Ryuichi Sakamoto cause of death, Japanese musician dies at 71
by Swetha P
Updated Apr 03, 2023
Who is Ryuichi Sakamoto?
Ryuichi Sakamoto was a Japanese musician, composer, record producer, and actor who was born on January 17, 1952, and passed away on March 28, 2023. He was known for his innovative approach to music, which ranged from electronic and experimental to classical and pop. Sakamoto was a member of the pioneering electronic music group Yellow Magic Orchestra and went on to achieve international acclaim for his solo work and film scores, including his Academy Award-winning score for "The Last Emperor." Throughout his career, Sakamoto was recognized for his musical achievements and activism on behalf of environmental and human rights causes.
Ryuichi Sakamoto cause of death
The renowned Japanese musician and actor Ryuichi Sakamoto, who composed for popular Hollywood films such as "The Last Emperor" and "The Revenant," passed away at the age of 71. Sakamoto was receiving cancer treatment at the time of his death on March 28, as announced by his recording company Avex on Sunday. The musician was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and later revealed that he had terminal cancer in 2022, one year after disclosing his battle with rectal cancer.
Sakamoto pioneered electronic music and co-founded the Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi. Despite his illness, he released a new album titled "12" on his 71st birthday in January, stating that composing had a "small healing effect on my damaged body and soul." Sakamoto was a highly acclaimed artist, having won an Academy Award and a Grammy for his work on "The Last Emperor" in 1987.
What happened to Ryuichi Sakamoto?
On the 28th Tuesday, Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away. Ryuichi Sakamoto death cause, he had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, and in 2021 was diagnosed with colon cancer. Avex, the recording company, announced his passing on Sunday via a statement on Twitter. Despite undergoing treatment for cancer since June 2020, Sakamoto continued to work on new music in his home studio whenever his health permitted. The statement noted that Sakamoto had lived with music until his last moments.
How did Ryuichi Sakamoto die?
In June 2014, Ryuichi Sakamoto took a year-long break after being diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer. He returned in 2015, feeling much better but acknowledged that he may be susceptible to other cancers due to the low immunity resulting from radiation treatment. In January 2021, Sakamoto revealed that he was battling rectal cancer, but expressed a desire to continue making music despite the diagnosis. Sadly, Sakamoto passed away from cancer on March 28, 2023, at the age of 71. His death was announced on April 2, after his funeral had already taken place.
Ryuichi Sakamoto career
Ryuichi Sakamoto was born in Tokyo in 1952 and grew up listening to a mix of The Beatles and classical music, such as Bach. He co-founded the electronic group "Yellow Magic Orchestra" in 1978, but it was his work as a composer for film soundtracks that gained him the most recognition. One of his notable film scores was for the 1983 movie "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence," in which he acted alongside David Bowie.
He also won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for his score of "The Last Emperor" in 1987. Additionally, he composed for several other films, including "Femme Fatale," "Snake Eyes," and "The Revenant." Even in his later years, he continued to work and collaborate, as evidenced by an album of his music curated by director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu that is set to be released on May 5.
Ryuichi Sakamoto death
Sakamoto's management team announced his death on March 28, and a statement was released quoting one of his favorite quotes, "Ars longa, vita brevis." Funeral services have already been held with close family and friends. He is survived by his daughter Miu Sakamoto, who posted a tribute to her father on Instagram. Tributes from various people in the arts industry and beyond flooded social media after news of his death was announced. Japanese actor Haruka Abe praised Sakamoto's music as something that "will live on forever," while US author Frederick Joseph described it as "the score of many of my life moments."
Ryuichi Sakamoto cause of death - FAQs
Ryuichi Sakamoto was a world-renowned Japanese musician and actor known for his film scores and pioneering work in electronic music.
Ryuichi Sakamoto died on March 28, 2023.
Ryuichi Sakamoto's favorite quote was "Ars longa, vita brevis" which means "Art is long, life is short."
Ryuichi Sakamoto died from cancer.
Ryuichi Sakamoto composed music for many films, including "The Last Emperor", "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence", "The Revenant", and "Babel".