Ryuichi Sakamoto (born January 17, 1952 in Tokyo, Japan; died March 28, 2023, in Tokyo) was a Japanese musician, composer and actor. Sakamoto studied at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, where he graduated with a BA in composition, and a Master's degree with special emphasis electronic and ethnic music. Sakamoto began his career in the mid 1970s, working as a composer, arranger and producer with some of Japan's most popular rock, jazz and classical artists. He released his first solo album in 1978 but came to fame as a member of Japanese synth-rock outfit Yellow Magic Orchestra with co-founders Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi. He collaborated with David Sylvian on a number of singles and most of Sylvian's albums. He appeared in the 1983 Nagisa Oshima film Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence alongside British rock singer David Bowie; he also wrote the film's musical score. He won the Academy Award for his score to the 1987 Bernardo Bertolucci film The Last Emperor. He also wrote soundtracks for Pedro Almodovar's film High Heels, and Oliver Stone's Wild Palms. Sakamoto was married to Japanese pianist and singer Akiko Yano, collaborating with her on some of her recordings. He was also known as a critic of copyright law, saying it is antiquated in the information age.
Father of Miu Sakamoto alias Sister M.
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
坂本龍一
December 11, 2022
NHK 509 Studio
Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanOnline concert: Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano 2022. Pre-recorded at 509 studio in NHK Broadcasting Center.
1. Improvisation on Little Buddha Theme
2. Lack of Love
3. Solitude
4. Aubade 2020
5. Ichimei - Small Happiness
6. Aqua
7. Tong Poo(Yellow Magic Orchestra cover)
8. The Wuthering Heights
9. 20220302 - sarabande
10. The Sheltering Sky
11. The Last Emperor
12. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
13. Opus - Ending
December 12, 2020
Private Venue
Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanOnline concert "Ryuichi Sakamoto : Playing the Piano 12122020"
1. Andata
2. Bibo no Aozora
3. Aqua
4. aubade
5. Aoneko No Torso
6. Mizu no Naka no Bagatelle
7. Before Long
8. Perspective(Yellow Magic Orchestra cover)
9. Energy Flow
10. The Sheltering Sky
11. The Last Emperor
12. The Seed and the Sower
13. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
14. MUJI2020
15. Improvisation
April 2, 2020
Private Venue
Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanOnline concert, Playing the Piano for the Isolated
1. Andata
2. honj II
Solo3. Orikaebaya(Hidejiro Honjoh cover)
Solo4. Vermillion Study
Solo, Hiroya Miura cover5. Nocturne No.2
Solo, Kyoko Hirai cover6. Improvisation
7. 1900
8. Minamata Piano Theme
9. Gui
10. Mizu no Naka no Bagatelle
11. Bibo no Aozora
12. Aqua
13. Energy Flow
14. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
15. Perspective(Yellow Magic Orchestra cover)
October 18, 2019
The Theatre at Ace Hotel
Los Angeles, California, United States1. Andata
2.
3. Mizu no Naka no Bagatelle
4. Solitude
5. Bibo no Aozora
6. Aoneko No Torso
7. Parolibre
8. The Last Emperor
1. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
March 24, 2019
Toyosu PIT
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japanwith Otomo Yoshihide
View on Setlist.fm →March 23, 2019
Toyosu PIT
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan1. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
partialNovember 30, 2018
PhilaMOCA
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesOctober 4, 2018
Busan Cinema Center
Busan, Busan, South KoreaSeptember 8, 2018
Camden Arts Centre
London, England, United KingdomJune 24, 2018
The Silver Building
London, England, United KingdomMarch 11, 2018
Le Lieu Unique
Nantes, Pays de la Loire, France1. Andata
2. FF
3. Honj
4. Async
5. Disintegration
6. Zure
7. Tri
8. Life, Life
9. Walker
10. Fullmoon
11.
part of Glass?12. Water State 2
13. Piano Outro
March 10, 2018
Le Lieu Unique
Nantes, Pays de la Loire, France1. Andata
2. FF
3. Honj
4. Async
5. Disintegration
6. Zure
7. Tri
8. Life, Life
9. Walker
10. Fullmoon
11.
part of Glass?12. Water State 2
13. Piano Outro
May 7, 2017
Auditório Ibirapuera
São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilMay 7, 2017
Área Externa do Auditório Ibirapuera
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil1.
