Composer Hisashi Jo Reveals via SNS
"Did Not Approve Performances Using His Name"
Multiple Concerts Named After Him Planned Domestically
Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi, known for serving as the music director for animations such as Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and the film Welcome to Dongmakgol, has expressed displeasure over unauthorized performances using his name that are rampant both domestically and internationally.
According to domestic and international media on the 4th, Hisaishi's representatives posted a statement on their official website and social media on the 26th of last month, stating, "Many performances bearing Hisaishi's name are often perceived as concerts in which Hisaishi himself participates, but we do not approve of such performances."
They continued, "We do not permit the use or arrangement of Hisaishi's music without proper authorization," adding, "Currently, there are many events worldwide that freely arrange and use Hisaishi's music, but unauthorized arrangements of Hisaishi's music infringe upon the composer's copyright and moral rights, and we absolutely cannot tolerate this."
Hisaishi's team emphasized, "We stress the importance of using music with the official permission of the composer and in accordance with copyright law," and "We strongly urge the legal use of the music."
As orchestral concerts bearing Hisaishi's name have been prevalent in Korea over recent years, this statement has sparked controversy domestically as it was translated and disseminated.
Hisaishi's last visit to Korea for a concert was in 2017, and there are currently no scheduled performances in the country.
Meanwhile, according to domestic ticket reservation sites, there are more than four concerts scheduled this year alone that use Joe Hisaishi's name but are hosted by different organizers. These concerts, with only slight variations in their titles, have toured various regions nationwide, maintaining steady popularity due to their high accessibility.
One organizer of these concerts responded to the controversy by stating, "We have submitted stage usage applications to the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) and are conducting the performances accordingly. After the concerts, we submit settlement documents and pay copyright fees," and regarding the use of Joe Hisaishi's name in the concert titles, they said, "Since we have properly reported it, we have no obligation to respond."
However, KOMCA stated that while the reporting of music used by the performers is done, this does not legally resolve the issue of using the copyright holder's name in the concert title.
KOMCA acts as an intermediary between those who wish to use copyrighted works and the copyright holders to facilitate permission processes and the collection of copyright fees. The scope of their trust management is limited to the 'economic rights' of copyright.
The 'moral rights,' which include the artist's name and arrangements, are personal rights exclusive to the author and require direct permission from the copyright holder; the association cannot intervene in these matters.
An industry insider commented, "Even aside from legal aspects, it is ethically wrong to do so. It can cause confusion and potentially harm the original creator," adding, "Such problematic practices have become rampant recently. I believe a solution is necessary."
Meanwhile, four concerts using Joe Hisaishi's name have been held this year: Joe Hisaishi & Ghibli Movie Music Concert - Film & His Own Music and Ghibli Festival_Original Joe Hisaishi Soundtrack are currently ongoing, while Ghibli & Joe Hisaishi: The Orchestra - Bucheon and Joe Hisaishi OST MUSIC Concert_2024 Pohang have concluded.
The ticket prices for these four concerts ranged from a minimum of 33,000 KRW to a maximum of 120,000 KRW.
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