Iconic Japanese Musician Ryuichi Sakamoto Has Passed Away

[Master O]

Iconic Japanese electronic / synthpop musician Ryuichi Sakamoto has passed away at the age of 71:

https://www.clashmusic.com/news/ryuichi ... -of-death/

[Sloppy_J]

One of a kind.
As well as his huge catalogue of music he was also the man behind the Dreamcast startup sound / jingle.

[Sengoku Strider]

I was pretty down to read that headline this morning. He was only 71, which given longer Japanese lifespans feels kind of young for a guy with enough resources to access any health care he'd ever need. But cancer's a bitch.

This guy - and YMO in general - have long been heroes in synth circles for the pioneering work they did in the 70s. People who obsess over the early analog stuff find a lot to love in how they used them. But he's also scored films, TV, done multimedia projects and countless albums both solo and collaborative; in Japan he's pretty much a one man cultural institution synonymous with music.

He also did some game work in his career, Dawn of Mana on PS2, Hohokum, Tengai Makyō Ziria on PC Engine and some other stuff I don't quite recall (Lack of Love on Dreamcast? *checks* - yes). No shmups I know of, but YMO doing the Rydeen theme gets them eternal geek street cred. I also have a sneaking suspicion Tong Poo from Strider is named after the YMO song of the same name.

Yellow Magic Orchestra were also the first musicians to sample video games AFAIK, Taito's arcade releases Circus, Space Invaders & Gun Fight were all used on their first album. He'll be missed.

One of a kind.
As well as his huge catalogue of music he was also the man behind the Dreamcast startup sound / jingle.

Seriously? This I don't think I ever knew.

[Koa Zo]

Wow he was on my mind last night.
Saw Yukihiro Takahashi's Colors album laying out on a shelf and got contemplative over his recent passing. Thoughts drifted to Ryuichi Sakamoto...
later in the evening YouTube recommendations served up this moment of Ryuichi and his wife (at the time) Akiko Yano playing a duet at their piano.
Pure artistry.

[BIL]

All respect. The little *pew pew* *woop woop* break in Rydeen will move any STG fan's soul. So will Super Locomotive's ripping it off wholesale. Rest well sir, and Yukihiro Takahashi, too.