Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away on March 28, 2023, at the age of 71. A celebrated composer, record producer, and actor, his work transcended boundaries and cultural barriers. His death has sent shockwaves across the globe as fans mourn this tragic news.
In order to understand the gravity of his demise, we must understand how he lived. So let us take a deep dive into the early life and career of this Japanese maestro who pioneered several genres in music. We will also try to decipher the cause of his ultimate and tragic death.
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Life And Career Of Ryuichi Sakamoto
Born on January 17, 1952, in Tokyo, Japan, Ryuichi Sakamoto earned a B.A. in music composition from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in the year 1970. He then did his M.A. in music composition.
Around that time, Sakamoto started working as a musician, producer, and arranger. Later on, he went on to have a solo career while co-founding and managing Yellow Magic Orchestra. In 1978, he released an electronic fusion album titled ‘Thousand Knives.’
Apart from composing songs, Sakamoto also composed scores and was also an actor. He made his debut as a music director and actor with the 1983 film ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.’ He was a recipient of an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards.
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How Did He Die?
On March 28, 2023, Sakamoto passed away at the age of 71. He was battling cancer for a long time. In a statement, his management company announced the tragic news of his death.
“He lived with music until the very end. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to his fans and all those who have supported his activities, as well as the medical professionals in Japan and the U.S. who did everything in their power to cure him,” it read.
In 2014, he was first diagnosed with throat cancer. He then announced in 2021 that he has also been diagnosed with colon cancer. The news of his death came just weeks after the death of one of Yellow Magic Orchestra’s co-founders, Yukihiro Takahashi.
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