Born in 1978 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Chihei Hatakeyama moved from a background in thrash metal and Krautrock-influenced guitar toward ambient composition after encountering a DJ set by Mixmaster Morris. Since 2001 he has worked primarily solo, processing guitars, pianos, and vibraphones through software into slow, droning soundscapes; he also records as one half of the duo Opitope. His debut album, Minima Moralia (Kranky, 2006), began a prolific career of more than 70 albums as of 2020, released on labels including Kranky, Room 40, and his own White Paddy Mountain, launched in 2010.

Mood and energy: Slow, droning, immersive. Recommended uses: Sleep, deep reflection, background ambience.

Sacred Ground Confidence Score: 5 out of 5 stars   Final recommendation: Approved.

Why this artist belongs in Sacred Sounds: One of the most prolific and consistent contemporary voices in Japanese ambient, with an enormous catalog suited to deep, slow listening.