Twitter Divided As Dragon Quest Composer Koichi Sugiyama Dies At 90 Years Old

The composer of the Dragon Quest series, Koichi Sugiyama, has passed away at the age of 90 years old. As the longtime composer of the series, his impact on video game music, and orchestra music in modern times, is impossible to understate, and yet his legacy is in question in online spaces. On Twitter and other platforms, many mourned his death and shared their favorite songs that he is credited to, as well as their favorite memories of listening to his music.

Rest in Peace Koichi Sugiyama. You have composed some of the most beautiful music I heard in anime and video games.
pic.twitter.com/VryVxm2YPO

— invader alex (@invaderalex) October 7, 2021

The legendary composer of Dragon Quest Koichi Sugiyama, was announced dead at the age of 90.
He will be forever missed… pic.twitter.com/vkclUIRlex

— Count Tasos @ Spookathens 🎃 (@LegacyOfKaiser) October 7, 2021

I've never been interested in Koichi Sugiyama's music. However, he was a huge source of inspirations for many Japanese composers that I truly admire.

That's about the only nice thing I can say about him.

— Minh T. (FFXIV: Soushin Sen / Ultros) (@SoushinSen) October 7, 2021

RIP #KoichiSugiyama

London Philharmonic Orchestra – Dragon Quest IV Overture pic.twitter.com/vMe5ZSA9gc

— 𝒀𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒊 𝑨💉💉😷🖤 (@Linusdaddy2) October 7, 2021

On the opposite side of the metaphorical twitter aisle, however, there were many who were celebrating his death and calling for an end to his legacy. This is because of some outspoken words and worldviews he has held in the past, such as extremist imperial views of Japanese war crimes during WW2, as well as words that were against the LGBTQ movements. Though there are differing reports on his redaction, or otherwise coming to terms with the modern era, the lasting sentiment felt by many online is not a good one.

You may say "Garr, celebrating the death of Koichi Sugiyama is crass." to which I say

Using your personal fortune to further historical revisionism, racist hatred and outright cruel anti-LGBT sentiment is beyond crass.

I am absolutely celebrating his death. Fuck Koichi Sugiyama

— Garr (@betheymoth) October 7, 2021

When you shit talk Dragon Quest composer Koichi Sugiyama on the TL. https://t.co/S1siXGQflk

— Best RT's in the Game (@HBJohnXuandou) October 7, 2021

koichi sugiyama died?

hah. y'know, i remember he found the idea of LGBT folk dying hilarious, so it's pretty funny a bunch of us outlived him as of tonight

— Melly 🏳️‍⚧️ (@MelvanaChainsII) October 7, 2021

A reminder of the kind of person Koichi Sugiyama was. This should be shouted as (or even more) loudly from the rooftops as the music some will play and share today to celebrate his work as a composer pic.twitter.com/p7vgxXY6OA

— VGM Moments (@VGM_Moments) October 7, 2021

Among those fighting on either sides of this issue, there were still some who tried to separate art from artist and show understanding to both sides of the argument.

Koichi Sugiyama had controversial beliefs… he also redacted some of them.

He was old, and older people aren't as progressive… we know this. My grandparents were pretty damn racist, but CELEBRATING a death kind of makes you a bit of a monster.

Check yourself.

— Geekdom101 w/o Spooky Halloween-Themed Name (@EmperorBigD) October 7, 2021