Ryuichi Sakamoto, the prolific Japanese composer, musician, and actor, has died aged 71.

Ryuichi Sakamoto (1952–2023). Photo Wikimedia Commons.

Born in 1952 in Tokyo, Sakamoto studied composition at Tokyo National University with an emphasis on electronic music, ethnic music and the works of Boulez, Stockhausen, Ligeti and Xenakis.

In 1978, he co-founded the experimental electronic group Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). The group’s innovative use of synthesisers and electronic drums quickly gained them international recognition, and they went on to release several groundbreaking albums throughout the 1980s.

The group’s work is considered an influence in the development of the sound of electronic dance music and Sakamoto’s solo album, B-2 Unit, is regarded as important to the sonic direction of early hip-hop, via artists including Mantronix and Afrika Bambaataa. YMO was often likened to Kraftwerk though unlike the German group, it incorporated acoustic instrumentation alongside drum machines and sequencers.

YMO’s international profile led Sakamoto into collaborations with artists including David Sylvian, Carsten Nicolai, Holger Czukay, Jon Hassell and Youssou N’Dour. Later, he worked with Brian Eno, Alva Noto and cellist Jaques Morelenbaum.

Sakamoto established himself as a film composer with his soundtrack for Nagisa Oshima’s 1983 film...