The death has been announced of the pioneering Japanese composer and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, aged 71.
“While undergoing treatment for cancer discovered in June 2020, Sakamoto continued to create works in his home studio whenever his health would allow,” Sakamoto’s management, Commmons, wrote in its statement.
“He lived with music until the very end. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to his fans and all those who have supported his activities, as well as the medical professionals in Japan and the U.S. who did everything in their power to cure him.”
Born in 1952, Sakamoto rose to prominence with the Yellow Magic Orchestra alongside Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The group is known as one of the originators of the synthpop genre.
After his initial success, Sakamoto went on to become an important and coveted film composer. He acted alongside David Bowie in the 1983 film Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence and composed its theme song.
His work in film led him to winning an Oscar in 1987 with David Byrne and Cong Su for The Last Emperor. he also won a Golden Globe for Best Original Score, and Grammy for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media, as well as a BAFTA nomination.
He won a Golden Globe for his work on Sheltering Sky (1990). He also received a Golden Globe and Bafta nomination for The Revenant (2015).
The composer had been diagnosed twice with cancer, once in 2014, where he battled throat cancer, and again in 2021 when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer.
At the time of his second diagnosis, Sakamoto said, “From now on, I will be living alongside cancer. But, I am hoping to make music for a little while longer.”
In November, he announced what will now be his final album, 12, recording the album in 2021 and 2022.
