
Sound
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Born — Died
1952-01-17 — 2023-03-28
Place of birth
Tokyo, Japan
Known for
Sound
Credits
66 titles
Ryuichi Sakamoto (坂本 龍一, Sakamoto Ryūichi, January 17, 1952 - March 28, 2023) was a Japanese composer, record producer, and actor who had pursued a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). With his bandmates Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, Sakamoto influenced and pioneered a number of electronic music genres.
Known for
8.8No synopsis available yet.
Thirteen Talks
2016
7.6A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation by the invading Japanese, and finally to his obscure existence as just another peasant worker in the People's Republic.
The Last Emperor
1987
7.3Island of Java, 1942, during World War II. British Major Jack Celliers arrives at a Japanese prison camp, run by the strict Captain Yonoi. Colonel John Lawrence, who has a profound knowledge of Japanese culture, and Sergeant Hara, brutal and simpleton, will witness the struggle of wills between two men from very different backgrounds who are tragically destined to clash.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
1983
NRA current affairs television programme produced by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK provides cutting-edge information and critical analysis on important issues confronting Japanese lives.
Today's Close-Up
1993
8.0An NHK flagship program, centered around a diverse range of documentaries, delves into the dynamic shifts of society, politics and history, as well as the breathtaking wonders of the natural world.
NHK Special
1989
7.0Sunday night TV documentary program that heightens the spirits bringing a positive message to start the upcoming week by showcasing the routine and life of people, both famous and regular, including the bits of joy and struggle that go along into making something special. Scientifics, actors, craftsman and people in all fields share their experience.
Jounetsu Tairiku
1998
Film credits
2020s · 12 titles
7.5SUGA of the world-renowned group, BTS, works on a new album. He embarks on a journey to find his story to tell through music, while interacting with artists from various cities around the world.
SUGA: Road to D-DAY
2023
6.8The quixotic journey of Nam June Paik, one of the most famous Asian artists of the 20th century, who revolutionized the use of technology as an artistic canvas and prophesied both the fascist tendencies and intercultural understanding that would arise from the interconnected metaverse of today's world.
Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV
2023
7.8"Ars longa, vita brevis" – art is long, life is short. This is one of Japanese music icon Ryuichi Sakamoto's favorite quotes, and the message that he leaves for viewers at the end of his final concert film, shot before he succumbed to cancer in March 2023. Consisting of only Sakamoto and his piano, Opus features the final live performances of 20 songs that Sakamoto meticulously curated to encapsulate his distinguished 40-year career.
Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus
2023
10.0Ryuichi Sakamoto shocked the world with his techno music as a member of YMO and continued to capture the hearts of many with his unique music. In his diary in his final years, he wrote about the anguish of his life fighting the disease, thinking, "It's a death sentence" and "Should I choose euthanasia?" and "Music may be the only way to stay sane," and "Music to leave behind, music to leave behind." His true feelings were engraved, including words that made him think deeply—his interaction with unknown members of YMO and the unreleased song that ended up touching his heart.
Ryuichi Sakamoto's Last Days
2024
NRA video documenting the making of David Sylvian's 1984 Lp "Brilliant Trees" within Berlin. Unknown to the world until David's surprise releasing of it on VIMEO July 15, 2021.
Brilliant Trees Sessions
2021
8.0Ryuichi Sakamoto was an extraordinary musician who passed away in March 2023. He meticulously chronicled his final days in his personal diary. By tracing the last three and a half years through his journal, one can see how he confronted the end of his life and the legacy he sought to leave behind.
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Diaries
2025
10.0On December 11, 2022, Ryuichi Sakamoto's solo piano performance will be streamed in the form of a concert. However, what we will experience that day is carefully recorded footage of Sakamoto performing a few pieces of music each day over the course of a week, that was then thoughtfully edited together. This is last performance.
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano 2022
2022
NRThis documentary follows the path of musician Kazuhiko Kato, who has created many masterpieces that remain in the history of Japanese pop music. Kazuhiko Kato, affectionately known as "Tonovan," influenced many people with his musicality that was ahead of its time, such as "The Folk Crusaders" and "Sadistic Mika Band." The documentary introduces the behind-the-scenes story of the formation of The Folk Crusaders, who created Japan's first million-selling hit, rare footage of the Sadistic Mika Band's overseas performances and recording scenes as they made their way around the world, and hidden anecdotes about the "Europe Trilogy," which is said to be a monumental work of Japanese pop music. In addition, a new recording of the timeless classic "Ano Subarashii Ai wo Mouichido" is made, and the song's evolution by musicians of various genres is shown. The film was planned, directed, and produced by Yumi Aihara, who also worked on "SUKITA: A Moment Carved by Artists."
Tonovan Musician Kazuhiko Kato and His Era
2024
NRNo synopsis available yet.
