Masamichi Amano.
I should rep-up for that, but I'm kinda creeped out by you even knowing that.... :-X
I got into Kajiura first through Noir (her BEST soundtrack), then .hack\\Sign (great soundtrack), and then Mai-HiME (very good soundtrack). I didn't even realize it was her in Boogie Pop & Others until the end credits rolled. Others of her songs though are pretty obvious it's her. Many of Kanno's are like that too. Hirasawa's are almost dead obvious. When I first watched Paprika, I didn't think much of the circus theme, but as soon as the opening credits began, within 3 seconds (not exaggerating) I blurted out excitedly, "OH MY GOD! HIRASAWA! IT'S HIRASAWA!!"
And some of his songs are really bad (the song Ball from the Berserk ost comes to mind).
I'd like to see what Toshihiko Sahashi could come up for Castlevania.
Nobody's perfect... And it's a video game. Last I checked, video games all use synthesizers. I know what you meant, but seriously, every video game uses synthesizers for their music. But I am tooootally with you on Sahashi. He'd bring back the classic style of Castlevania that only those in denial don't miss. His music is closer to Konami Kukeiha Club's old style.
Ok. So dude wanted samples for our listening pleasure. Commence spoiler tagging!
Kanno Yohko (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamikaze_Girls) Excels at jazz, pop and classical; one of Japan's most prominent composers
Macross Plus - Sharon Apple Concert HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7auKvJ_k5k#ws)
Record of Lodoss War: TV Series - Kiseki No Umi (Sea of Miracles) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnv7cEA9hYM#)
Ghost in the Shell OST - Torukia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0ow4tGgZWk#)
Darker than Black OST - Contact (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgDhJmqpg1c#)
Turn A Gundam the Movie OST - Final Shore (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfq3xi7Mz_k#)
Brain Powerd OST - Ai no Rinkaku (Field of Love) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9RqynADlgg#)
Escaflowne - OST ~ Dance of curse ~ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSlNHi6wgQQ#)
Kajiura Yuki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuki_Kajiura) Excels at world music, pop and electronica; one of Japan's most popular composers
NOIR Soundtrack - salva nos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjgqjiE8eMk#)
Noir OST, Aka to Kuro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYuwg6Atf60#)
Yuki Kajiura - The Battle Is To The Strong (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z38fklaxyfc#)
.Hack// Sign Orginal Soundtrack ~ In the Land of Twilight under the Moon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K88cjC9MTO8#)
My-Hime OST Vol. 1 23 Mezame (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5Y9-V6oyAw#)
Double Cast OST Track 14- Confront (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NckDJE8wBso#)
Best VGM 622 - Xenosaga III - Godsibb (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n10VyIRJj58#ws)
Erementar Gerad Soundtrack - Kasukanari Aogi no Sai (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uCfAFCqzPw#)
Sahashi Toshihiko (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshihiko_Sahashi) A total 80's cheese classic songwriter; well-established anime soundtrack composer
Ghost Sweeper Original Soundtrack I - 11 - Gekka no Mure (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwJjr6QqqNM#)
Cutie Honey Flash Song Collection OST Track 06 Hoshi no nare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oS6HtWUHdY#ws)
Cutie Honey Flash Song Collection OST Track 04 True Love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gtmcGjod-U#ws)
Full Metal Panic - The Second Raid - Shissou (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFYyQ0J86p8#)
Magic Knight Rayearth OST 1 - Doushi Clef (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63FwwHu3MTA#)
Magic Knight Rayearth OST 1 - Mamono Shutsugen! ~ Mahou no Chikara (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktxrmg5HYek#)
Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers Original Soundtrack. 2: Ultimate Monster Against Ultra Brothers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PMMY55B2AA#)
Zipang 02 'Mirai' Theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf5vFCzccCM#)
Capeta Ost - 09 Capeta no Toushi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDEVAkXJz54#ws)
Hunter X Hunter [OST 2]: Kinkyu Jitai (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCJVzt2XQLI#ws)
All rise for the National Anthem of Macross!
( /;_;)
Macross Plus OST - National Anthem of Macross (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee55r9G48Oc#)
And that's why I'm siding with Sahashi Toshihiko or Blue Man Group. Blue Man Group can pull off some darker yet hardcore rock, whereas Sahashi has a long-established history of 70s and 80s pop rock. Some of Sahashi's music is downright cheesy, but others are quite memorable. ... Don't ask me to name any off the top of my head, though.
Even Escaflowne's soundtrack style wouldn't be that good in a Castlevania game. Kajiura or Sahashi are likely the best Japanese choices, BMG being one of the best Western choices. Although Oomph! or Blutengel have done some instrumentals that would work in a Castlevania game. Combichrist did a couple but I prefer Oomph!'s and Blutengel's styles as they incorporate more variety into their songs.
Now I guess I still need to defend my Joe Hisaishi suggestion. It would provide Castlevania with a different touch of music. I mean, IGA took it from 80s pop to ... I dunno, whatever you want to classify the music in IGA's games as. Then we have LOS's style. Hisaishi would bring something a little, I dunno, mellower and transcendental, maybe? He's not all piano ballads or happy plucky tunes, y'know. ... Okay, so some of my selections below would work better in an ECCO The Dolphin game, but whatever. I could see them working in a Castlevania game too.
Joe Hisaishi - Techno Police 21C OST - [TRACK 1] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj9rvV4Er7k#ws)
Sonatine I Act Of Violence - Joe Hisaishi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h2c3k4FUNs#)
Joe Hisaishi - Play On The Sands (From Sonatine) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhTFPF_uuys#)
久石讓 - Kids Return (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYUH8MHuWRs#)
Kids Return OST - Defeat 11 - Joe Hisaishi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT7pHWmwQYo#)
Joe Hisaishi - Brother (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyrhNuE7Iyo#)
Green Requiem Joe Hisaishi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eFNNYcLGuw#)
I could see this for a courtyard/forgotten garden theme
13: Robot Soldiers/Resurrection/Rescue CitS OST (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeNk_p9A2iY#)
Boss fight or tower theme
And if those aren't good enough for you or you still think Joe isn't compatible with Castlevania, or at least Classicvanias, listen to the whole fucking Venus Wars soundtrack. People forget he actually rocked out in the old days.