Michiru Yamane

	Education:	Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music
	Musical Influences:	J.S. Bach, Maurice Ravel
	Instruments:	Piano
	Joined Konami:	1988
	Company Role:	Composer
	Game Works:	Castlevania Series, Suikoden III & IV, OZ

Michiru Yamane was introduced to Konami with a string of collaborative projects for Arcade, MSX, and Nintendo such as Gradius II Gofer no Yabou Episode II, Ganbare Goemon 2, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan, Detana!! Twinbee, Trigon, Crime Fighters 2, and Astérix. She subsequently familiarised herself with the Mega Drive on Rocket Knight Adventures and Contra: Hard Corps in time for her breakthrough project.

Yamane first scored for Castlevania with 1994's Bloodlines. However, it was only with 1997's diverse and technologically commanded Castlevania: Symphony of the Night that she became synonymous with Castlevania's music and established a large fanbase. She subsequently explored her versatility with the action scores to Gungage and the Winning Eleven series and RPG scores to Elder Gate, Suikoden III, Suikoden IV, and OZ.

The success of Symphony of the Night resulted in Yamane scoring most recent instalments to the series, namely Lament of Innocence, Aria of Sorrow, Curse of Darkness, Dawn of Sorrow, and Portrait of Ruin, individualising each with new melodies and various innovations. She has also made small contributions to Rumble Roses, Elebits, and beatmania IIDX 14 GOLD in recent years. While her RPG scores have received criticism, her Castlevania scores are wonderfully received.