What happened to Ryuichi Sakamoto?

Japanese composer and performer Ryuichi Sakamoto died in Tokyo on March 28, 2023, at 71 years old. He was a co-founder of Yellow Magic Orchestra and an award-winning film composer, having won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards for his work on The Last Emperor (1987). Sakamoto was also known for his environmental activism as a UN Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity. His death was due to cancer.

On March 28, 2023, in Tokyo, Japan, Ryuichi Sakamoto, a renowned Japanese composer, record producer, and performer, passed away at the age of 71. On February 17, 1952, Sakamoto was born in Nakano City, Tokyo, Japan. He started out in the 1970s as a producer, arranger, and session musician before going on to co-found the well-known electronic music ensemble Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) in 1978.

In addition to his work with YMO, Sakamoto has enjoyed a successful solo career as a composer for films. Has received numerous awards for his contributions to the music industry, including two Golden Globes, two BAFTA Awards, an Academy Award, and a Grammy Award for his work on the film The Last Emperor (1987). Sakamoto has also composed the sound tracks for many other notable movies, including The Revenant, Little Buddha, The Sheltering Sky, and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983). (2015).

Sakamoto was also known for his commitment to environmental activism and served as a UN Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity. His passing was attributed to cancer.