The 1UpBeat: Happy 65th Birthday, Koji Kondo

Cinematic Sound Radio Podcast · Aug 13, 2026 · 59m

Today, on THE 1UPBEAT, we celebrate the great Koji Kondo’s 65th birthday with a look back on his career, with particular focus on his early and later lesser-known works. Skipping his well-known game scores from the late 80s and the 90s, you’ll hear Kondo’s music from his early years at Nintendo and skipping ahead to his more supervisory role within the company, when he made much more varied and interesting music. There’s no better way to celebrate the birthday of the greatest game composer of all time than by expanding your knowledge of his music beyond the standards, so tune in today!

Enjoy!…