Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConOutfest LASTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Biography
  • Awards
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Ryuichi Sakamoto(1952-2023)

  • Composer
  • Music Department
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Watch Trailer [OV]
Play trailer1:48
No Smoking (2019)
4 Videos
18 Photos
Ryuichi Sakamoto was born on 17 January 1952 in Tokyo, Japan. He was a composer and actor, known for The Last Emperor (1987), The Revenant (2015) and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983). He was previously married to Akiko Yano. He died on 28 March 2023 in Tokyo, Japan.
BornJanuary 17, 1952
DiedMarch 28, 2023(71)
BornJanuary 17, 1952
DiedMarch 28, 2023(71)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Won 1 Oscar
    • 20 wins & 22 nominations total

Photos18

Ryuichi Sakamoto in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
Takeshi Kitano, Tom Conti, and Ryuichi Sakamoto in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
Ryuichi Sakamoto in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
Ryuichi Sakamoto in Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda (2017)
Ryuichi Sakamoto in Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda (2017)
Ryuichi Sakamoto in Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda (2017)
Ryuichi Sakamoto in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
David Bowie and Ryuichi Sakamoto in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
David Bowie and Ryuichi Sakamoto in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
Bernardo Bertolucci, Vittorio Storaro, James Acheson, David Byrne, Gabriella Cristiani, Mark Peploe, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Cong Su, and Jeremy Thomas in The Last Emperor (1987)
Ryuichi Sakamoto in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
THE REVENANT Seattle Scoring Session

Known for:

Richard Vuu in The Last Emperor (1987)
The Last Emperor
7.7
  • Composer
  • 1987
Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant (2015)
The Revenant
8.0
  • Composer(as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
  • 2015
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
7.2
  • Composer(as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
  • 1983
Michael Douglas in Black Rain (1989)
Black Rain
6.6
  • Soundtrack("Laser Man")
  • 1989

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Composer

  • The Staggering Girl: A Choreographic Film
    • Composer
    • Short
  • Monster (2023)
    Monster
    • Composer
    • 2023
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto: 20220304 (2023)
    Ryuichi Sakamoto: 20220304
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 2023
  • Stalingrad - Stimmen aus Ruinen (2023)
    Stalingrad - Stimmen aus Ruinen
    • Composer
    • TV Movie
    • 2023
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (Electric Youth Remodel) (2022)
    Ryuichi Sakamoto: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (Electric Youth Remodel)
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 2022
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto in Ryuichi Sakamoto: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (Playing the Piano 2022) (2022)
    Ryuichi Sakamoto: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (Playing the Piano 2022)
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 2022
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto in Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano 2022 (2022)
    Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano 2022
    • Composer
    • Video
    • 2022
  • Exception (2022)
    Exception
    • Composer (music by)
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Moskau 1941 - Stimmen am Abgrund (2021)
    Moskau 1941 - Stimmen am Abgrund
    • Composer
    • TV Movie
    • 2021
  • John David Washington in Beckett (2021)
    Beckett
    • Composer (music by)
    • 2021
  • Love After Love (2020)
    Love After Love
    • Composer
    • 2020
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano for the Isolated (2020)
    Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano for the Isolated
    • Composer
    • Video
    • 2020
  • Yutaka Matsushige in Kyô no Nekomura-san (2020)
    Kyô no Nekomura-san
    • Composer
    • TV Series
    • 2020
  • Johnny Depp and Minami in Minamata (2020)
    Minamata
    • Composer
    • 2020
  • Eva Green and Zélie Boulant in Proxima (2019)
    Proxima
    • Composer
    • 2019
  • Agniyogana (2019)
    Agniyogana
    • Composer
    • 2019

Music Department

  • A Rainy Day for Earthworms
    • composer: theme music (as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
    • Completed
  • Nam June Paik in Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV (2023)
    Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV
    • original theme music
    • 2023
  • Exception (2022)
    Exception
    • arranged by
    • composed by
    • performed by ...
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Justin H. Min, and Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja in After Yang (2021)
    After Yang
    • original theme
    • 2021
  • Adult Baby (2020)
    Adult Baby
    • musician: chimes
    • musician: loops
    • musician: organic instruments ...
    • Short
    • 2020
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano for the Isolated (2020)
    Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano for the Isolated
    • musician: piano
    • Video
    • 2020
  • Kazu Makino in KAZU: Come Behind Me, So Good! (alternate version) (2020)
    KAZU: Come Behind Me, So Good! (alternate version)
    • musician: organic instruments
    • Music Video
    • 2020
  • Kazu Makino in KAZU: Come Behind Me, So Good! (2019)
    KAZU: Come Behind Me, So Good!
    • musician: organic instruments
    • Music Video
    • 2019
  • Eva Green and Zélie Boulant in Proxima (2019)
    Proxima
    • orchestrator (uncredited)
    • 2019
  • KAZU: Salty (2019)
    KAZU: Salty
    • musician: chimes
    • musician: loops
    • musician: piano ...
    • Music Video
    • 2019
  • The Departure (2017)
    The Departure
    • composer: additional music
    • 2017
  • Ken Watanabe in Ikari (2016)
    Ikari
    • composer: theme music
    • 2016
  • Any Other Normal (2016)
    Any Other Normal
    • composer: theme music
    • 2016
  • Shinkirô no fune (2015)
    Shinkirô no fune
    • composer: theme music
    • 2015
  • Futaba kara toku hanarete dainibu (2015)
    Futaba kara toku hanarete dainibu
    • title music: "For Futaba" (as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
    • 2015
  • Haruka Ayase in Yae no sakura (2013)
    Yae no sakura
    • composer: theme music (as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
    • TV Series
    • 2013

