Ryuichi Sakamoto, Oscar-winning composer of 'The Last Emperor,' dies at 71

Japanese composer and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto died on March 28, 2023, in Tokyo at age 71 after a long battle with cancer. His management announced the news on April 2, citing respect for the family. Sakamoto was a pioneering figure in electronic music, co-founding the Yellow Magic Orchestra with Haruomi Hosono, and won an Academy Award for his score for Bernardo Bertolucci's 'The Last Emperor' (1987). He also composed for films such as 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence' (1983), for which he won a BAFTA, and 'The Revenant' (2015), earning Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Grammy nominations. Beyond cinema, Sakamoto created multimedia works like 'LIFE' (1999) with Shiro Takatani, and in 2018 performed on Philip Johnson's Glass House as an instrument with Alva Noto. He collaborated with artists including David Bowie, David Byrne, Iggy Pop, and Nam June Paik. Diagnosed with cancer in 2020, he continued composing until his health declined. His 2017 album 'async' was created after recovery from an earlier cancer. Sakamoto was born in Nakano, Tokyo, on January 17, 1952, and studied ethnomusicology and composition. He also acted in films such as 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence' and 'New Rose Hotel.' His work is remembered for its fusion of genres and exploration of sound.