Discovered by Japanese jazz trumpeter
Terumasa Hino, Miyake started his career as a jazz trumpet player, having studied at
Berklee College of Music from 1976 to 1981. In 1981, he won the prize at the Massachusetts Artist Foundation award for his composition. Miyake’s early career saw him exploring jazz and contemporary music, building a reputation in Japan’s music scene. His artistry evolved significantly during the late 1990s, marked by a trilogy of albums released on Beams Records. These works combined elements of jazz improvisation with exotic and global influences, garnering critical praise. After returning to Tokyo, he became an influential artist, as well as a successful composer. Miyake has now released 17 solo albums, and has worked on films, documentaries, dances, advertisement, theatre pieces, and served as a producer for numerous artists. His main instruments include the trumpet, flugelhorn, melodica, piano, keyboard, fender rhodes, and programming. In 1983, he released his first album "June Night Love", which includes two tracks used in the
TDK TV commercial starring
Andy Warhol. He then continued on to working for over 3000 TV commercials, which led to winning many awards, including Cannes advertisement film festival and the Digital Media Grands prix. Miyake has worked closely with
Pina Bausch for pieces including Rough Cut (2005), Vollmond (2006), Sweet Mambo (2008), Como El Musguito En La Piedra, Ay Si Si... (2009), which led to the film
Pina by
Wim Wenders; his tracks were featured in the essential scenes. This film was awarded by European Film Award 2011 as Best Documentary; nominated for the
Academy Awards 2012 as Best Documentary Feature,[4] and
BAFTA 2012 as Best non-English language film. With
Katsuhiro Otomo in 1995, he composed the soundtrack of the episode "Stink Bomb" for the anime
Memories, where he uses a combination of jazz and funk to emphasize the film's chaotic and comedic nature. He has also worked closely with
Robert Wilson on White Town (2002), an homage to
Arne Jacobsen at Bellevue Teatret in Copenhagen;
Jean-Paul Goude who has done the artwork for Stolen from Strangers, Lost Memory Theatre act-1, Lost Memory Theatre act-2,
Oliver Stone, and
Philippe Decouflé, among others, as well as collaborations with artists such as
Hal Willner,
Arto Lindsay,
Peter Scherer,
Arthur H,
Vinicius Cantuaria,
Cosmic voice of Bulgaria,
David Byrne,
Grace Jones,
Gavin Friday,
Nina Hagen,
Ron Carter,
Michael Brecker,
David Sanborn,
Al Foster,
Dhafer Youssef,
Vincent Segal,
Remi Kolpa Kopoul,
Jean-Michel Jarre, and many others. From 2005, he has set a base in Paris, actively working on several projects. He has been selected as "Man of 2009" by
Galeries Lafayette Homme. In 2016, he arranged the Japanese national anthem
Kimigayo for
2016 Summer Olympics closing ceremony; composed the track "ANTHEM OUTRO" for the "ARIGATO FROM JAPAN" sequence, which became the topic of conversation. In recent years, his has worked for film scores including
The Translators,
Norman- The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer,
An Artist of the Floating World,
No Longer Human,
No.9,
Sanson, and
Snow Country. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Miyake adopted remote recording techniques, collaborating with global musicians via home studios. He utilized Audiomovers for real-time recording in order to adapt to the environment. Despite the constraints of isolation, Miyake’s was able to compose "Undreamt Chapter" and maintained his reflective and universal qualities, showcasing commitment to creating art that resonates across contexts. In 2021, he has released his most recent solo album "Whispered Garden". After coming back to Tokyo during the pandemic, Miyake decided on moving his base to New York in 2024.
Theater and collaborations Miyake collaborated with theater director Robert Wilson in 2002 for a production celebrating architect Arne Jacobsen. This experience introduced him to the world of theater, where he admired Wilson’s meticulous focus on lighting and simplicity. Miyake credits Wilson’s productions, such as Woyzeck, for their seamless integration of visual, narrative, and musical elements, further inspiring his creative outlook. A defining aspect of Miyake’s career is his association with choreographer Pina Bausch. Their collaboration began serendipitously when Bausch’s team contacted him about using one of his compositions. Over the years, their bond deepened as Miyake contributed to her performances, including the soundtrack for Vollmond. Bausch’s work profoundly influenced him, teaching him the power of emotional expression through movement and simplicity. Miyake describes her artistry as a source of beauty, love, and inspiration. == Artistic philosophy ==