Documentary Feature, and BAFTA 2012 as Best non-English language film. With Katsuhiro Otomo in 1995, he composed the soundtrack of the episode "Stink Bomb" for the anime Memories, where he uses a combination of jazz and funk to emphasize the film's chaotic and comedic nature.
He has also worked closely with Robert Wilson on White Town, an homage to Arne Jacobsen at Bellevue Teatret in Copenhagen; Jean-Paul Goude who has done the artwork for Stolen from Strangers, Lost Memory Theatre act-1, Lost Memory Theatre act-2, Oliver Stone, and Philippe Decouflé, among others, as well as collaborations with artists such as Hal Willner, Arto Lindsay, Peter Scherer, Arthur H, Vinicius Cantuaria, Cosmic voice of Bulgaria, David Byrne, Grace Jones, Gavin Friday, Nina Hagen, Ron Carter, Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, Al Foster, Dhafer Youssef, Vincent Segal, Remi Kolpa Kopoul, Jean-Michel Jarre, and many others.
With his ability to blend the most seemingly disparate element of music, he has achieved much respect throughout the world. From 2005, he has set a base in Paris, actively working on several projects. He has been selected as "Man of 2009" by Galeries Lafayette Homme.
In 2016, he arranged the Japanese national anthem Kimigayo for 2016 Summer Olympics closing ceremony; composed the track "ANTHEM OUTRO" for the "ARIGATO FROM JAPAN" sequence, which became the topic of conversation.
In recent years, his has worked for film scores including The Translators, Norman- The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer, An Artist of the Floating World, No Longer Human, No.9, Sanson, and Snow Country.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Miyake adopted remote recording techniques, collaborating with global musicians via home studios. He utilized Audiomovers for real-time recording in order to adapt to the environment. Despite the constraints of isolation, Miyake’s was able to compose "Undreamt Chapter" and maintained his reflective and universal qualities, showcasing commitment to creating art that resonates across contexts.
In 2021, he has released his most recent solo album "Whispered Garden".
After coming back to Tokyo during the pandemic, Miyake decided on moving his base to New York in 2024.

Theater and collaborations

Miyake collaborated with theater director Robert Wilson in 2002 for a production celebrating architect Arne Jacobsen. This experience introduced him to the world of theater, where he admired Wilson’s meticulous focus on lighting and simplicity. Miyake credits Wilson’s productions, such as Woyzeck, for their seamless integration of visual, narrative, and musical elements, further inspiring his creative outlook.
A defining aspect of Miyake’s career is his association with choreographer Pina Bausch. Their collaboration began serendipitously when Bausch’s team contacted him about using one of his compositions. Over the years, their bond deepened as Miyake contributed to her performances, including the soundtrack for Vollmond. Bausch’s work profoundly influenced him, teaching him the power of emotional expression through movement and simplicity. Miyake describes her artistry as a source of beauty, love, and inspiration.

Artistic philosophy

Miyake has worked with renowned artists such as Arto Lindsay, David Byrne, and Nina Hagen. His collaborations span genres and disciplines, from theater and dance to film, showcasing his versatility and global appeal. His music has been described as "worldly without being too specific," inviting listeners to craft their own interpretations.
On self-reflection, Miyake views music as "the art of time," crafting pieces that blend past and present to evoke "nostalgia at first sight." His process emphasizes emotional and sonic authenticity, often rejecting efficiency in favor of deep contemplation and timeless expression. Jun Miyake continues to be a vital figure in contemporary music, celebrated for his cross-disciplinary collaborations and evocative soundscapes.

