Earlier today (April 2), it was revealed that boundary-pushing Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto died late last month at age 71, after years of living with cancer. Sakomoto’s management announced the news, stating that funeral services had been held among his close family members. Now, a number of tributes have poured in from musicians and admirers of Sakamoto, including his frequent collaborator Alva Noto, as well as Flying Lotus, Questlove, Oneohtrix Point Never, Japanese Breakfast, Neon Indian, Massive Attack, Kode9, Jean-Michel Jarre, Johnny Marr, Health, Proc Fiskal, Nigel Godrich, and more.
“We will miss you on this side of life,” Alva Noto wrote of his late friend and collaborator on Twitter. “A void is left that I cannot fully grasp at the moment. Our deepest condolences to those who were closest to him.”
Questlove paid tribute in an Instagram post, writing: “Thank You Ryuichi Sakamoto for your gifts. Sad to see another force leave this planet. Even if he name isn’t familiar his influence on ANY artist you ever tested your b-boy b-girl poppin/lockin/breakdance/electric boogie sites HIM as their god.”
“No one plucked my heartstrings like Sakamoto,” electronic artist Kode9 wrote on Twitter.
Oneohtrix Point Never thanked the late icon, while Jean-Michel Jarre tweeted: “RIP my dear Ryuichi, your art will remain forever.”
Sakamoto was beloved within the electronic community, especially for the influential work of his late ’70s band Yellow Magic Orchestra, who are widely considered the godfathers of techno.
Sakomoto was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014. The following year, he updated fans on his health, saying that he was in great shape following treatment. He returned to recording and performing in the subsequent years, but, in 2021, Sakomoto shared a statement that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer. He died on Tuesday, March 28.
In November, Sakomoto announced what now marks his final album, 12. He recorded the work in 2021 and 2022; the song titles reflect the dates that each track was composed.
Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Borderless Brilliance
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