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Masaya Matsuura graduated from Ritsumeikan University with a major in Industrial Sociology. He first entered the (computer) music business in April 1983, where he formed the band PYS'S (pronounced "Size"). After ten albums, PSY'S disbanded in August 1996.

A more serious role in computer gaming, he combined music and multimedia with the release of The Seven Colors. It was the first CD-ROM from a Japanese musician and went on to win the Multimedia Grand Prix of 1993. In that year, he co-founded the game studio NanaOn-Sha Co., Ltd. and is currently President of the company.

December 1996 saw the release of PaRappa the Rapper in Japan. In 1999 Masaya crossed over from rap to hard rock with Um Jammer Lammy and the game won an SCEI Gold disc after just two months. In the same year, Vib Ribbon was released, a game with procedurally generated courses based on audio CD's.

In 2003, Masaya produced and composed sound capabilities for the new Aibo "ERS-7" robot dog. 2005 saw the release of Tamagotchi Connexion: Corner Shop (Nintendo DS) which sold more than a million copies in Japan alone. The game's runaway success led to sequels in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Masaya also masterminded the release of musika for the Classic iPod in 2008. In 2009 the Wii game Major Minor's Majestic March became Masaya's first commercial collaboration with artist Rodney Alan Greenblat since 2001's PaRappa the Rapper 2. It gave the player responsibility to lead a marching band.

He is also the first and only Japanese Emeritus member of the Advisory Board for the Game Developer's Conference (GDC) in The United States.
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Websites

Music releases by Masaya Matsuura -- Database of commercial music releases by Masaya Matsuura provided by Discogs.

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Games Credited

Vib-Ripple (2004), Sony Computer Entertainment Japan
PaRappa the Rapper 2 (2001), Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated
Um Jammer Lammy (1999), Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated
Vib Ribbon (1999), Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated
PaRappa the Rapper (1996), Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated
Metamor Jupiter (1993), NEC Home Electronics, Ltd.

(from http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,97765/ )