{"title":"Ryuichi Sakamoto","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout Ryuichi Sakamoto\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRyuichi Sakamoto was born in Nakano, Tokyo, Japan on January 17, 1952. He studied music composition at the Tokyo University of the Arts. He co-founded the foundational Japanese electronic music group Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) in 1978 with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi (died 2023). YMO is widely cited as one of the most important electronic music groups in popular music history - predating and influencing the entire international synth-pop, techno, and electronic music movements. Sakamoto's parallel solo career - launching with the 1978 album Thousand Knives - has been varied across multiple decades, combining electronic music, ambient, classical composition, and film score work. His 1987 film score for Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor won the Academy Award for Best Original Score (shared with David Byrne and Cong Su), and his film score work for Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983, in which he also acted opposite David Bowie), The Sheltering Sky (1990), Babel (2006), and The Revenant (2015) has been. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and rectal cancer in 2021, with later work addressing mortality and ecological themes. His 2023 album 12 - released two months before his death - is widely cited as his final statement. He died of cancer on March 28, 2023 at age 71. His foundational influence on electronic music, ambient music, film score composition, and broader contemporary international music is widely cited as one of the most important contributions to the form.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSound and style\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRyuichi Sakamoto's sound combines electronic music, ambient, classical composition, film score, synth-pop, techno, modern classical, and Japanese contemporary classical with his distinctive piano work, virtuosic multi-instrumental electronic production approaches, and varied compositional approaches across multiple decades and subgenres.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDiscography highlights\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThousand Knives (1978, Better Days)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eB-2 Unit (1980, Alfa)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMerry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983, Virgin) - soundtrack\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Last Emperor (1987, Virgin) - soundtrack, Best Original Score Academy Award\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeo Geo (1987, CBS Epic)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBeauty (1989, Virgin)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSweet Revenge (1994, Elektra)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBTTB (1999, Sony Classical)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChasm (2004, Decca)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOut of Noise (2009, Commmons)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003easync (2017, Milan)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e12 (2023, Commmons\/Milan) - final\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFor collectors\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginal Alfa, CBS\/Sony, Virgin, Warner Bros., Milan, and Commmons (his own label) pressings of the Ryuichi Sakamoto catalog are foundational items in electronic music, ambient, and Japanese music collecting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhere to start\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eListeners new to Ryuichi Sakamoto typically start with The Last Emperor soundtrack (1987), BTTB (1999), or async (2017). See also Yellow Magic Orchestra. \u003cspan class=\"related-collections\"\u003eExplore more: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/electronic-vinyl-records\"\u003eElectronic\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"ryuichi-sakamoto-music-for-film-vinyl","title":"Music for Film 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eA collection of Sakamoto's brilliant film scores.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48541073080503,"sku":"210000056407","price":55.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/sakamoto.jpg?v=1781155300"},{"product_id":"ryuichi-sakamoto-better-days-vinyl","title":"Better Days 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe album includes material from his 1978 debut album \"Thousand Knives\" and collaborations with the session group KYLYN, which featured guitarist Kazumi Watanabe.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48541079306423,"sku":"210000097733","price":65.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4392559-3305202.jpg?v=1781155323"},{"product_id":"ryuichi-sakamoto-ongaku-zukan-lp-vinyl","title":"Ongaku Zukan LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eExperience the artistry of Ryuichi Sakamoto with the \"Ongaku Zukan LP,\" a masterful blend of Asian influences and electronic soundscapes. This reissue, paired with a bonus 7\" single, revives Sakamoto's iconic 1984 album, showcasing tracks like \"Tibetan Dance\" and \"Replica.\" Immerse yourself in the delicate textures and emotive compositions that define this classic vinyl release.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48772777181367,"sku":"210000095789","price":45.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4236998-3027371.jpg?v=1782828408"},{"product_id":"ryuichi-sakamoto-thousand-knives-of-cd","title":"Thousand Knives of... CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eWewantsounds present a reissue of Ryuichi Sakamoto's first solo album Thousand Knives Of, originally released in 1978 on the sought-after Better Days label.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785672896695,"sku":"210000094092","price":19.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3732053-2494706.jpg?v=1783045615"},{"product_id":"ryuichi-sakamoto-hidari-ude-no-yume-cd","title":"Hidari Ude No Yume 2CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eRyuichi Sakamoto's \"Hidari Ude No Yume 2CD\" channels a dynamic blend of pop sensibilities and avant-garde flair through his collaboration with the Yellow Magic Orchestra. This collection pulses with intricate layers of electronic textures and live instrumentation featuring artists like Adrian Belew and Kaoru Sato. Each track carves out a distinct space, balancing innovation with accessibility, cementing its impact in contemporary music.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785690656951,"sku":"210000095734","price":23.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3849373-2595460.jpg?v=1783045665"},{"product_id":"ryuichi-sakamoto-summer-nerves-vinyl","title":"Summer Nerves LP","description":"","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785724997815,"sku":"210000090352","price":44.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"ryuichi-sakamoto-great-tracks-vinyl","title":"Great Tracks LP","description":"","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785725128887,"sku":"210000090341","price":26.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"ryuichi-sakamoto-esperanto-vinyl","title":"Esperanto LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eRyuichi Sakamoto's \"Esperanto LP\" stands out as a pivotal work in electronic music, marking its first global release since its initial 1985 debut in Japan. This pressing, featuring remastering by Seigen Ono, is enriched by an insightful introduction from Andy Beta, which places the album within its historical context. Collaborations with Yas-Kaz and Arto Lindsay underscore the innovative spirit of the era, offering a profound insight into Sakamoto's expansive artistic vision.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785876189367,"sku":"210000082136","price":36.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4017759-2752798.jpg?v=1783046169"},{"product_id":"ryuichi-sakamoto-hidari-ude-no-yume-vinyl-japanese-edition","title":"Hidari Ude No Yume LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe classic 1981 album reissued in its rare Japanese Edition featuring original artwork with a 4-page insert.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785954570423,"sku":"210000059906","price":36.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/ryuichi.jpg?v=1783046386"},{"product_id":"ryuichi-sakamoto-thousand-knives-of-vinyl","title":"Thousand Knives of... LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eA penchant for avant-garde and improvisation had gotten Sakamoto interested in electronic music early on. Thousand Knives took several months to record as Sakamoto would be busy during the day with his session work and would only record at night.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48860509601975,"sku":"210000060402","price":40.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/thousandknives.jpg?v=1783653967"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.waxtraxrecords.com\/collections\/ryuichi-sakamoto.oembed","provider":"Wax Trax Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}