Experience 'Kingdom' with Live Performance: First Ever Cinema Concert!

The 'Kingdom' film series, which has achieved legendary success by topping the box office for live-action Japanese films in 2019, 2022, and 2024, and winning numerous domestic film awards, is celebrating the release of its latest installment, 'Kingdom: The Final Battle,' on July 17th with its first-ever cinema concert to be held in four cities nationwide.

Ahead of the premiere performance on July 5th in Tokyo, we conducted an interview with the composer of 'Kingdom,' Yutaka Yamada.

Composer Yutaka Yamada

◆ The Unique Challenges of 'Kingdom'

Yamada has composed the music for all installments of the 'Kingdom' series since the first film. He received the Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Musical Score for the first film and the fourth film, 'Kingdom: The Return of the General.' Since 2017, he has been based in Los Angeles, USA, and has also been involved in international projects. For Yamada, who is active globally, what does the 'Kingdom' series represent?

"The 'Kingdom' series is a work that has involved a great deal of trial and error. The particular challenge was how to express the unique momentum and speed of 'Kingdom' while using the orchestra, a form of expression with a long tradition. There were times when I felt that simply adhering to classical grammar was not enough to fully convey the passion of the work through music. Therefore, I focused on selecting sounds that would resonate most powerfully with the world of 'Kingdom,' without being bound by existing styles or conventions."

"This is the first time my music will be performed in concert in this way. I am purely happy and have special feelings about it. I also watched the rehearsals, and the power of live performance was incredible; when combined with the visuals, it felt like emotions were amplified even further."

While the music of 'Kingdom' features impressive classical-inspired sounds like cello, violin, and horn, new scores must be created to be performed by a full orchestra. Furthermore, during a performance, typically only the conductor directly watches the visuals and the progression of time. The orchestral musicians synchronize their timing by watching the conductor, not the screen. Cinema concerts are realized through highly advanced techniques.

"'Kingdom' has a large volume of music, and the timing with the visuals is extremely critical. Under the baton of Katsuhiro Ida, I believe the entire orchestra will synchronize meticulously with the visuals."

"The characteristic of 'Kingdom's' musical design is that it's not purely orchestral. 'Kingdom' has the speed and dynamism unique to shonen manga, and it's difficult to express that with an orchestra alone.

In the first film, the protagonist Shin is thrown into the vortex of a harsh destiny without even having time to prepare himself mentally. To express his passion, strong emotions, and the power to keep moving forward through music, I fused elements of rock and synthesizers with the orchestra as the core. This hybrid approach has become the fundamental style shaping the music of 'Kingdom.'"

◆ A Stoic Work Ethic as a Film Composer

Yamada has loved music since childhood and has listened to a wide variety of genres, both Japanese and Western. His favorite instrument is the piano, as he feels it allows him to express his emotions and ideas most naturally. In high school, out of curiosity, he tried composing with a computer for the first time and discovered the joy of shaping music from nothing. The boundless freedom of creation he felt in the process of bringing something from "0 to 1" became a major catalyst for aspiring to be a composer. Furthermore, he was strongly drawn to the grand scale and wide range of expression in Hollywood film scores, which led him to aim to become a film composer. He also found great appeal in the work itself: shaping the emotions and worldview of a story through music while closely following the narrative and visuals.

"Basically, I spend most of my days composing, and in between, I do strength training. I jot down melodies and sound ideas that come to me fragmentarily, and they sometimes take shape in my works later on. When I can't reach a satisfactory conclusion, I might work intensively for several days, sacrificing sleep until I achieve something I'm content with."

"As for the work (of a film composer), I first read the script and get a general idea. That is, I determine the character's background and what that scene needs to convey. For example, I might set certain frameworks like flashbacks, but in reality, I decide after watching the actors' performances, because the actors express so much in their roles. Even in a scene like a strategy meeting where they say, 'Let's go!', their eyes might convey a sadness of loss or burdens they carry, an aura that expresses these things, so I try to express that deeper layer through music."

