NHK Symphony Orchestra records Pokémon Winds & Waves theme

The NHK Symphony Orchestra recorded the orchestral main theme for Pokémon Winds & Waves and published a behind-the-scenes video of the studio session. The full take builds on the trailer theme and presents a large symphonic arrangement performed by the NHK ensemble.

The recording was produced in collaboration with The Pokémon Company. The NHK Symphony Orchestra previously partnered with the franchise for a special orchestra event tied to the 2023 Pokémon World Championships. The new video shows the orchestra’s session and highlights shifts from calm passages to larger, dramatic moments.

The arrangement expands the trailer motif with added layers, emphasizing strings, brass and woodwinds to move between quieter, atmospheric sections and fuller swells that reference the game’s wind and ocean imagery.

The NHK Symphony Orchestra will begin a tour in Japan later this year to mark the orchestra’s 100th anniversary, the 30th anniversary of Pokémon and the 100th anniversary of NHK, the public broadcaster. Pre-sale tickets for members are scheduled to go on sale May 14.

Pokémon Winds & Waves is confirmed as an exclusive title for Nintendo’s Switch 2, with a release date set for 2027. The orchestral video previews how music will be used in the game’s presentation and provides a reference point for a potential fully orchestrated soundtrack.

The session release follows other recent examples of game music recorded with live orchestras and gives viewers a look at the production process ahead of the game’s launch.