---
name: "Masaru Satō"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/masaru-sato"
fi1m_id: "masaru-sato"
imdb_id: "nm0766496"
tmdb_id: 18609
wikidata_id: "Q938538"
roles: ["Composer"]
born: "29 May 1928"
died: "5 December 1999"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-09-28T20:58:06.705141+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Masaru Satō

## Identity

Masaru Satō

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/masaru-sato
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** masaru-sato
- **IMDb ID:** nm0766496
- **TMDB ID:** 18609
- **Wikidata ID:** Q938538
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaru_Sato, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q938538, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0766496/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18609

Composer. Born 29 May 1928 in Rumoi, Hokkaido, Japan. Died 5 December 1999.

## Details

- **Work:** Composer
- **Born:** 29 May 1928, Rumoi, Hokkaido, Japan
- **Died:** 5 December 1999
- **Active:** 1955–2004
- **Also known as:** Сато Масару, Masaru Satoh, Masaru Satou, Masaru Satô, Satō Masaru
- **Frequently works with:** [Akihiko Hirata](https://film.one/person/akihiko-hirata.md), [Akira Kurosawa](https://film.one/person/akira-kurosawa.md), [Jun Fukuda](https://film.one/person/jun-fukuda-30561.md), [Ryuzo Kikushima](https://film.one/person/ryuzo-kikushima.md), [Toshirō Mifune](https://film.one/person/toshiro-mifune.md), [Akira Kubo](https://film.one/person/akira-kubo.md), [Hideo Oguni](https://film.one/person/hideo-oguni.md), [Hiroshi Koizumi](https://film.one/person/hiroshi-koizumi.md)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 88 (1), 1960s 78 (3), 1970s 64 (1), 2000s 54 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 89 to 81 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Genres:** Adventure 3, Drama 3, Science Fiction 3, Thriller 3, Action 2, Fantasy 2
- **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $827m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaru_Sato, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q938538, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0766496/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18609

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*High and Low*](https://film.one/film/high-and-low.md) (90), [*Yojimbo*](https://film.one/film/yojimbo.md) (88), [*Throne of Blood*](https://film.one/film/throne-of-blood.md) (88), [*Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla*](https://film.one/film/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla.md) (64), [*Son of Godzilla*](https://film.one/film/son-of-godzilla.md) (57)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Godzilla: Final Wars*](https://film.one/film/godzilla-final-wars.md) (54)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Masaru Satō (also credited as Masaru Satoh or Masaru Satô) was a Japanese composer of film scores. Born in Rumoi, Hokkaido, he studied at the National Music Academy and trained under Fumio Hayasaka at Toho Studios, contributing to the orchestration of *Seven Samurai* (1954).

Following Hayasaka's death in 1955, Satō completed unfinished scores and became Akira Kurosawa's primary composer for the next decade. His work includes the scores for *Throne of Blood* (1957), *The Hidden Fortress* (1958), *The Bad Sleep Well* (1960), *Yojimbo* (1961), *Sanjuro* (1962), *High and Low* (1963) and *Red Beard* (1965). He also scored several Godzilla films, beginning with *Godzilla Raids Again* (1955), and collaborated with directors including Jun Fukuda and Kihachi Okamoto.

Satō composed music for more than 300 films over a career spanning nearly five decades. He received a nomination for Best Music at the 15th Japan Academy Prize and was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, in 1999.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

- *Godzilla: Final Wars* (2004), Fi1m 54, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/godzilla-final-wars.md)
- *Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla* (1974), Fi1m 64, Music Arranger, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla.md)
- *Son of Godzilla* (1967), Fi1m 57, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/son-of-godzilla.md)
- *High and Low* (1963), Fi1m 90, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/high-and-low.md)
- *Yojimbo* (1961), Fi1m 88, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/yojimbo.md)
- *Throne of Blood* (1957), Fi1m 88, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/throne-of-blood.md)

