Ryuichi Sakamoto, a renowned Japanese musician and composer who lived from 1952 to 2023, passed away on a Sunday after a life marked by relentless exploration. His career spanned decades of prolific output, writing across music and words, with a relentless drive to experiment and blend electronic sounds with traditional textures. His discography includes numerous acclaimed works and soundtracks, earning honors across the Oscar, Golden Globes, and Grammys pathways. Across the years, his influence reached far beyond Japan and into the broader world of contemporary music.
Sakamoto maintained a deep affinity with Spain, performing in major venues and at prominent festivals such as Sónar, where he appeared on several occasions. He collaborated with acclaimed director Pedro Almodóvar and contributed to film projects, including work tied to the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. His ties to European culture echoed through his sound and stage presence, leaving a lasting mark on audiences worldwide.
10 must-haves for Sakamoto
The following entries highlight key moments and works in Sakamoto’s remarkable career, showcasing the breadth of his artistry and the enduring appeal of his music.
1. The Yellow Magic Orchestra (1978)
The Yellow Magic Orchestra album marked a pivotal moment for the group formed by Sakamoto with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi. They emerged as pioneers in electronic experimentation, influencing a wide range of genres within electronic music. Sakamoto released his solo debut in the same year, Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Thousand Knives, signaling a parallel ascent in his own voice within the expanding soundscape.
2. B-2 Unit (1980)
This project is often regarded as one of Sakamoto’s defining solo works. Its compositions bridge progressive ideas with minimalist sensibilities, and the track Riot in Lagos stands out as a landmark in electro funk, shaping future directions for electronic and dance music.
3. Soundtrack Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
Sakamoto’s first major film score for a feature film accompanied his acting appearance. While contemporary reviews were mixed at the time, the score has endured as a classic. The work earned a BAFTA for Best Original Score, signaling a new era of recognition for Sakamoto’s ability to fuse mood, cinema, and melody.
4. Soundtrack The Last Emperor (1987)
Working with David Byrne and Cong Su on this score, Sakamoto earned his first Oscar for Best Original Score. The project also garnered Grammy and Golden Globe recognition for its soundtrack, underscoring his capacity to elevate film through music.
5. Soundtrack High Heels (1991)
In collaboration with director Pedro Almodóvar, Sakamoto helped shape the musical voice of this film. The score accompanies memorable performances and the film’s delicate storytelling, highlighting how his music can augment nuanced cinematic moments.
6. Mediterranean (Barcelona 92 Olympic Games)
Closing the decade, Sakamoto was chosen to compose music for the Barcelona opening ceremony. Working with the Catalan theater company Fura dels Baus, he crafted a centerpiece that voiced the allegory of Jason and the Argonauts as they journeyed toward distant shores. The Mediterranean piece, a 20-minute symphonic work performed by the City of Barcelona Orchestra under his baton, featured seventy musicians and a fifteen-voice choir, weaving a memorable sonic landscape for the games.
7. Life (1999)
This ambitious opera project assembled a vast network of collaborators and spanning disciplines, from dance and theater to literature and film. The production drew on iconic speeches from the 20th century, juxtaposing them with a rich orchestral and vocal palette and on-stage visuals. The work became a sweeping meditation on history, memory, and expression, presented through a dramatic, multimedia lens.
8. OST Babylon (2006)
The score for this film by Alejandro G. Iñárritu features Sakamoto alongside Gustavo Santaolalla. The soundtrack earned international recognition, including an Oscar for Best Original Score. The closing track Bibo no Aozora stands as a poignant testament to his ability to fuse cinematic narrative with lyrical, contemplative soundscapes.
9. The Revenant soundtrack (2015)
Sakamoto collaborated again with Iñárritu on this intense thriller. Working with artist Alva Noto and Bryce Dessner, the score deepened the film’s stark emotional core and reinforced his talent for integrating experimental textures with cinematic storytelling.
10. Farewell album 12
The final studio release arrived in early 2023, just before his passing. After a lengthy battle with cancer first diagnosed in 2014 and again in 2021, Sakamoto faced the illness with quiet resolve. The album comprises twelve instrumental pieces that blend piano and synthesizer in a spare, intimate language. Each piece carries a date-stamped diary-like quality, hinting at the composer’s life, career, and resilience as he continued to work through his illness. The music nods to influences from Debussy and Bach, embracing a minimalist sensibility that remains distinctly Sakamoto.