Koji Kondo, born on August 13, 1961, in Nagoya, Japan, is a renowned composer and sound director at Nintendo. Joining the company in 1984, he became its first dedicated composer, crafting iconic scores for franchises like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda. His compositions, blending classical training with jazz and Latin influences, have become integral to gaming culture. In 2024, Kondo was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame, recognizing his profound impact on video game music. ([nintendolife.com](https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/01/legendary-nintendo-composer-koji-kondo-to-be-inducted-to-aias-hall-of-fame?utm_source=openai))