Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Akira

A masterpiece of "cyber-folk" and the definitive sonic blueprint for Neo-Tokyo.

The strength of the Akira soundtrack lies in its radical, world-building fusion: a unique collision of ancient Japanese tradition and bleeding-edge futuristic electronics. Composed by Shoji Yamashiro and performed by the hundred-member collective Geinoh Yamashirogumi, the score mirrors the dystopian chaos of Katsuhiro Otomo’s 1988 masterpiece. By weaving together the primal power of Taiko drums, the breathy ghosts of Shakuhachi flutes, and the guttural chants of Noh theater, Yamashiro created a sonic landscape that feels both prehistoric and post-apocalyptic.

This isn't just a film score; it is a masterclass in ethno-fusion. The soundtrack famously utilizes Gamelan microtonal scales and polyrhythmic drum machine beats to generate a sense of ritualistic dread that perfectly matches the film's psychic explosions and societal collapse. From the iconic, heartbeat-pounding "Kaneda" to the ethereal, haunting layers of "Requiem," the music captures a sense of "cosmic loneliness" unique to the cyberpunk genre. This 2026 limited repress ensures that the "Symphonic Suite Akira" remains available for audiophiles and anime aficionados alike—a hauntingly mesmerizing experience that remains as revolutionary today as it was nearly forty years ago.