It was very difficult to startle or surprise someone with a particular sound during the family computer era.

In his spare time he enjoys watching professional wrestling drinking beer and bicycling. For example "Liberi Fatali" from Final Fantasy VIII was played during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens during the women's synchronized swimming event. Uematsu has said he originally wanted to become a professional wrestler mentioning it was a career dream when he was younger.

He has since performed with the band Earthbound Papas. From 2002 to 2010 he was in a rock band with colleagues Kenichiro Fukui and Tsuyoshi Sekito called The Black Mages in which he played electronic organ and other keyboards. Uematsu a self-taught musician began playing the piano at the age of eleven or twelve with Elton John as his biggest influence.