Many of his albums have been accorded high critical acclaim, most notably his Casa (2001), a collaboration with the cellist Jacques Morelenbaum, and Vrioon (2002), in collaboration with German master of glitch music Carsten Nicolai (AKA Alva Noto). Sakamoto's classical training is plainly evident in a number of albums, including Discord (1998), a thematic orchestral work. The mood of his various projects also varies, from the coldly, mathematically electronic to the lush, jazzy and humor-tinged. This was followed up even more successfully in 1987 with his famous Neo Geo, where collaborations with Van Tieghem, Tony Williams, Sly Dunbar, Bootsy Collins, and Bill Laswell led to the fusion not only of classical music of East and West but, among other elements, Japanese music with rock and funk. His style has always been characterized by diversity, as in his Illustrated Musical Encyclopedia of 1984 which included samplings of dance rock, and other kinds of Eastern and Western music, including classical. Nam June Paik (1932-2006) (All Star Video, 1984), Iggy Pop, Bootsy Collins, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Robertson, Tony Williams, Youssou N'Dour, and others. Among them wereĭavid Sylvian (Bamboo Houses/Bamboo Music (1982), Forbidden Colors (1983), Brilliant Trees (1984), Secrets of the Beehive (1987), World Citizen (2004), Snow Borne Sorrow (2005), David Byrne (soundtrack of The Last Emperor, 1987), Thomas Dolby (Field Work, 1985, Illustrated Musical Encyclopedia, 1984 - along with Akiko Yano ) YMO came to an end in 1984, and Sakamoto launched his solo career, one characterized by extensive collaboration with a wide range of international musicians. However, in the same year he joined with Haruomi "Harry" Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi to form the Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO), a band which pioneered the electro genre and influenced the later development of acid house and techno.Īlhough he had been briefly married during his student days, with one child from that union, in 1982 he married fellow musician Akiko Yano, a marriage that lasted until 1992, when they separated. His very first musical offering was a single called "Thousand Knives," in 1978. Sakamoto's first music-related work was as a studio musician.
It was during his time at university that he first encountered electronic music. He graduated with a master's degree in music from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1976. He began studying the piano at age 3, and composition from age 10. Sakamoto is the son of an editor (who dealt with, among others, Yukio Mishima) and, his mother, a hat designer. His band, Yellow Magic Orchestra, made it to the British Top 20 with "Computer Game" in 1980. An academically trained musician, he has drawn on, and contributed to, a wide range of contemporary musical genres with a succession of successful projects since the 1970's. Ryuichi Sakamoto is the international face of Japan's contemporary music scene. has collaborated with a wide range of artists.most famous as a member of the Yellow Magic Orchestra.internationally recognized contemporary musician.