## Complete filmography (293)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Godzilla: Final Wars* (2004), Music — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/godzilla-final-wars.md)
- *The Goblin of Mt. Kurama* (2001), Music
- *After the Rain* (2000), Original Music Composer
- *A Story of Modern Chivalry* (1997), Original Music Composer
- *Mitabi no kaikyô* (1995), Original Music Composer
- *East Meets West* (1995), Original Music Composer
- *Himeyuri no To* (1995), Original Music Composer
- *Gokenin Zankuro* (1995), series, Original Music Composer
- *In Blazing Love* (1994), Original Music Composer
- *Free and Easy Special* (1994), Original Music Composer
- *Film Director Satsuo Yamamoto* (1993), Music
- *Bloom in the Moonlight “The Story of Rentaro Taki”* (1993), Original Music Composer
- *Korekara: Umibe no Tabibitotachi* (1993), series, Music
- *The Oil-Hell Murder* (1992), Original Music Composer
- *Oda Nobunaga* (1992), Original Music Composer
- *Free and Easy 4* (1991), Original Music Composer
- *War and Youth* (1991), Original Music Composer
- *Heat Wave* (1991), Original Music Composer
- *Rainbow Kids* (1991), Original Music Composer
- *Takeda Shingen* (1991), Original Music Composer
- *13 Assassins* (1990), Original Music Composer
- *She-Shogun* (1990), Original Music Composer
- *Fancy Dance* (1989), as Songs
- *Dream Street* (1989), Original Music Composer
- *The Demon Comes in Spring* (1989), Original Music Composer
- *Shogun's Shadow* (1989), Original Music Composer
- *The Silk Road* (1988), Original Music Composer
- *The Great Department Store Robbery* (1987), Original Music Composer
- *The Forest of the Little Bear* (1987), Original Music Composer
- *Guys Who Never Learn* (1987), Original Music Composer
- *Tokyo Bordello* (1987), Original Music Composer
- *Taikoki* (1987), Original Music Composer
- *Yakuza Ladies* (1986), Original Music Composer
- *Kāsan no ki* (1986), Original Music Composer
- *Death Shadows* (1986), Original Music Composer
- *Tracked* (1985), Original Music Composer
- *Oar* (1985), Original Music Composer
- *Fireflies in the North* (1984), Original Music Composer
- *君のふるさとに太陽がのぼった* (1984), Original Music Composer
- *Adrift at Sea* (1983), Original Music Composer
- *Secret of the Forbidden Valley* (1983), Original Music Composer
- *The Geisha* (1983), Original Music Composer
- *Our Teacher* (1983), Original Music Composer
- *Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass* (1983), Original Music Composer
- *Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl* (1983), Original Music Composer
- *Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell* (1983), Original Music Composer
- *Irezumi* (1982), Original Music Composer
- *The Law of Hell* (1982), Music
- *The Highest Honour* (1982), Original Music Composer
- *南十字星* (1982), Original Music Composer
- *The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn* (1982), Original Music Composer
- *Ah! Nomugi Pass — Fresh Green Edition* (1982), Original Music Composer
- *Xiongmao Monogatari TaoTao* (1981), Original Music Composer
- *At This Late Date, the Charleston* (1981), Original Music Composer
- *Willful Murder* (1981), Original Music Composer
- *Lowly Ronin* (1981), Original Music Composer
- *Toward the Terra* (1980), Original Music Composer
- *A Distant Cry from Spring* (1980), Original Music Composer
- *The Last Game* (1979), Music
- *The Shogun Assassins* (1979), Original Music Composer
- *Nomugi Pass* (1979), Original Music Composer
- *Hunter in the Dark* (1979), Original Music Composer
- *Blood Type: Blue* (1978), Original Music Composer
- *Dynamite Don-Don* (1978), Original Music Composer
- *August Without Emperor* (1978), Original Music Composer
- *The Glacier Fox* (1978), Original Music Composer
- *Sweet Revenge* (1977), Original Music Composer
- *Sugata Sanshiro* (1977), Original Music Composer
- *The Yellow Handkerchief* (1977), Original Music Composer
- *The Love and Adventures of Kuroki Taro* (1977), Original Music Composer
- *Kyojin-gun monogatari: Susume eikô e* (1977), Original Music Composer
- *The Alaska Story* (1977), Original Music Composer
