The Dagger of Kamui Original Soundtrack

THE DAGGER OF KAMUI
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
Copyright © Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co. Ltd.
CPC8-3017
¥2,800
Available now in Japan
Where to buy

—by John Yung

1. Kamui Densetsu 4:11

2. Reihou Kamui Nupuri 2:12

3. Kamui no Komoriuta 4:21

4. Kamui Mu Hyoushi 3:05

5. Daiinaru Yume 2:59

6. Haruka, Santa Catalina 1:34

7. Kamui no Ken 3:33

8. Jirou to Oyuki 3:19

9. Shukumei no Ito 2:45

10. Captain Kidd no hihou 1:26

11. Tengenji Enjou 3:20

12. Numatou 2:46

13. Go__kaku no Shitou 2:10

The DAGGER OF KAMUI movie has already been out for 14 years and is considered a classic for its time, but the most frustrating thing about it was the difficulty of finding the musical soundtrack. That is, until now. Thanks to Volcano Records which reprinted the soundtrack, older fans can now complete their anime music collections, and newer fans can discover this classic.
The soundtrack, composed by Uzaki Ryuundou, holds up very well for its age and perfectly compliments Rin Taro's visual direction. The order of the tracks seems arbitrary because it's not the same as the order presented in the movie. As a result, the soundtrack album doesn't build up to the same sort of climax as in the movie.
"Kamui Densetsu" and "Reihou Kamui Nupuri" are the two energetic tracks that start off the soundtrack. The mix of taiko drums, electric guitars, piano, and shouts seems bizarre at first, but somehow Uzaki makes the instrumentals work together to provide an aural tapestry. The pounding percussion and edgy guitar licks build up energy for the action occurring onscreen, punctuated by piano notes and shouts. The shouts also add an enjoyable ethnic flavor. Other action tracks, "Kamui Mu Hyoushi," "Tengenji Enjou," and "Go__kaku no Shitou," also have this neat blend to one extent or another.
Not all tracks are that funky. "Daiinaru Yume," "Haruka, Santa Catalina," "Jirou to Oyuki," "Shukumei no Ito," "Captain Kidd no hihou," and "Numatou" are all pieces for the quieter moments in the movie. "Numatou" is a favorite because it's a wistful piece featuring a flute.
The only two tracks that sound very 80's are "Kamui no Ken" (The Dagger of Kamui) and "Kamui no Komoriuta" (Kamui's Lullaby), both sung by Watanabe Noriko. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, considering the bevy of idol songs that are the staple of current anime soundtracks. The lyrics move along at their own pace, not driven by an unrelenting dance beat. "Kamui no Ken" is an upbeat song, reflecting the hopes that the hero, Jiro, has for the future. "Kamui no Komoriuta" doesn't sound like a lullaby with all the musical accompaniment and would probably sound better if the music was arranged with different instruments.
Despite the two slow vocal tracks, the rest of the soundtrack is suitable as music for listening while driving. The excellent music arrangement stays interesting without becoming too intrusive. Most of the soundtrack still sounds fresh today as it did back when the movie was first seen, and that is a testimony to the staying power of Uzaki's work.