Pioneering digital musician, composer and actor Ryuichi Sakamoto has died aged 71. The information was confirmed by way of a put up on Sakamoto’s official social media accounts.
A press release on his official web site reads: “Whereas present process therapy for most cancers found in June 2020, Sakamoto continued to create works in his house studio every time his well being would permit. He lived with music till the very finish.
“We want to categorical out deepest gratitude to his followers and all those that have supported his actions, in addition to medical professionals in Japan and the USA who did all the things of their energy to remedy him.”
Ryuichi Sakamoto has Died Aged 71
“In accordance with Sakamoto’s sturdy needs, the funeral service was held amongst his shut members of the family. Lastly, we want to share certainly one of Sakamoto’s favorite quotes: ‘Ars longa, vita brevis’ [Art is Long, life is short’].”
Sakamoto was first recognized with throat most cancers in 2014, prompting him to take a 12 months off music. After therapy, the most cancers went into remission, however in 2020 it was confirmed he had been recognized with rectal most cancers.
In an essay revealed final June, Sakamoto revealed that he had undergone surgical procedure in late 2021 to take away most cancers that had unfold to each lungs and was nonetheless battling stage 4 most cancers.
“Since I’ve made it this far in life, I hope to have the ability to make music till my final second, like Bach and Debussy whom I like,” he wrote.
In December, Sakamoto shared a livestream live performance titled ‘Ryuichi Sakamoto: Taking part in the Piano 2022’. He additionally shared a video message that defined that as a result of therapy, his “power has actually fallen, so a traditional live performance of about an hour to ninety minutes can be very troublesome,” so he had recorded every observe individually earlier than enhancing them collectively “so it may be offered as an everyday live performance.”
Throughout his profession, Sakamoto gained quite a few awards [including an Oscar, a Grammy, a Bafta and two Golden Globes] for his work as a movie composer, scoring the likes of The Final Emperor, The Sheltering Sky, Little Buddha, and The Revenant. In addition to scoring Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence, Sakamoto additionally starred within the struggle movie alongside David Bowie.
Sakamoto was additionally a founding member of pioneering digital band Yellow Magic Orchestra.
Following his dying, tributes have been paid to to Ryuichi Sakamoto on social media.
Relaxation in Energy ryuichi sakamoto ❤️ pic.twitter.com/3gn6qkmXZm
— anton newcombe (@antonnewcombe) April 2, 2023
Dearest @ryuichisakamoto … how can one summarise your light profundity? Thanks for the heat and generosity, and for the wellspring of your music which lives so very deeply inside so many people. With deep love and respect…RIP. pic.twitter.com/2OxnXdAWCz
— lawrence english (@room40speaks) April 2, 2023
RIP Ryuichi Sakamoto, some of the wildly formidable artists ever. His profession is so sensible & assorted that it’s a humiliation of riches. I’m very keen on his pop albums however my fav is perhaps the sampling insanity throughout his 1985 masterpiece Esperanto.https://t.co/hHhK4OH0tb
— Joshua Minsoo Kim (@misterminsoo) April 2, 2023
Relaxation in peace Maestro 💙 https://t.co/DkrXysX7bV
— 𝙴𝚍 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝 (@EdHarcourt) April 2, 2023
坂本龍一さんという偉大な音楽家に出会えたことに心から感謝しています。とても悲しくて受け入れたくありませんが、あなたの奏でた音楽は永遠に残ります。そして熊本の復興のためにとても力を尽くして下さり本当に有難うございました。今はただ安らかにお眠り下さい。R.I.P. https://t.co/48M7W7Xn0J
— 熊本市長 大西一史 (@K_Onishi) April 2, 2023
RIP Ryuichi Sakamoto
you taught me maybe the best of all classes:
“each mistake is a present.”— maryanne hobbs (@maryannehobbs) April 2, 2023
Unhappy to listen to that Ryuichi Sakamoto died. He was a giant a part of my ‘80s musical expertise – initially for me via his work with David Sylvian and Japan – however in fact he leaves an impressive catalogue of music behind. https://t.co/iswbOHcL5g
— Brian Cox (@ProfBrianCox) April 2, 2023
David Sylvian of Japan additionally paid tribute, sharing three tiles on his official Instagram which featured Sakamoto’s dates of delivery and dying, a black and white photograph of Sakamoto together with his face turned away from the digicam, and a quote from the poet Jack Gilbert: “I imagine Icarus was not failing as he fell, however simply coming to the top of his triumph.”
Sylvian was a longtime buddy and collaborator of Sakamoto’s, who he had collaborated with way back to the early Nineteen Eighties. Their 1983 track ‘Forbidden Colors’ appeared on the soundtrack of Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence. Amongst their different collaborations was the 2003 EP ‘World Citizen’.
Sakamoto’s most up-to-date album, ’12’, was launched in January, his first non-soundtrack album for almost six years.
He was scheduled to carry out in France subsequent week, in addition to on the Manchester Worldwide Competition in June.
It is a growing story.
