The composer and arranger responsible for much of the music in a variety of early Konami hits between 1985 and 2001 is back from retirement and ready to make new music, publisher Scarlet Moon announced today in a press release.
From 1985 to 2001, Miki Higashino worked on a variety of high-profile projects at Konami, which was finally coming into its own after several years spent developing a range of arcade titles and minor console releases that time has largely forgotten. They can't all be Frogger.
In 1985, Higashino was a student part-time composer at Konami. She worked at the company at the perfect time to contribute to its rise to prominence, starting with the likes of Yie Ar Kung-Fu, Gradius, Life Force, and Gradius 3.
After composing for Contra 3: The Alien Wars and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters, Higashino turned her attention to more contemplative work, where she excelled. Tokimeki Memorial music came in 1994, and then her ambitious efforts on Suikoden, Suikoden II, and Genso Suikogaiden Vol. 1 & 2, just ahead of her retirement to spend time raising her family.
In 2025, Higashino returned to the industry with her work on 2025's Bounty Sisters, a scrolling vertical shooter from PiXEL that is planned for release by Aksys Games by the end of 2026. Now she is ready to take on additional work, and for developers outside her native Japan.
"I started keeping in touch with Shinji Hosoe again after I wrote the music for HexaDrive’s shooting action game, Infinity Bullets," Miki Higashino explained. "Through him, I learned about Scarlet Moon and immediately realized that the company name was connected to Suikoden. For me, partnering with people who have such a deep love for Suikoden gave me a great sense of trust and comfort. So I thought that partnering with Scarlet Moon, which is based in the U.S., might create new opportunities and connections for me. I’m a challenger, after all!"
Higashino was a key member of the Konami Kukeiha Club, an in-house sound team and music collective at Konami that included other composers such as Tappi Iwase (Metal Gear Solid), Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill), and Motoaki Furukawa (Sunset Riders). Her return to active work is big news for people who love game music of the 80s and 90s, and it's an exciting opportunity for Scarlet Moon as the publisher continues to build its portfolio of talent.
"We are beyond honored to have Higashino-san's trust and partnership as we look for ways to bring her iconic sound to creators around the world," notes Scarlet Moon's Jayson Napolitano. "For whose who are unaware, Scarlet Moon draws its name from the first Suikoden game, my personal favorite game in large part due to its incredible music. I often share that I approach my work largely as a fan, and take immense pleasure to facilitating our artists being able to express their art in service to game projects, so given our company's connection to Higashino-san's most iconic work, you can imagine our excitement to embark on this journey together."
You can learn more about Miki Higashino and Scarlet Moon Artists at the official web site, where a selection of her compositions is available to sample. Interested developers will also find a contact email, should they wish to work with the experienced composer on an upcoming project.
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