Ryuichi Sakamoto Essentials

One of the world's most influential electronic musicians and beloved film composers, Japanese innovator Ryuichi Sakamoto began his career in the ’70s with the pioneering synth-pop group Yellow Magic Orchestra. By the time YMO split in 1984, Sakamoto had already launched his solo career. Trained as a pianist, the prolific Sakamoto explored opera, jazz, rock, electronic pop and much more. He won an Oscar in 1987 for scoring The Last Emperor, and he frequently collaborated with art-rock and electronica mavericks like David Sylvian, Christian Fennesz and Carsten Nicolai. Sakamoto died in 2023 at age 71.