OKINA: Dance of Life
2020
6.0100 minutes of healing music from Ryuichi Sakamoto and shamisen prodigy Hidejiro Honjoh.
Ryuichi Sakamoto Playing the Piano for the Isolated
2020
8.0Ryuichi Sakamoto sadly passed away at the age of 71 on March 28, 2023. His music never stops and continues to leave a lasting impression on people living in the present. Playing the Orchestra 2013" was the first time in 16 years that Ryuichi Sakamoto performed with a full orchestra in Japan and created a sensation. This film is an updated version of the 2014 Tokyo performance, which he conducted himself. In this film, Sakamoto conducts all the pieces while playing the piano, The film features Sakamoto playing the piano and conducting all the pieces, and a variety of music from YMO's masterpieces such as "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" and "The Last Emperor" to his own film music, all performed by the magnificent Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Ryuichi Sakamoto | Playing the Orchestra 2014
2025
NRJapanese composer and living legend Ryuchi Sakamoto shared a live home session titled “Impovistation for Sonic Cure”. This performance was broadcast via the program “Sonic Cure” produced by UCCA + Kuaishou to encourage isolated people in China on February 29th. Sakamoto wanted to share it with the people who are in isolation. It was filmed and edited by Zakkubalan.
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Improvisation for Sonic Cure
2020
2010s · 8 titles
7.4Oscar-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto weaves man-made and natural sounds together in his works. His anti-nuclear activism grew after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, and his career only paused after a 2014 cancer diagnosis.
Ryuichi Sakamoto: CODA
2017
7.2A live performance film capturing an intimate concert by composer, pianist and music producer Ryuichi Sakamoto in New York City. The performance marked the first public unveiling of Sakamoto’s new opus, async, hailed as one of the best albums of 2017 by Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.
Ryuichi Sakamoto: async at the Park Avenue Armory
2018
7.0A documentary about Haruomi Hosono, a musician respected around the world and the music composer of Cannes Palme d'Or winner Shoplifters. The footage traces his encounter with music in early childhood to his days in bands Happy End and YMO to his solo activities. It also includes in-depth coverage from recent years of his first overseas performances in London, New York and Los Angeles. In London, he was joined by Yukihiro Takahashi, and when Ryuichi Sakamoto made a surprise appearance onstage, the YMO members were reunited for the first time in five years, a must-see spectacle captured on film. Written by Nikkatsu
No Smoking
2019
NRNo synopsis available yet.
700 Days with Ryuichi Sakamoto
2015
NRA live performed on August 5, 2011 at NHK 101 Studio in Shibuya, Tokyo. Yellow Magic Orchestra, who has almost never done a studio live, played "RYDEEN", "FIRECRACKER", "COSMIC SURFIN", and others, in front of about 1,000 spectators selected by lottery. Keigo Oyamada, Tomohiko Gondo, and Christian Fennesz participated as support members.
Yellow Magic Orchestra - YMONHK
2012
No synopsis available yet.
Burning Ice
2010
7.0Music live performance of Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto at the Glass House.
Ryuichi Sakamoto + Alva Noto: The Glass House
2016
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Ryuichi Sakamoto | Trio Tour 2012
2015
2000s · 7 titles
8.7A documentary about Brian de Palma's "Femme Fatale."
Femme Fatale: Dream Within a Dream
2003
NREveryone in Japan knows his work, yet few recognize his face. Chris Mosdell, British expatriate, pop lyricist, poet and visual artist, during his 30-year residence in Tokyo has written chart-topping hits with some of Japan's most influential musicians and composers, penned lyrics to anime film scores, and run with the multimedia underground of that city's avant-garde. Ink Music: In The Land Of The Hundred-Tongued Lyricist is a 90-minute documentary film detailing those artistic relationships in the expansive career of artistic word-smith, Chris Mosdell. Shot in HD on-location in Tokyo and Fukui, Japan, and New York City, USA, the film highlights Mosdell's rise from obscure expatriate bohemian poet to renowned lyricist for Japan's biggest band ever, Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). The story is told through exclusive interviews. Tokyo itself also figures into the narrative as a major character, featuring copious clips of original footage from inside the city that inspires Mosdell's work.
Ink Music: In the Land of the Hundred-Tongued Lyricist
2009
NRAlva Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoto, backed by Ensemble Modern and a live "visual score", perform their fourth collaborative work "utp_" at the National Theatre in Mannheim, Germany on November 16, 2007.
Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto with Ensemble Modern: utp_
2008
NRNo synopsis available yet.
POSTYMO / Yellow Magic Orchestra
2009
NRAlva Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoto, accompanied by a live visual score, perform their second collaborative work “Insen”. Recorded at Casa da Música, Porto, Portugal, on June 11th, 2006.
Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto: Insen Live
2006
NRNo synopsis available yet.
VisualYMO:the Best
2003
NRA concert, called Ryuichi Sakamoto Trio World Tour, was organized in 1996. The setlist of this concert is different than the original album. This concert was played at 6 venues in Japan, and the Bunkamura Orchard Hall concert was live streamed on August 28, 1996, on the Internet, and was one of the first concerts to be streamed. This concert was released on both DVD and Laserdisc.
Ryuichi Sakamoto Trio World Tour 1996 - Complete Version
2000
1990s · 10 titles
5.3A corporate raider and his henchman use a chanteuse to lure a scientific genius away from his employer and family.
New Rose Hotel
1999
NRThe opening ceremony of the Barcelona Summer Olympics took place on July 25, 1992, at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium before an audience of over 65,000. This historic event was largely orchestrated by the renowned Catalan troupe La Fura dels Baus, which staged spectacular scenes depicting the history of the Mediterranean and the Labours of Hercules. Music played a central role in the evening, featuring great operatic voices; the audience was captivated by performances from Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Alfredo Kraus, and Teresa Berganza. Although he had passed away the previous year, Freddie Mercury was also present—both on screen and in voice—through the broadcast of their iconic duet "Barcelona," which became the definitive anthem of the Games. Additionally, British pop star Sarah Brightman performed the official anthem, "Amigos Para Siempre," alongside José Carreras.
Barcelona '92 Olympic Games Inauguration Ceremony
1992
7.7A collection of Madonna's favorite videos from 1993-1999. Contains the 14 videos: Bad Girl, Fever, Rain, Secret, Take A Bow, Bedtime Story, Human Nature, Love Don't Live Here Anymore, Frozen, Ray Of Light, Drowned World, The Power of Goodbye, Nothing Really Matters, and Beautiful Stranger.
Madonna: The Video Collection 93:99
1999
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Technodon in Tokyo Dome
1993
NRNo synopsis available yet.
YMO – Hi-Tech Video Crime
1992
NRRecorded at New York City's legendary Hurrah's nightclub and Los Angles' Greek Theater in 1979, YMO brings the electronic goodness to the people of the USA. Tracks include: Rydeen, Technopolis, Day Tripper and more!
Hurrah: Yellow Magic Orchestra
1992
NRYellow Magic Orchestra perform at Nippon Budokan on December 27, Tokyo 1980
YMO – Live At Budokan 1980
1993
NRA compilation of 1980s television appearances by Yellow Magic Orchestra.
TV-YMO
1993
8.5The documentary follows the genesis of Marisa Monte's album Mais in New York City and the subsequent tour that supported the album from 1991 to 1992.
Marisa Monte: Mais
1991
NRYellow Magic Orchestra perform live at Hurrah in New York on November 1, 1979
Complete Hurrah
1999
1980s · 19 titles
7.6A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation by the invading Japanese, and finally to his obscure existence as just another peasant worker in the People's Republic.
The Last Emperor
1987
7.3Island of Java, 1942, during World War II. British Major Jack Celliers arrives at a Japanese prison camp, run by the strict Captain Yonoi. Colonel John Lawrence, who has a profound knowledge of Japanese culture, and Sergeant Hara, brutal and simpleton, will witness the struggle of wills between two men from very different backgrounds who are tragically destined to clash.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
1983
9.0Starring Yellow Magic Orchestra and David Brooks Palmer, YMO Propaganda is 1984 Musical film directed by Shin Saito. Originally premiered theatrically throughout Japan in 1984 and is considered by some to be the best visual work from 'Y.M.O.'
A Y.M.O. Film: Propaganda
1984
7.2Documentary about the eclectic Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto during the recording sessions for his 1984 album "Illustrated Musical Encyclopedia".
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
1985
NROriginally commissioned by the Sony Corporation of Japan and performed live on the JumboTRON, a fourteen-story TV set at the Expo in Tsukuba, Japan, Adelic Penguins is a collaboration between Fitzgerald, artist Paul Garrin, and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (who also appears as a performer). Structured in six segments, this technical tour-de-force is a pyrotechnic fusion of sound and image, in which the dynamic visual imagery fully complements and heightens Sakamoto's staccato, percussive score. Fitzgerald and Garrin merge terrestrial and interplanetary worlds, in which Sakamoto's figure becomes an integral part of the landscape. Set aloft in the surreal world of the artists' invention, Sakamoto dances, floats and walks through a hyperkinetic universe.
Adelic Penguins
1986
NRPerformed live on September 15th, 1985 on the SONY JumboTRON at Tsukuba Expo, Tukuba, Japan
TV WAR
1986
6.0Yellow Magic Orchestra playing songs from the album Service in the Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan in the 22 Dec. 1983
YMO JAPAN TOUR at Nippon Budokan
1983
NRDocumentary about the making of Nagisa Oshima's 1983 film MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE.
