Japanese composer and pop star Ryuichi Sakamoto has died at the age of 71

Ryuichi Sakamoto, the famous Japanese musician and composer, has died at the age of 71.

He has struggled with ailing health for several years, having been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and colon cancer in 2021. However, throughout his treatments and surgeries, he continued to write music and perform, even making an online appearance as recently as December 2022.

Sakamoto is perhaps best known for his work, particularly for composing the score to several films The Last Emperor (for which he won an Oscar), The Last Buddha, The reven ant

But he was also famous for his earlier pop career, both as a solo artist and as a member of the Yellow Magic Orchestra, an electronic group that was gigantic in Japan in the early 80’s. YMO also had an impact on Western musicians and markets; her song”computer game” chartered in the UK, and They performed live on Soul Train in 1980.

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During his decades-long music writing career, Sakamoto even worked on a few video games, starting in 1989 RPG Tengai Makyou: The Wedgethe first game in a long time Far East of Eden series until 2006 Dawn of Manafor which he composed the opening theme (more on this surprisingly excellent but confusing credit, look here)

His most recent contribution to a video game was Wonderful in 2014 hokumin which (among other excellent choices) the distance Withheld memorya collaboration between Sakamoto and electronic musician Christopher Willits.

Sakamoto died on March 28, his death being announced after his funeral on April 2. He is survived by his four children, one of whom is Japanese pop star Miu Sakamoto.