Ryuichi Sakamoto

Good morning.

Today we’re listening to and remembering Ryuichi Sakamoto, a Japanese composer and pianist from Tokyo. Sakamoto, whom we’ve featured four times before, passed away on Tuesday, March 28.

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Sakamoto created beautiful music in many different categories: pop music with Yellow Magic Orchestra, film music such as the Oscar-winning score for The Last Emperor, solo piano music such as /05 which we’re playing today, experimental electronic music with alva noto and others, bossanova jazz music with the Morelenbaums, and more. The album 1996 collects his film compositions as arrangements for a piano trio. Sakamoto’s talent, creativity, inventiveness, and curiosity have been constant inspirations for us and for many around the world. May he rest in peace.

/05 - Ryuichi Sakamoto (70m, no vocals)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube Music / Amazon Music / Tidal

1996 - Ryuichi Sakamoto (50m, vocals in the background on track 5)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube Music / Amazon Music / Tidal

Have a great start to your week.

1. Obituaries: New York Times, NPR, The Guardian, IndieWire