- *A Portrait of Shunkin* (1976), Original Music Composer
- *Stars and Storms* (1976), Music
- *The Corporation* (1976), Original Music Composer
- *Between Women and Wives* (1976), Original Music Composer
- *Friendship* (1975), Original Music Composer
- *Solar Eclipse* (1975), Original Music Composer
- *Waga seishun no toki* (1975), Music
- *Kyukei no Koya* (1975), Original Music Composer
- *Tidal Wave* (1975), Original Music Composer
- *Battle Cry* (1975), Music
- *Without Complaint* (1975), Original Music Composer
- *Scalpel* (1974), Original Music Composer
- *Aoba shigereru* (1974), Original Music Composer
- *Lupin the Third: Strange Psychokinetic Strategy* (1974), Original Music Composer
- *Machi no Hi* (1974), Original Music Composer
- *Violent Streets* (1974), Original Music Composer
- *Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla* (1974), Original Music Composer, Music Arranger — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla.md)
- *Demon Spies* (1974), Original Music Composer
- *The Family* (1974), Original Music Composer
- *Submersion of Japan* (1973), Original Music Composer
- *Stray Dog* (1973), Original Music Composer
- *Men and War III: The Final Chapter* (1973), Original Music Composer
- *Long Journey into Love* (1973), Original Music Composer
- *The King* (1973), Original Music Composer
- *Deeper Than Blue* (1973), Original Music Composer
- *The Twilight Years* (1973), Original Music Composer
- *The Three Musketeers of Japan: The Tale of Hakata Obi* (1973), Music
- *Home from the Sea* (1972), Original Music Composer
- *The Three Musketeers of Japan: Adieu, Tokyo!* (1972), Music
- *Special Boy Soldiers of the Navy* (1972), Original Music Composer
- *Sapporo Winter Olympics* (1972), Original Music Composer
- *Onna no hanamichi* (1971), Original Music Composer
- *The Wolves* (1971), Original Music Composer
- *The Battle of Okinawa* (1971), Original Music Composer
- *Men and War II: Land of Love and Sorrow* (1971), Original Music Composer
- *Maboroshi no Satsui* (1971), Original Music Composer
- *Banner of the Young* (1970), Original Music Composer
- *Where Spring Comes Late* (1970), Original Music Composer
- *Song of the Horse* (1970), Original Music Composer
- *Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny* (1970), Original Music Composer
- *City of Beasts* (1970), Original Music Composer
- *Incident at Blood Pass* (1970), Original Music Composer
- *The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan* (1970), Original Music Composer
- *240 Hours in One Day* (1970), Music
- *Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *The Great Japanese Pick-Pocket Club* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *Travels of Lord Mito* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *Red Lion* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *The Magoichi Saga* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *Tenchu!* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *Battle of the Japan Sea* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *Admiral Borneo: Betting at the Equator* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *Forward, Young People!* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *Goyokin* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *Futari no Koibito* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *Vagabond Schemer* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *Samurai Banners* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *Motta, the Flying Dracula Monster* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *Young People* (1968), Original Music Composer
- *Scrap Collectors* (1968), Original Music Composer
- *The Day the Sun Rose* (1968), Original Music Composer
- *Hishakaku and Kiratsune: A Tale of Two Yakuza* (1968), Original Music Composer
- *The Human Bullet* (1968), Original Music Composer
- *Cry of the Mountain* (1968), Original Music Composer
- *My Brother, My Love* (1968), Original Music Composer
- *Admiral Yamamoto* (1968), Original Music Composer
- *Kill!* (1968), Original Music Composer
- *Judge and Jeopardy* (1968), Original Music Composer
- *Golden Eyes* (1968), Original Music Composer