Actor

  • Rich Man Poor Women (2012)
    Rich Man Poor Women
    • (as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
    • TV Series
    • 2012
  • Hangurî! (2012)
    Hangurî!
    • (as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
    • TV Series
    • 2012
  • Kazunari Ninomiya in Furîtâ, ie wo kau (2010)
    Furîtâ, ie wo kau
    • (as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
    • TV Series
    • 2010
  • Madonna in Madonna: Celebration - The Video Collection (2009)
    Madonna: Celebration - The Video Collection
    • The Director (video 'Rain') (as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
    • Video
    • 2009
  • Nazo no hômu pêji sararîman neo (2004)
    Nazo no hômu pêji sararîman neo
    • (as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
    • TV Series
    • 2004
  • Madonna in Madonna: The Video Collection 93:99 (1999)
    Madonna: The Video Collection 93:99
    • The Director (segment "Rain") (as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
    • Video
    • 1999
  • Asia Argento in New Rose Hotel (1998)
    New Rose Hotel
    • Hosaka Executive (as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
    • 1998
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto in Ryuichi Sakamoto Feat. Holly Johnson: Love & Hate (1994)
    Ryuichi Sakamoto Feat. Holly Johnson: Love & Hate
    • Ryuichi Sakamoto
    • Music Video
    • 1994
  • Madonna in Madonna: Rain (1993)
    Madonna: Rain
    • The Director
    • Music Video
    • 1993
  • David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto Feat. Ingrid Chavez: Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II - Returning to the Womb) (1992)
    David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto Feat. Ingrid Chavez: Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II - Returning to the Womb)
    • Ryuichi Sakamoto
    • Music Video
    • 1992
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto in Ryuichi Sakamoto Feat. Iggy Pop: Risky (1987)
    Ryuichi Sakamoto Feat. Iggy Pop: Risky
    • Ryuichi Sakamoto (as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
    • Music Video
    • 1987
  • Richard Vuu in The Last Emperor (1987)
    The Last Emperor
    • Amakasu (as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
    • 1987
  • Adelic Penguins (1986)
    Adelic Penguins
    • Video
    • 1986
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto: A Human Tube (1985)
    Ryuichi Sakamoto: A Human Tube
    • Ryuichi Sakamoto
    • Music Video
    • 1985
  • Thomas Dolby & Ryuichi Sakamoto: Field Work (1985)
    Thomas Dolby & Ryuichi Sakamoto: Field Work
    • Tenshi Tanaka
    • Music Video
    • 1985

Videos4

Official Trailer
Trailer 2:08
Official Trailer
Trailer [OV]
Trailer 1:48
Trailer [OV]
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
Trailer 3:17
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
Ink Music: In The Land Of The Hundred-Tongued Lyricist
Trailer 3:46
Ink Music: In The Land Of The Hundred-Tongued Lyricist

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • Alternative names
    • Yellow Magic Orchestra
  • Height
    • 5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
  • Born
    • January 17, 1952
    • Tokyo, Japan
  • Died
    • March 28, 2023
    • Tokyo, Japan(rectal cancer)
  • Spouses
      Akiko Yano1982 - August 2006 (divorced, 1 child)
  • Children
    • Miu Sakamoto
  • Parents
    • Kazuki Sakamoto
  • Relatives
    • Yaichi Shimomura(Grandparent)
  • Other works
    Promo video for Ryuichi Sakamoto's 'Risky'
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Biographical Movie
    • 1 Interview
    • 3 Articles
    • 1 Pictorial
    • 7 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Graduated from Shinjuku High School (1970).
  • Nickname
    • Kyoju

Related news

Contribute to this page

Suggest an edit or add missing content
  • Learn more about contributing
Edit page

More to explore

Production art
List
The Best Movies and Series in July
See our picks
Production art
Photos
Brand New Movie & TV Posters
See more posters

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Demo reel thumbnail
Make your IMDb page stand out by adding a demo reel
Upload your demo reel

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Make your IMDb page stand out by adding a demo reel
Upload your demo reel
Demo reel thumbnail

How much have you seen?

Keep track of how much of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s work you have seen. Go to your list.

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
Get the IMDb App
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
  • Get the IMDb App
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • IMDb Developer
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.