Rika Muranaka

Rika Muranaka is a Japanese composer and music producer renowned for her songs in Konami’s Metal Gear video game series.

Some of her most notable works include "The Best Is Yet to Come" (Metal Gear Solid), "Can't Say Goodbye to Yesterday" (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty), and "Don't Be Afraid" (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater). She also composed the song "I Am the Wind" for Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and the song "Esperándote" for the original Silent Hill.

In May 2020, Muranaka was featured in the Visual Collaborative Polaris catalog. In a series titled TwentyEightyFour released during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, she spoke about her collaborations and virtual reality. Les Nubians, Dakore Akande appeared in the same interview periodical.

Music career During her teens, Rika Muranaka left her native Tokyo to study jazz piano with Alan Swain, a jazz pianist and author, in Chicago. She started to write music at the age of 16, but at first was doing it only for herself.

After graduating from Maine East High School in Park Ridge in 1979 and then Chicago's Northeastern Illinois University, Rika Muranaka returned to Japan and was offered a deal with Columbia Records, a major record company in Japan, in 1992, Her debut CD Slice of Life, released in 1992, featured vocalists Dwight Dukes, Cynthia Harrell and Stephanie B and was result of collaboration with Michael Caruso, a Grammy-nominated songwriter.

Fascinated by the game industry, Rika Muranaka started to work for Konami in the 1990s, though at the time it was a rare occurrence for game companies to hire professional music composers. Her first projects at Konami involved songs for Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and the classic horror game Silent Hill, where she collaborated with Akira Yamaoka, a Japanese video game composer. and they did not expect Metal Gear Solid to become so successful.

While working on Metal Gear Solid 2, Rika Muranaka brought in British film composer Harry Gregson-Williams into the game industry to work on the game series.

Works

Music by Rika Muranaka

Music by Rika Muranaka

Produced by Rika MuranakaNFL In Their Own Words: Junior Seau“Cosmic Mudra” Music by Rika Muranaka

Music and lyrics by Rika Muranaka

Produced by Rika MuranakaBroken English Original Film Soundtrack“Cosmic Mudra” Music by Rika Muranaka

Produced by Rika MuranakaLA Ink: Season 1, Episode 1 "Welcome Home, Kat""LA Ink-Cues" Music by Rika Muranaka

Produced by Rika MuranakaMTV Rob and Big: Season 2, Episode 4: "New Assistant"“Cosmic Mudra” Music by Rika Muranaka

Music by Norihiko Hibino

Produced and arranged by Rika Muranaka

“Don't Be Afraid”

Music and lyrics by Rika Muranaka

Produced by Rika Muranaka

Vocals by Elise FiorilloMetal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes“The Best Is Yet to Come” Music and lyrics by Rika Muranaka

Produced by Rika Muranaka

Music and lyrics by Rika Muranaka

Music by Rika Muranaka

Music by Rika Muranaka

Vocals by Aoife Ní Fhearraigh

Music by Rika Muranaka and Jeff Lorber

Lyrics by Tony Haynes

Vocals by Cynthia Harrell

Produced by Rika MuranakaMaster Mosquiton: Anime Soundtrack“Reminisce a While” Music by Rika Muranaka

Lyrics by Tony Haynes

Produced by Rika MuranakaLet's play U can chat too!Interactive CD-ROM software Music and script directed and produced by Rika MuranakaMy first day of school!Interactive CD-ROM software Music and script directed and produced by Rika MuranakaMy first trip to NY city!Interactive CD-ROM software Piano - Rika Muranaka

Saxophone - Gerald Albright

Guitar - Paul Jackson Jr.Summer of ’79Piano solo album Piano - Rika Muranaka

Saxophone - Gerald Albright

Guitar - Paul Jackson Jr.EnchantePiano solo album Piano - Rika Muranaka

Saxophone - Gerald Albright

Guitar - Paul Jackson Jr.1995FuranoMultimedia CD-ROM interactive software Music by Rika Muranaka

Produced by Rika Muranaka