- *Sôshun* (1968), Music
- *Son of Godzilla* (1967), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/son-of-godzilla.md)
- *Skiing on the Summit* (1967), Music
- *Sodachi zakari* (1967), Original Music Composer
- *Japan's Longest Day* (1967), Original Music Composer
- *Organized Violence II* (1967), Original Music Composer
- *Portrait of Chieko* (1967), Original Music Composer
- *Who Is Gomez?* (1967), Original Music Composer
- *Organized Violence* (1967), Original Music Composer
- *The Age of Assassins* (1967), Original Music Composer
- *Three Faces of Love* (1967), Original Music Composer
- *Three Sisters* (1967), series, Original Music Composer
- *Ebirah, Horror of the Deep* (1966), Original Music Composer
- *Big Wind from Tokyo* (1966), Original Music Composer
- *Koto—The Lake of Tears* (1966), Original Music Composer
- *The Mad Atlantic* (1966), Original Music Composer
- *Zero Fighter* (1966), Original Music Composer
- *Moment of Terror* (1966), Original Music Composer
- *Thirst for Love* (1966), Original Music Composer
- *The Sword of Doom* (1966), Original Music Composer
- *Cash Calls Hell* (1966), Original Music Composer
- *Ironfinger* (1965), Original Music Composer
- *Stairs of Evil* (1965), Original Music Composer
- *Rokujō yukiyama tsumugi* (1965), Original Music Composer
- *Fort Graveyard* (1965), Original Music Composer
- *Retirement of a Train Engineer* (1965), Original Music Composer
- *Sanshiro Sugata* (1965), Original Music Composer
- *Three Yakuza* (1965), Original Music Composer
- *Cold Rice, Osan, Chan* (1965), Original Music Composer
- *Red Beard* (1965), Original Music Composer
- *The Tattooed Lord* (1965), Original Music Composer
- *Samurai Assassin* (1965), Original Music Composer
- *Juvenile Delinquents* (1964), Original Music Composer
- *Raised in a Palace* (1964), Original Music Composer
- *間諜* (1964), Original Music Composer
- *Could I But Live* (1964), Music
- *The Sharks* (1964), Original Music Composer
- *Oh, Bomb!* (1964), Original Music Composer
- *The Desperate* (1964), Original Music Composer
- *Life of Hishakaku 3* (1964), Original Music Composer
- *Jakoman and Tetsu* (1964), Original Music Composer
- *Samurai from Nowhere* (1964), Original Music Composer
- *Zoku ôsho* (1963), Original Music Composer
- *The Elegant Life of Mr. Everyman* (1963), Original Music Composer
- *A House in the Quarter* (1963), Original Music Composer
- *Okashina yatsu* (1963), Original Music Composer
- *Samurai Pirate* (1963), Original Music Composer
- *Tale of Army Brutality* (1963), Original Music Composer
- *Life of Hishakaku 2* (1963), Original Music Composer
- *Legacy of the 500,000* (1963), Original Music Composer
- *Warring Clans* (1963), Original Music Composer
- *Life of Hishakaku* (1963), Original Music Composer
- *High and Low* (1963), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/film/high-and-low.md)
- *Modern Children* (1963), Original Music Composer
- *Anything For Success* (1962), Original Music Composer, Music
- *The Great Kurobe* (1962), Original Music Composer
- *Operation Enemy Fort* (1962), Original Music Composer
- *Our Failures* (1962), Original Music Composer
- *零戦黒雲一家* (1962), Original Music Composer
- *The Ambitious Youth* (1962), Original Music Composer
- *Operation Sewer Rats* (1962), Original Music Composer
- *Ano sora no hate ni hoshi wa matataku* (1962), Original Music Composer
- *Burūtaun aoi machi no ōkami* (1962), Original Music Composer
- *Facing to the Clouds* (1962), Original Music Composer
- *The Crimson Sky* (1962), Original Music Composer
- *Otoko no Uta* (1962), Original Music Composer
- *Sanjuro* (1962), Original Music Composer
- *Run, Genta, Run!* (1961), Original Music Composer
- *Sanctuary* (1961), Music
- *Procurer of Hell* (1961), Original Music Composer
- *Blood on the Sea* (1961), Original Music Composer
- *Lord Mito: Struggle of Suke and Kaku* (1961), Original Music Composer
- *Gambler in the Sea* (1961), Original Music Composer
- *Challenge to Live* (1961), Original Music Composer
- *Yojimbo* (1961), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/yojimbo.md)
- *Shokei zen'ya* (1961), Original Music Composer
