Oscar-winning Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto has died at the age of 71
Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto — who wrote ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence’ and won an Oscar for 1987’s ‘The Last Emperor’ — has died at 71.
His management team announced his death on March 28. He had been undergoing treatment for cancer in recent years.
“We’d like to share one of Sakamoto’s favorite quotes: ‘Ars longa, vita brevis.’ Art is long, life is short,” read a statement.
Born in 1952 in Tokyo, Japan, the composer enjoyed the music of The Beatles and classical greats like Bach in his early years.
In 1978 he played keyboards with the influential electronic act “Yellow Magic Orchestra”, a band he co-founded.
But he is most famous for his recording work, which brought him numerous awards.
The pianist died Tuesday after a battle with cancer, his management company KAB America Inc. confirmed. debt: Chiaki Nozu/WireImage/Getty Images
In 1983, she starred opposite David Bowie in the film ‘Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence’.
Four years later, he won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for Best Music for ‘The Last Emperor’.
He continued to work into his later years, including the score for the 2015 film ‘The Revenant’.
The composer’s music album, Revenant directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, will be released on May 5.
In accordance with Sakamoto’s wishes, the funeral was held with members of his immediate family, according to his management team.
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