HISAISHI, JOE

The vinyl release of Joe Hisaishi’s My Neighbor Totoro: Sound Book is one of the most uniquely charming gems in the entire Studio Ghibli Records catalog, offering a completely rearranged acoustic perspective on the 1988 classic. Unlike the original soundtrack—which relies heavily on whimsical synthesizers, pop melodies, and full orchestral layers—the Sound Book reimagines Hisaishi’s iconic themes through a minimalist chamber-folk lens. Billed by the studio as a "picture book of music," the arrangements feature a heavy emphasis on three core acoustic instruments: the violin played by Masatsugu Shinozaki, the flute by Rie Akagi, and the guitar by Hiroki Miyano.