Akira Yamaoka (born February 6, 1968, Niigata, Japan) is a renowned composer, musician, sound designer, and producer. Widely celebrated for creating the haunting, atmospheric soundtracks of the Silent Hill series (1999–2009, and again in 2024), he has made an indelible mark on horror gaming and film. After leaving Konami in 2009, he joined Grasshopper Manufacture, contributing to titles like Shadows of the Damned, The Medium, and Netflix’s Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. His style blends ambient, industrial rock, jazz, and electronica, drawing inspiration from artists like Nine Inch Nails, Angelo Badalamenti, and Depeche Mode . Beyond games, he’s scored several Silent Hill films and maintains a solo music career.