"Most of my creative time might actually be difficult. However, that's because I want to pursue it thoroughly until I reach a point I'm satisfied with. The most rewarding moment is when the music I created for a film, when heard independently of the work, stands on its own as a song and leaves something with the listener. While fulfilling its role of supporting the story, I always aim to create something that will remain in people's hearts for a long time as music itself. And I believe that such music, as a result, can also deepen the appeal of the visuals."

Finally, we asked him about a "recommended scene" that particularly impressed him after watching the rehearsal.

"I felt that various scenes resonated more strongly with me through the live performance. Among them, the scene where Shin and Hyō part ways was particularly memorable. It's also the moment when Shin's dream of becoming 'the greatest general under heaven,' which runs through the entire series, begins to move towards reality for the first time. With the nuances unique to a live orchestra, it becomes a scene that stays with you more deeply."

"Once recorded music is fixed as a completed form. On the other hand, live orchestral performances have a depth of resonance cultivated by classical music. The atmosphere of the audience that day and the emotions of the performers are reflected in the sound, so even with the same work, you can experience different expressions each time."

<Profile> Yutaka Yamada

Born in 1989. Debuted as a film score composer in 2011 with the drama 'Marumo no Okite.' Since then, he has expanded his activities to commercials and films. The Original Soundtrack for the anime 'Tokyo Ghoul' has exceeded 100 million views on YouTube, and his representative work 'Glassy Sky' has gained global attention, being sampled by Eminem in 'Good Guy' (from the album 'Kamikaze'). Since 2017, he has been based in LA and has also focused on international projects such as the Chinese film 'Cry Me a Sad River' and Warner Bros. Home's 'Catwoman: Hunted' (22). For the film 'Kingdom,' he received the Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Musical Score at the 43rd and 48th awards, and for the 2023 TV anime 'Vinland Saga,' he received the Jerry Goldsmith Awards – Best Score for a TV show. Other works include the Netflix original series 'Alice in Borderland' and 'Yu Yu Hakusho.'

Concert Title: 'Kingdom' Cinema Concert Commemorating the Release of the Latest Film

[Tokyo Performance] July 5, 2026 (Sun) Tokyo International Forum Hall A

Doors Open: 4:00 PM / Performance Starts: 5:00 PM

[Osaka Performance] July 7, 2026 (Tue) Festival Hall

Doors Open: 5:30 PM / Performance Starts: 6:30 PM

[Fukuoka Performance] July 16, 2026 (Thu) Fukuoka Civic Hall Main Hall

Doors Open: 5:30 PM / Performance Starts: 6:30 PM

[Yokohama Performance] July 24, 2026 (Fri) Pacifico Yokohama National Convention Hall

Doors Open: 1:00 PM / Performance Starts: 2:00 PM *Matinee / Doors Open: 6:00 PM / Performance Starts: 7:00 PM *Evening Performance

Performers: Conductor: Katsuhiro Ida

Orchestra: Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra (Tokyo/Yokohama)

Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra (Osaka)

Kyushu Symphony Orchestra (Fukuoka)

Cello: Takayoshi Okuzumi (Tokyo)

Ayasa Inamoto (Osaka/Fukuoka/Yokohama)

Screening: 'Kingdom' (2019 / Running Time: 134 minutes)

Original Work: Yasuhisa Hara 'Kingdom' (Serialized in Shueisha's 'Weekly Young Jump')

Director: Shinsuke Sato / Screenplay: Tsutomu Kuroiwa, Shinsuke Sato, Yasuhisa Hara / Music: Yutaka Yamada

Planning, Production, and Sponsorship: Nippon Television Network / PROMAX / [Fukuoka Performance] FBS Fukuoka Broadcasting

C Yasuhisa Hara / Shueisha C 2019 "Kingdom" Production Committee

For the latest ticket information, please check the official website and each ticket vendor such as Ticket Pia.

Official Website: https://www.promax.co.jp/kingdom-cinemaconcert/