Oscar-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, 71, died March 28, 2023.
The eclectic Japanese composer known for the scores for Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence and The Last Emperor passed away following a long battle with cancer. His passing was announced April 2.
In addition to “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence”—which he worked on with David Bowie— and the Golden Globe, Grammy, and Oscar-winning “The Last Emperor,” Sakamoto also worked on the score for The Revenant.
While Sakamoto’s best known for his compositions, he was also part of the electronic group Yellow Magic Orchestra, which he helped form in 1978. The Yellow Magic Orchestra is one of the groups instrumental in the emergence of the House and Techno music genres and even had influence on Hip-Hop. The highly influential band even appeared on Soul Train.
Also known as the “The Grandfather of Electric Pop,” Sakamoto was also a prominent activist and was often outspoken against nuclear power. In 2012, he organized the “No Nukes” concert. He also rallied against a Japanese law the prohibited dancing after midnight in Japanese clubs, bars, and public venues, a law which was repealed.
Sakamoto’s life was one full of enrichment. He was the son of an editor for Japanese novelists as Kenzaburo Oe and Yukio Mishima. When he was six-years old, Sakamoto started playing piano. As he grew, one of his influences was composer Claude Debussy as well as Stockhausen, Ligeti, Xenakis, and Boulez. He was also known for playing jazz and Okinawan folk music.
From the 1980s to the 2000s, Sakamoto was a frequent collaborator with several international artists including Iggy Pop, Youssou N’Dour, and Thomas Dolby.
Sakamoto had a private funeral with close family in attendance.
“We would like to share one of Sakamoto’s favorite quotes: ‘Ars longa, vita brevis.’ Art is long, life is short,” a statement announcing Sakamoto’s death said.
We send our condolences to his friends and family.
—-Olivia Murray
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