Dog Ear Records
Music production company and record label founded by Nobuo Uematsu.
Dog Ear Records is a Tokyo-based music production company and record label, founded by composer Nobuo Uematsu in November 2006 and located in the Meguro district. The label releases video game soundtracks and original albums both physically and digitally via iTunes. Its website offers community features, including a bilingual blog, a YouTube channel, a radio program, and details on live events in the Tokyo area.
The company launched its "DERBLOG" weblog in February 2007 to cover new releases and live shows. That October, Uematsu began hosting an online radio show called "Inu Mimi Radio," which featured guests from The Black Mages concert series, such as Kenichiro Fukui, Michio Okamiya, and Arata Hanyuda. The first Dog Ear Records live showcase was held on November 24, 2008, featuring pianist Keita Egusa, whose album "KALAYCILAR" the label had published.
Dog Ear Records’ first international event was on October 20, 2007, in Stockholm, Sweden: "Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy," with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra performing Uematsu’s Final Fantasy pieces. Later that year, on November 19, the company organized "Microsoft Presents 'Orchestral Pieces from LOST ODYSSEY & BLUE DRAGON'" at Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Tokyo. In March 2008, the label announced the album THE BLACK MAGES III Darkness and Starlight, followed by a live concert at Yokohama Blitz in August. That same month, it began international digital releases through the iTunes Store.
The staff includes Nobuo Uematsu, Hiroki Ogawa, Itsuki Iwasa, Tsutomu Narita, and Michio Okamiya. The discography spans from 2006’s Blue Dragon through 2013’s Earthbound Papas: Dancing Dad, including titles such as Lost Odyssey, The Black Mages III, KALAYCILAR, Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story, and Fantasy Life.
- founded
- November 2006
- founder
- Nobuo Uematsu
- headquarters
- Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
- field
- Music production and record label
- known_for
- Publishing video game soundtracks and original albums
Lore & Background
Dog Ear Records was founded by composer Nobuo Uematsu in November 2006. In February 2007, the company launched the 'DERBLOG' weblog, reporting on its releases and live events. In October of the same year, an online radio program called 'Inu Mimi Radio' began, hosted by Uematsu, featuring guests such as Kenichiro Fukui, Michio Okamiya, and Arata Hanyuda. The first Dog Ear Records live showcase took place on November 24, 2008, featuring pianist Keita Egusa, whose album 'KALAYCILAR' was published by the label.
Reader's Guide
Dog Ear Records holds significance as a boutique label founded by one of the most renowned video game composers, Nobuo Uematsu. It served as a platform for Uematsu's post-Square Enix projects and for nurturing other artists. The company's early international participation included the Distant Worlds concert in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 20, 2007, and a live event on November 19, 2007, titled 'Microsoft Presents Orchestral Pieces from LOST ODYSSEY & BLUE DRAGON' at Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Tokyo. In March 2008, the label announced the album 'THE BLACK MAGES III Darkness and Starlight,' with a live concert at Yokohama Blitz in August. That same month, the company began international digital releases via the iTunes Store. Its discography includes soundtracks for games such as 'Blue Dragon,' 'Lost Odyssey,' 'Xenoblade Chronicles,' 'The Last Story,' and 'Fantasy Life,' as well as albums by The Black Mages and Earthbound Papas. The label's community features—blog, YouTube, radio—helped maintain a direct connection with fans, particularly around live events in Tokyo.
Did You Know?
- Dog Ear Records was founded by composer Nobuo Uematsu in November 2006.
- The company's first international event was the Distant Worlds concert in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 20, 2007.
- The first Dog Ear Records live showcase took place on November 24, 2008, featuring pianist Keita Egusa.
- The label began international digital releases via the iTunes Store in August 2008.
More in Japanese record labels 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record