Waxman's "Katsumi Love Theme," composed for the Academy Award-winning film Sayonara (1957), is a poignant musical embodiment of the film's central romance. The piece exudes a delicate blend of East and West, reflecting the cross-cultural love story between an American soldier and a Japanese woman. Waxman employs traditional Japanese musical elements, such as pentatonic scales and subtle instrumentation, intertwining them with the lush, emotive orchestral techniques characteristic of Hollywood's Golden Age. This duality creates a sonic landscape that is both intimate and expansive, perfectly capturing the essence of forbidden love.

The melody is hauntingly lyrical, carried by a solo instrument, often a violin or flute, that evokes a sense of yearning and fragility. Underneath the main theme, Waxman crafts a tender harmonic progression that swells and recedes, mirroring the emotional turbulence of the characters' relationship. The orchestration is meticulously detailed, with strings providing a warm, enveloping backdrop while occasional harp and celesta accents add an ethereal touch. These elements combine to evoke both the personal tenderness of the lovers' connection and the broader, bittersweet context of cultural and societal barriers.

In the film, "Katsumi Love Theme" serves as a recurring motif, underscoring key moments of intimacy and sorrow. Its restrained yet evocative quality allows it to resonate deeply without overwhelming the narrative, enhancing the emotional gravity of the story. The music's balance of simplicity and sophistication ensures that it remains memorable and effective, standing as one of Franz Waxman's finest contributions to cinematic scoring.