# Ryuichi Sakamoto has died **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death, music\ **Created:** [April 2, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryuichi-sakamoto-has-died/982039 "2023-04-02T18:05:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryuichi-sakamoto-has-died/982039/1 "2023-04-02T18:05:15Z")
I liked his work, both solo and with the Yellow Magic Orchestra, he was also very influential on other artists I liked. > **[Ryuichi Sakamoto: Japanese electronic music maestro dies](https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65155073)** > > The award-winning composer and producer, whose fans included David Bowie, has died aged 71. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryuichi-sakamoto-has-died/982039/2 "2023-04-03T05:22:52Z")
Yes, sad news indeed. His work has stood up very well, and still sounds strong and full of ideas. And his name pops up in all sorts of places as a collaborator or influence - a great achiever, and sounded like a very nice bloke in interviews. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryuichi-sakamoto-has-died/982039/3 "2023-04-04T10:38:27Z")
I’ve just found out that Sakamoto’s Yellow Magic Orchestra bandmate Yukihiro Takahashi died in January this year! Not a good year for Japanese electro-pop pioneers. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryuichi-sakamoto-has-died/982039/4 "2023-04-04T11:11:03Z")
Yes, this confused me. Because I had heard of the death of the former and when someone told me that Sakamoto had died I thought it had already happened. One of the first Japanese CD’s I bought was a compilation of YMO songs which I enjoyed right away. It is always sad when creative people pass away, but they both sure left us lot of great works to remember them by. `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![Hermione1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d07c76/32.png) [@Hermione1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermione1)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryuichi-sakamoto-has-died/982039/5 "2023-04-04T14:56:34Z")
I loved his score for the 1992 Wuthering Heights with Ralph Fiennes. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1oUcmForp_E/hqdefault.jpg "Wuthering Heights - Ryuichi Sakamoto - Main Theme ( HQ)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oUcmForp_E) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryuichi-sakamoto-has-died/982039/6 "2023-04-04T15:13:38Z")
I know him only as Capt. Yonoi from “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence,” although I did know he was primarily a musician. Another interesting casting choice was Takeshi Kitano, who played Yonoi’s Sgt. Hara, who was pimarily a comedian. (And this was not a comic role.) ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryuichi-sakamoto-has-died/982039/7 "2023-04-04T20:24:48Z")
Takeshi started out as a comedian but has earned really solid credentials as a serious actor and director.