Discography

1983 – "JUNE NIGHT LOVE　
1984 – "Especially Sexy　
1988 – "TOKOSHIE no TENOHIRA　〈永遠乃掌〉　
1989 – Cycloid / Stokesia　
1989 – "Gorilla original soundtrack"
1991 – ONE
1991 – "Sublime&JUN MIYAKE / RECIENTE　
1991 – "zans / La Party　
1993 – "ENTROPATHY　〈星ノ玉ノ緒〉　
1996 – "JUN MIYAKE CM TRACKS VOL.1　
1996 – "JUN MIYAKE CM TRACKS VOL.2　
1996 – 常夏乃憂ヒ JUN MIYAKE LIVE at CAY '95　
1997 – "Latinism Reversible　
1998 – "angels rondo" MUSIC for TAKAYUKI TERAKADO EXHIBITION　
1998 – "PuPu the soundtrack "
1999 – "Glam Exotica !　
2000 – "Mondo Erotica !　
2000 – "Innocent Bossa in the mirror　
2004 – "MASK DE 41 Original Soundtrack "
2006 – "Kiba Original Soundtrack vol.1"
2007 – "Stolen from strangers　
2007 – "Kiba Original Soundtrack vol.2"
2009 – "The Miraculous Mandarin "
2009 – "Vollmond music from the dance theater of Pina Bausch "
2010 – "Jeanne d'arc Soundtrack "
2010 – "Sublime&JUN MIYAKE / LUDIC
2011 – Pina by Wim Wenders Soundtrack
2013 – "Lost Memory Theatre act-1
2014 – "Woyzeck
2014 – "9 Days Queen
2014 – Lost Memory Theatre act-2
2017 – "Last Picture – Dairo Miyamoto
2017 – "NORMAN: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer Original Soundtrack"
2018 – "Lost Memory Theatre act-3
2019 – "COLOMENA / Kyoko Katsunuma & Jun Miyake
2019 – "An artist of floating world Original Soundtrack
2019 – "No Longer Human Original Soundtrack
2019 – 'Les Traducteurs Original Soundtrack "
2020 – Mémoires du Sapa Original Soundtrack "
2021 – "No.9 -Immortal Melody Soundtrack "
2021 – "Sanson Original Soundtrack "
2021 – "Whispered Garden
2022 – "Snow Country Original Soundtrack "
2023 – "Jeanne d'arc Soundtrack"
Films
1987 – "Itoshi no Half Moon" – Yōjirō Takita
1995 – Stink Bomb – "Memories" – Katsuhiro Otomo
1998 – "The Story of Pupu" – Kensaku Watanabe
1999 – Any Given Sunday – Oliver Stone – Didn't come through the final cut
2004 – Mask de 41 – Taishi Muramoto
2005 – Coffee with Pina – Lee Yanor
2006 – L'Ombre et la Main – Laurence Garret
2006 – "Kiba"
2009 – Mourir d'Aimer – Josse Dayan
2010 – Katai – Claire Doyon
2010 – 3 femmes amoureuses – Pierre Daigniere
2010 – The Women – Diane English
2011 – Jonas – Christian Ulmen & Robert Wilde
2011 – Eat Pray Love – Ryan Murphy
2011 – Pina – Wim Wenders
2014 – Tiens-toi droite – Katia Lewkowicz
2016 – Norman:The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer – Joseph Cedar
2019 – The Translators-
2019 – "An artist of floating world
Theater pieces
2000 – Philippe Decoufle / improvisational session / Palais de Chaillot
2002 – Robert Wilson / "Whitetown" / Bellevue Theatret
2002 – Philippe Decoufle / Iris workshop / Yokohama
2005 – Philippe Decoufle / Solo / Paris
2005 – Pina Bausch / Rough Cut / Wuppertal
2005 – Katrine Wiedman / The Mermaid / Copenhagen
2005 – Philippe Decoufle / Theatre Mogador/ Paris
2006 – Pina Bausch / Rough Cut / Wuppertal
2007 – Pina Bausch / Bamboo Blues / Wuppertal
2007 – Brecht-Weill / The Threepenny Opera / Akira Shirai / Tokyo
2008 – Pina Bausch /Sweet Mambo / Wuppertal
2009 – Shuji Terayama / The Miraculous Mandarin / Akira Shirai / Tokyo
2010 – Philippe Ridley / Leaves of Glass / Akira Shirai / Tokyo
2010 – Kazuki Nakajima / Jeanne d'Arc / Akira Shirai / Tokyo
2011 – Paul Auster / Ghosts / Akira Shirai / Tokyo
2011 – Kyoka Izumi / Tenshu Monogatari / Akira Shirai / Tokyo
2012 – Georg Büchner / WOYZECK / Akira Shirai / Tokyo
2013 – Go Aoki / 9 Days Queen / Akira Shirai / Tokyo
2014 – Jun Miyake / Lost Memory Theatre / Akira Shirai / Yokohama
2015 – Pearl S. Buck / PEARL / Lincoln Center / New York
2015 – No.9 Melody Immortality / Akira Shirai / Tokyo
2020 – Flying Sapa / Kumiko Ueda
2021 – No.9 Melody Immortality / Akira Shirai / Tokyo
2021 – Sanson / Akira Shirai
2023 – Jeanne d'arc / Akira Shirai