- *Yabure Kabure* (1961), Original Music Composer
- *Pacific Porters* (1961), Original Music Composer
- *Blueprint of Murder* (1961), Original Music Composer
- *Man at the Bullfight* (1960), Original Music Composer
- *Chikuhō no kodomotachi* (1960), Original Music Composer
- *Westward Desperado* (1960), Original Music Composer
- *Sixteen years old* (1960), Original Music Composer
- *The Bad Sleep Well* (1960), Original Music Composer
- *Man Against Man* (1960), Original Music Composer
- *University Bandits* (1960), Original Music Composer
- *Ôana* (1960), Original Music Composer
- *The Happicoat Comedian* (1960), Music
- *The Gambling Samurai* (1960), Original Music Composer
- *Intimidation* (1960), Original Music Composer
- *The Curio Master* (1960), Music
- *I'm a Single Salaryman* (1960), Music
- *The Last Gunfight* (1960), Original Music Composer
- *The Spear Master* (1959), Music
- *The Age of Our Own* (1959), Original Music Composer
- *Desperado Outpost* (1959), Original Music Composer
- *Woman from the Sea* (1959), Original Music Composer
- *Someday I'll Know* (1959), Original Music Composer
- *Work Hard, Happy Girls!* (1959), Music
- *Otome no inori* (1959), Original Music Composer
- *A Love that Wagers the World* (1959), Original Music Composer
- *Gigantis, the Fire Monster* (1959), Original Music Composer
- *A Man Explodes* (1959), Original Music Composer
- *I Want to Be a Shellfish* (1959), Original Music Composer
- *I Will Challenge* (1959), Original Music Composer
- *We Live Today* (1959), Original Music Composer
- *Masked Woman* (1959), Original Music Composer
- *The Praying Man* (1959), Original Music Composer
- *The Stream of Youth* (1959), Original Music Composer
- *The Hidden Fortress* (1958), Original Music Composer
- *Crimson Wings* (1958), Original Music Composer
- *The Man Who Wagers Tomorrow* (1958), Original Music Composer
- *The Man Who Rode the Typhoon* (1958), Original Music Composer
- *Oban kanketsu hen* (1958), Original Music Composer
- *The H-Man* (1958), Original Music Composer
- *死の壁の脱出* (1958), Music
- *A Slope in the Sun* (1958), Original Music Composer
- *Rusty Knife* (1958), Original Music Composer
- *Vice* (1958), Original Music Composer
- *Song for a Bride* (1958), Original Music Composer
- *Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen* (1957), Original Music Composer
- *I Am Waiting* (1957), Original Music Composer
- *The Lower Depths* (1957), Original Music Composer
- *The Living Koheiji* (1957), Original Music Composer
- *Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen* (1957), Original Music Composer
- *Last Days of the Samurai* (1957), Original Music Composer
- *Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman* (1957), Original Music Composer
- *Muhō Ichidai* (1957), Original Music Composer
- *Ôban* (1957), Original Music Composer
- *Streetlights* (1957), Original Music Composer
- *Throne of Blood* (1957), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/throne-of-blood.md)
- *Eacape of Fear* (1956), Original Music Composer
- *Crazed Fruit* (1956), Original Music Composer
- *Phoenix* (1956), Music
- *Season of the Sun* (1956), Original Music Composer
- *The Vampire Moth* (1956), Original Music Composer
- *Crossroad* (1956), Original Music Composer
- *Runaway Bride* (1956), Original Music Composer
- *Beyond The Stars* (1956), Music
- *Cell No. 8* (1956), Original Music Composer
- *I Live in Fear* (1955), Original Music Composer
- *We Never Let You Go* (1955), Music
- *Tactics of Love* (1955), Original Music Composer
- *The Samurai of Edo* (1955), Original Music Composer
- *Taira Clan Saga* (1955), Original Music Composer
- *Beast Man Snow Man* (1955), Original Music Composer
- *New Tengu Kurama: Samurai in the Pouring Rain* (1955), Original Music Composer
- *Six Assassins* (1955), Original Music Composer
- *Godzilla Raids Again* (1955), Original Music Composer
- *Ootone no Taiketsu* (1955), Original Music Composer
- *A Young Couple Oversleeps* (1954), Music
- *Secret Mother* (1953), Music

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Kikuchi Kan Prize 2020: Kikuchi Kan Prize (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/masaru-sato