Japanese soundtrack composer and director Joe Hisaishi was regarded as an icon due to his involvement in director Hayao Miyazaki's animated movies. However, the composer himself thinks that this achievement was only a certain part of his whole music career. 　　

Hisaishi arrived in Beijing on Wednesday to prepare for his upcoming concert with the China Philharmonic Orchestra on December 2. 　　

The celebrated composer has already cooperated with the China Philharmonic Orchestra for two Chinese films, A Chinese Tall Tale and The Postmodern Life of My Aunt, earlier this year. 　

He avoided mentioning too much about famous filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki while answering questions from the media.

Chinese audiences are very familiar with many animated films whose soundtracks were composed by Joe Hisaishi. 　　

He told the Beijing Youth Daily that his love for movies began when he was 4 or 5 years old. 　

Music is the number-one passion in his life, and movies come second. 　　

He also believes that although there are images and dialogue in movies, music can express things more deeply. 　　

Tan Dun's musical score for the film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is his favourite Chinese movie soundtrack. 　

(CRI November 30, 2006)