Game Music Composer Yoko Shimomura to Receive Top BAFTA Honor

Yoko Shimomura, the talented Japanese composer behind countless beloved video game soundtracks, will soon join the ranks of BAFTA’s most celebrated artists. She’s set to receive the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship on April 8, recognizing her amazing contributions to gaming.

If you’ve ever found yourself humming tunes from Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy XV, or the classic Street Fighter II, you’ve experienced Shimomura’s musical magic. Her work has touched millions of players and helped define some of gaming’s most memorable moments. Her other works include Mario & Luigi, Xenoblade Chronicles, Streets of Rage, the Mana series, Super Mario RPG, Live A Live, Radiant Historia, Parasite Eve, and Breather of Fire.

Shimomura herself seems genuinely surprised by the honor. “I am absolutely delighted to receive such an amazing and prestigious award, although I still cannot quite believe it,” she shared in her statement. She warmly acknowledged everyone who supported her musical journey, from industry colleagues to fans who enjoy her compositions.

BAFTA’s CEO Jane Millichip highlighted how Shimomura broke barriers in the industry. “A pioneer of video game music,” Millichip called her, noting how she “paved the way for women in the industry at a time when it was overwhelmingly male-dominated.”

After studying piano at the Osaka Junior College of Music, Shimomura worked at gaming giants Capcom and Square Enix before going freelance. Her musical range is impressive – she can create everything from electronic beats to sweeping orchestral pieces, though many fans particularly love her emotional melodies and dramatic compositions.

The BAFTA Fellowship puts Shimomura in impressive company. Previous recipients include gaming legends like Shuhei Yoshida (former Sony president), Hideo Kojima (game designer and creator of iconic games such as Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding), Gabe Newell (Co-founder of Valve), John Carmack (Co-founder of id Software), Peter Molyneux (Known for developing games like Fable and Black & White) and Shigeru Miyamoto (Legendary game designer at Nintendo), alongside entertainment icons such as Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Thelma Schoonmaker, and Martin Scorsese.

You can watch it live from London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on BAFTA’s YouTube and TikTok channels starting at 11 a.m. Pacific time. The event will be hosted by comedian and gaming enthusiast Phil Wang, who returns for his second year.