The world mourns the loss of a man behind some of the most beautiful, mesmerizing, and transcendent music ever composed. On March 23rd, 2023, renowned composer Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away at 71. The cause of death was cancer, something he had battled for quite some time. Since his early days as a member and founder of the “Yellow Magic Orchestra,” Sakamoto demonstrated range as a composer and would be an influential figure covering a wide range of genres from electronic to classical. His work has often been fittingly described as atmospheric, emotional, hypnotic, beautiful, and majestic. He was also open about being an environmentalist, studying world culture, and advocating for peace. Journalists Gigova and Orie, in an article on CNN's website, detail his activism stating, “Outside music, Sakamoto was known for activism — and in particular for his anti-nuclear views, which saw him demonstrating against nuclear power plants and co-organizing a “No Nukes” concert in 2012″ (Gigova and Orie). This concert is one of the many examples in which he was an outspoken activist of peaceful values.
Beyond concert performances, Ryuichi Sakamoto's work composing music for cinema is expansive. Notable examples include his unforgettable scores for Nagisa Oshima's films “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” and “Gohatto” or his international contributions to the soundtracks for Bernardo Bertolucci's “The Last Emperor” and Alejandro González Iñárritu's “The Revenant.” In 2017, moviegoers saw the release of the documentary “Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda,” directed by Stephen Nomura Schible, a portrait of the musician that details his work in the industry and his life journeys.
On occasion, Ryuichi Sakamoto worked as an actor. However, his most notable role is his appearance as Captain Yonoi from Nagisa Oshima's film “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence,” for which Sakamoto also composed the music score. The anti-war feature is based on Laurens van der Post's experiences as a prisoner of war of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. In the movie, the character of Yonoi is an internment camp commander devoted to serving his country and following the Code of Bushido. However, things begin to complicate when he forms romantic feelings for one of the prisoners named Major Celliers, who music icon David Bowie plays. The feature is a high point in Oshima's career as a filmmaker. The erotic dynamic between Sakamoto and Bowie makes for one of the movie's strongest elements, playing into the picture's theme of intimate feelings and bonding being shrouded by the horrors of war.
Ryuichi Sakamoto was a superb music composer and an admirable peace activist. His legacy remains, as will the many memories people have of him as a human being. Currently, some projects will be released in the future that Sakamoto composed the music for before his death. An example is Hirokazu Koreeda's upcoming film “Monster.”
Bibliography:
Gigova, Radina, and Amarachi Orie. “Oscar-Winning Japanese Composer Ryuichi Sakamoto Dies Aged 71.” CNN, Cable News Network, 2 Apr. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/style/article/ryuichi-sakamoto-dies-intl/index.html. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.