The Oshima Gang
1983
NRYellow Magic Orchestra concert recorded in late December 1981 at the Shinjuku Koma Theater.
YMO: Winter Live '81
1983
Japan, 1986. At the tail end of the world tour promoting their latest album Revenge, Eurythmics tops the charts. Between concerts, pop duo Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart survey Japan's cultural soundscape with the help of Conny Plank: A world of sounds both brutally technological and highly refined by tradition.
Brand New Day
1987
10.0Features live recordings from the 1986 nationwide tour that accompanied the release of the album Miraiha Yaro. It is particularly noteworthy that the tour lineup featured a group of seasoned musicians, primarily based in New York, showcasing their talents. Incidentally, this was Sakamoto’s first solo tour, and it visited 24 venues across the country. Featuring a wide-ranging selection of tracks—including songs from Miraiha Yaro, classic hits from his YMO days, the theme from Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, and a single co-written with Thomas Dolby—this is a pop album well worth listening to.
Ryuichi Sakamoto – Media Bahn Live
1986
6.5A compilation of avant-garde artwork and talent of the mid to late 20th century hosted by Ryuichi Sakamoto.
All Star Video
1985
NRA domestic live tour in 1981 when YMO released two masterpiece albums, "BGM" and "Technodelic". A live concert filmed at the Shinjuku Koma Theater, "WINTER LIVE 1981" focuses on songs from "BGM" and "Technodelic" and symbolizing the mid-term YMO catalogue along with artistic performing art. The audio is also remastered, giving the viewer a more realistic feel.
Yellow Magic Orchestra - Winter Live 1981
1981
NRThis ambitious live satellite link-up of Japan, Korea and the United States features interviews with Keith Haring and architect Arata Isozaki, and performances and works by Philip Glass and the Kodo Drummers, Charlotte Moorman, Nam June Paik, and Lou Reed. In an extraordinary section, a performance in Japan of classical Western music is accompanied by a group of Kabuki dancers.
Bye Bye Kipling
1986
20 minute music documentary shot in two days of November 1984 in, and around the outskirts of, Tokyo, Japan. A large part of the music was completed during that same month and recorded over a period of three days.
Steel Cathedrals
1985
NRAnalog video art by Paul Garrin with Ryuichi Sakamoto
A Human Tube
1985
Original music by David Sylvian. Performed by Ryuichi Sakamoto, Steve Jansen, Masami Tsuchiya.
Preparations For A Journey
1984
No synopsis available yet.
NEO GEO ~1987.7.19 NHKホール~
1987
NRNo synopsis available yet.
SAKAMOTO PLAYS SAKAMOTO
1988
Series credits
8.8No synopsis available yet.
Thirteen Talks
2016
NRA current affairs television programme produced by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK provides cutting-edge information and critical analysis on important issues confronting Japanese lives.
Today's Close-Up
1993
8.0An NHK flagship program, centered around a diverse range of documentaries, delves into the dynamic shifts of society, politics and history, as well as the breathtaking wonders of the natural world.
NHK Special
1989
7.0Sunday night TV documentary program that heightens the spirits bringing a positive message to start the upcoming week by showcasing the routine and life of people, both famous and regular, including the bits of joy and struggle that go along into making something special. Scientifics, actors, craftsman and people in all fields share their experience.
Jounetsu Tairiku
1998
No synopsis available yet.
100年インタビュー
2007
NRNHK MUSIC SPECIAL is a special program that features Japan's leading artists approximately once a month. The gorgeous production will portray the artists in the present and deliver quality music that will resonate with the audience.
NHK MUSIC SPECIAL
2021
Behind the camera
10.0Features live recordings from the 1986 nationwide tour that accompanied the release of the album Miraiha Yaro. It is particularly noteworthy that the tour lineup featured a group of seasoned musicians, primarily based in New York, showcasing their talents. Incidentally, this was Sakamoto’s first solo tour, and it visited 24 venues across the country. Featuring a wide-ranging selection of tracks—including songs from Miraiha Yaro, classic hits from his YMO days, the theme from Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, and a single co-written with Thomas Dolby—this is a pop album well worth listening to.
Ryuichi Sakamoto – Media Bahn Live
1986
6.5A compilation of avant-garde artwork and talent of the mid to late 20th century hosted by Ryuichi Sakamoto.
All Star Video
1985
NR“In these times when things are not “normal,” I wanted to document the sensations I’ve been feeling. I invited a few of my musician friends to do this with me. I wanted to share the results with you all,” explains Sakamoto. Incomplete pairs these new compositions with video art by Zakkubalan, with a new video released every three days.
Incomplete
2020