2. Lígia(Antônio Carlos Jobim cover)
instrumental3. Bibo no Aozora
4. Retrato em branco e preto(Antônio Carlos Jobim cover)
5. (Antônio Carlos Jobim cover)
6. (Antônio Carlos Jobim cover)
7. As praias desertas(Antônio Carlos Jobim cover)
8. Sabiá(Antônio Carlos Jobim cover)
9. O amor em paz(Antônio Carlos Jobim cover)
10. How Insensitive (Insensatez)(Antônio Carlos Jobim cover)
11. O grande amor(Antônio Carlos Jobim cover)
12. Pela luz dos olhos teus(Antônio Carlos Jobim cover)
instrumental13. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
14. Desafinado(Antônio Carlos Jobim cover)
15. Chega de saudade(Antônio Carlos Jobim cover)
April 13, 2014
Aichi-ken Geijutsu Gekijou
Nagoya, Aichi, Japan1. Still Life
2. kizuna(Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto cover)
3. Kizuna World
4. Aqua
5. Bibo no Aozora
6. Castalia(Yellow Magic Orchestra cover)
7. Ichimei - No Way Out
8. Ichimei - Small Happiness
9. Bolerish
10. Happy End
11. The Last Emperor
12. Ballet Mecanique
13. Anger - from untitled 01
14. Little Buddha
1. Yae no Sakura
2. The Sheltering Sky
3. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
1. Parolibre
April 11, 2014
Tokyo Geijutsu Gekijou, Concert Hall
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan1. Still Life
2. kizuna(Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto cover)
3. Kizuna World
4. Aqua
5. Bibo no Aozora
6. Castalia(Yellow Magic Orchestra cover)
7. Ichimei - No Way Out
8. Ichimei - Small Happiness
9. Bolerish
10. Happy End
11. The Last Emperor
12. Ballet Mecanique
13. Anger - from untitled 01
14. Little Buddha
1. Blu
2. Yae no Sakura
3. The Sheltering Sky
4. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
April 9, 2014
Ryutopia
Niigata, Niigata, Japan1. Still Life
2. kizuna(Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto cover)
3. Kizuna World
4. Aqua
5. Bibo no Aozora
6. Castalia(Yellow Magic Orchestra cover)
7. Ichimei - No Way Out
8. Ichimei - Small Happiness
9. Bolerish
10. Happy End
11. The Last Emperor
12. Ballet Mecanique
13. Anger - from untitled 01
14. Little Buddha
1. Yae no Sakura
2. The Sheltering Sky
3. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
April 6, 2014
Matsumoto Shimin Geijutsukan
Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan1. Still Life
2. kizuna(Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto cover)
3. Kizuna World
4. Aqua
5. Bibo no Aozora
6. Castalia(Yellow Magic Orchestra cover)
7. Ichimei - No Way Out
8. Ichimei - Small Happiness
9. Bolerish
10. Happy End
11. The Last Emperor
12. Ballet Mecanique
13. Anger - from untitled 01
14. Little Buddha
1. Yae no Sakura
2. The Sheltering Sky
3. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
April 4, 2014
SUNTORY HALL
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan1. Still Life
2. kizuna(Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto cover)
3. Kizuna World
4. Aqua
5. Bibo no Aozora
6. Castalia(Yellow Magic Orchestra cover)
7. Ichimei - No Way Out
8. Ichimei - Small Happiness
9. Bolerish
10. Happy End
11. The Last Emperor
12. Ballet Mecanique
13. Anger - from untitled 01
14. Little Buddha
1. Yae no Sakura
2. The Sheltering Sky
3. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
April 3, 2014
Festival Hall
Osaka, Osaka, Japan1. Still Life
2. kizuna(Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto cover)
3. Kizuna World
4. Aqua
5. Bibo no Aozora
6. Castalia(Yellow Magic Orchestra cover)
7. Ichimei - No Way Out
8. Ichimei - Small Happiness
9. Bolerish
10. Happy End
11. The Last Emperor
12. Ballet Mecanique
13. Anger - from untitled 01
14. Little Buddha
1. Yae no Sakura
2. The Sheltering Sky
3. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
Ryuichi Sakamoto has released 100+ albums. Some of their notable releases include 天命の城(南漢山城/The Fortress) オリジナル・サウンドトラック, Playing The Baschet, The Best Of Tohoku Youth Orchestra 2013-2023. Explore their complete discography on this page.
Some of Ryuichi Sakamoto's most popular tracks include Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, Bibo no Aozora, Amore, M.A.Y. in the Backyard, The Last Emperor. Listen to these songs and discover more from their extensive catalog.
Ryuichi Sakamoto (born January 17, 1952 in Tokyo, Japan; died March 28, 2023, in Tokyo) was a Japanese musician, composer and actor. Sakamoto studied at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and... Read the full biography on this page.
You can find Ryuichi Sakamoto vinyl records and merchandise on eBay. We feature a curated selection of vinyl releases and collectibles available for purchase.
Follow Ryuichi Sakamoto
