Skip to content
MovieCove
Shinichirô Ikebe

Shinichirô Ikebe

Composer · Born September 15, 1943 (83) · Mito, Ibaraki, Japan

Shinichiro Ikebe (池辺 晋一郎 Ikebe Shinichirou; born September 15, 1943, in Mito, Ibaraki) is a Japanese composer of contemporary classical music. He has written the scores for many films by Akira Kurosawa and other Japanese film directors, including Kagemusha (1980), MacArthur's Children (1984), Kurosawa's Dreams (1990), Rhapsody in August (1991), Madadayo (1993), and Warm Water Under a Red Bridge (2001). He studied composition with Tomojirō Ikenouchi, Akio Yashiro, and Akira Miyoshi at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, obtaining a master's degree in 1971. He serves as a professor at the Tokyo College of Music. He had several awards up to 2004, such as Excellence at the Salzburg TV Opera, The Italian Broadcasting Corporation, that is, RAI, The International Emmy Award, the Otaka Award, the Broadcasting Culture Award, the Yoshio Sagawa incentive Award, the Medal with Purple Ribbon.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 15, 1943 (83)
From
Mito, Ibaraki, Japan
Works as
Composer
Titles
12 on MovieCove · 53 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 46% in 30 days

What are Shinichirô Ikebe's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Self.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 92nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
31%
Self
24%
Morality
17%
Bonds
11%
Ideas
8%
Society
7%
Power
3%
Grief3 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 3 · Serious 2 · Dark 7

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 6 · Intense 4

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 7 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 2 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 7

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 6 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Contemplative
7
Melancholic
7
Tense
5
Dread
5
Warm
1
Other
5

How their films linger

Haunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Shinichirô Ikebe's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 12 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Shinichirô Ikebe's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

53 credits, 12 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Nobutora - Samurai Tiger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Composer

  • Haruko's Doll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Composer

  • Climbing to Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Composer

  • The Summit: A Chronicle Of Stones to Serenity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Music Director

  • Glory to the Filmmaker! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Composer

  • The Ode to Joy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Composer

  • Summer of Ubume (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Composer

  • The Milkwoman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Composer

  • Winter Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Composer

  • Spy Sorge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Composer

  • Ino Tadataka: Meridian Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Composer

  • Warm Water Under a Red Bridge(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Closed Ward (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Composer

  • Boy's Choir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Composer

  • Colorful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Composer

  • Murder on D Street(1998)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Eel(1997)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Moonlight Serenade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Composer

  • Paradise of Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Composer · Actor

  • Madadayo(1993)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Great Shogunate Battle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • Rhapsody in August(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Kimi no na wa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 312 episodes · Composer

  • Dohten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • Sea of ​​Wandering (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Composer

  • Making of 'Dreams' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Composer

  • Dreams(1990)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Takeshi: Childhood Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Composer

  • Days with Harasu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Composer

  • Labyrinth Romanesque(1988)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Zegen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Composer

  • Keshin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 4 episodes · Composer

  • Late Night Salute (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 4 episodes · Composer

  • Surgical Designs in Flames (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Composer

  • Gray Sunset (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Composer

  • Shiawase no Kuni: Aoi Tori Patapata? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Composer

  • MacArthur's Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Composer

  • Future Boy Conan: The Big Giant Robot's Resurrection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Composer

  • The Ballad of Narayama(1983)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Eternal Monument (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Composer

  • Toge no Gunzo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 50 episodes · Composer

  • Eijanaika (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Composer

  • On-yado Kawasemi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 24 episodes · Composer

  • Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior(1980)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Fujin no Mon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 23 episodes · Composer

  • Vengeance Is Mine(1979)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Rika (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Composer

  • Conan, the Boy in Future(1979)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Future Boy Conan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 26 episodes · Composer

  • Ōgon no Hibi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 51 episodes · Composer

  • Akai Hana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Composer

  • Under the Blossoming Cherry Trees(1975)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Dream Island Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Composer

Career shape

A full career of 52 titles from 1974 to 2021.

Biggest box office

Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980)

$4M worldwide

Highest rated

Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Rhapsody in August (1991)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 52: 0 only acting, 1 with another roleMusic51 of 52: 50 only music, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score89thOther crew1 of 52: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1970s7 · crew1980s17 · crew1990s13 · 1 acting · 13 crew2000s12 · crew2010s2 · crew2020s1 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Shinichirô Ikebe's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 90th percentile, the median of all 12; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 90th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 12 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th3

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 12 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · composer

Conan, the Boy in Future (1979)

63rd percentile spread · 9% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980)

Midcredits 98th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 73/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 50. The element that speaks to their work as a composer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Shinichirô Ikebe's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Shinichirô Ikebe work with?

People who share at least 2 of Shinichirô Ikebe's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Mitsuko Baishō shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers