Sakamoto began his career while at university in the 1970s as a session musician, producer, and arranger. His first major success came in 1978 as co-founder of YMO. He concurrently pursued a solo career, releasing the experimental electronic fusion album Thousand Knives in 1978. Two years later, he released the album B-2 Unit. It included the track "Riot in Lagos", which was significant in the development of electro and hip hop music. He went on to produce more solo records, and collaborate with many international artists, David Sylvian, Carsten Nicolai, Youssou N'Dour, and Fennesz among them. Sakamoto composed music for the opening ceremony of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and his composition "Energy Flow" (1999) was the first instrumental number-one single in Japan's Oricon charts history.
As a film-score composer, Sakamoto had won an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Grammy, and 2 Golden Globe Awards. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) marked his debut as both an actor and a film-score composer; its main theme was adapted into the single "Forbidden Colours" which became an international hit. His most successful work as a film composer was The Last Emperor (1987), after which he continued earning accolades composing for films such as The Sheltering Sky (1990), Little Buddha (1993), and The Revenant (2015). On occasion, Sakamoto has also worked as a composer and a scenario writer on anime and video games. In 2009, he was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the Ministry of Culture of France for his contributions to music.
Sakamoto entered the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1970, earning a B.A. in music composition and an M.A. with special emphasis on both electronic and ethnic music. He studied ethnomusicology there with the intention of becoming a researcher in the field, due to his interest in various world music traditions, particularly the Japanese (especially Okinawan), Indian and African musical traditions. He was also trained in classical music and began experimenting with the electronic music equipment available at the university, including synthesizers such as the Buchla, Moog, and ARP. One of Sakamoto's classical influences was Claude Debussy, who he described as his "hero" and stated that "Asian music heavily influenced Debussy, and Debussy heavily influenced me. So, the music goes around the world and comes full circle."
Sakamoto released his first solo album Thousand Knives of Ryūichi Sakamoto in mid-1978 with the help of Hideki Matsutake—Hosono also contributed to the song "Thousand Knives". The album experimented with different styles, such as "Thousand Knives" and "The End of Asia"—in which electronic music was fused with traditional Japanese music—while "Grasshoppers" is a more minimalistic piano song. The album was recorded from April to July 1978 with a variety of electronic musical instruments, including various synthesizers, such as the KORG PS-3100, a polyphonic synthesizer; the Oberheim Eight-Voice; the Moog III-C; the Polymoog, the Minimoog; the Micromoog; the Korg VC-10, which is a vocoder; the KORG SQ-10, which is an analog sequencer; the Syn-Drums, an electronic drum kit; and the microprocessor-based Roland MC-8 Microcomposer, which is a music sequencer that was programmed by Matsutake and played by Sakamoto. A version of the song "Thousand Knives" was released on the Yellow Magic Orchestra's 1981 album BGM. This version was one of the earliest uses of the Roland TR-808 drum machine, for YMO's live performance of "1000 Knives" in 1980 and their BGM album release in 1981.
Sakamoto's production credits represent a prolific career in this role. In 1983, he produced Mari Iijima's debut album Rosé, the same year that the Yellow Magic Orchestra was disbanded. Sakamoto subsequently worked with artists such as Thomas Dolby; Aztec Camera, on the Dreamland (1993) album; and Imai Miki, co-producing her 1994 album A Place In The Sun. In 1996, Sakamoto produced "Mind Circus", the first single from actress Miki Nakatani, leading to a collaboration period spanning 9 singles and 7 albums though 2001.
Roddy Frame, who worked with Sakamoto as a member of Aztec Camera, explained in a 1993 interview preceding the release of "Dreamland" that he had had to wait a lengthy period of time before he was able to work with Sakamoto, who wrote two soundtracks, a solo album and the music for the opening ceremony at the Barcelona Olympics, prior to working with Frame over four weeks in a New York studio. Frame said that he was impressed by the work of YMO and the Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence soundtrack, explaining: "That's where you realise that the atmosphere around his compositions is actually in the writing - it's got nothing to do with synthesisers." Frame's decision to ask Sakamoto was finalized after he saw his performance at the Japan Festival that was held in London, United Kingdom.
Sakamoto began working in films, as a composer and actor, in Nagisa Oshima's Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983), for which he composed the score, title theme, and the duet "Forbidden Colours" with David Sylvian. Sakamoto later composed Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor (1987), which earned him the Academy Award with fellow composers David Byrne and Cong Su. In that same year, he composed the score to the cult-classic anime film Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise. Sakamoto also went on to compose the score of the opening ceremony for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, telecast live to an audience of over a billion viewers.
Other films scored by Sakamoto include Pedro Almodóvar's Tacones lejanos (High Heels) (1991); Bertolucci's The Little Buddha (1993); Oliver Stone's Wild Palms (1993); John Maybury's Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998); Brian De Palma's Snake Eyes (1998) and Femme Fatale (2002); Oshima's Gohatto (1999); and Jun Ichikawa's (director of the Mitsui ReHouse commercial from 1997 to 1999 starring Chizuru Ikewaki and Mao Inoue) Tony Takitani (2005).
Several tracks from Sakamoto's earlier solo albums have also appeared in film soundtracks. In particular, variations of "Chinsagu No Hana" (from Beauty) and "Bibo No Aozora" (from 1996) provide the poignant closing pieces for Sue Brooks's Japanese Story (2003) and Alejandro González Iñárritu's Babel (2006), respectively. In 2015, Sakamoto teamed up with Iñárritu to score his film, The Revenant starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy.
Sakamoto also acted in several films: perhaps his most notable performance was as the conflicted Captain Yonoi in Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, alongside Takeshi Kitano and British rock singer David Bowie. He also played roles in The Last Emperor (as Masahiko Amakasu) and Madonna's "Rain" music video.
In 1994, Japan Football Association asked Sakamoto to compose the instrumental song "Japanese Soccer Anthem". This instrumental song played at the beginning of Japan Football Association-sponsored events, such as Emperor's Cup matches.
In 2006 Sakamoto, in collaboration with Japanese music company Avex Group, founded Commmons (コモンズ, Komonzu), a record label seeking to change the manner in which music is produced. Sakamoto has explained that Commmons is not his label, but is a platform for all aspiring artists to join as equal collaborators to share the benefits of the music industry. On the initiative's "About" page, the label is described as a project that "aims to find new possibilities for music, while making meaningful contribution to culture and society". The name "Commmons" is spelt with three "m"s because the third "m" stands for music.
Sakamoto's first of three marriages occurred in 1972, but ended in divorce two years later—Sakamoto has a daughter from this relationship. Sakamoto then married popular Japanese pianist and singer Akiko Yano in 1982, following several musical collaborations with her, including touring work with the Yellow Magic Orchestra. Sakamoto's second marriage ended in August 2006, 14 years after a mutual decision to live separately—Yano and Sakamoto raised one daughter, J-pop singer Miu Sakamoto. He has lived with his manager and wife Norika Sora since around 1990 and has two children with her.
Beginning in June 2014, Sakamoto took a year-long hiatus after he was diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer. In 2015, he returned, stating: "Right now I'm good. I feel better. Much, much better. I feel energy inside, but you never know. The cancer might come back in three years, five years, maybe 10 years. Also the radiation makes your immune system really low. It means I'm very susceptible to another cancer in my body."
On June 14, 2018, a documentary about the life and work of Sakamoto, entitled Coda, was released. The film follows Sakamoto as he recovers from cancer and resumes creating music, protests nuclear power plants following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster, and creates field recordings in a variety of locales. Directed by Stephen Nomura Schible, the documentary was met with critical praise.
On January 21, 2021, Sakamoto shared a link on his official pages, which contained a letter announcing that though his throat cancer went into remission, he was now diagnosed with rectal cancer, and that was currently undergoing treatment after a successful surgery. He wrote: "From now on, I will be living alongside cancer. But, I am hoping to make music for a little while longer".
The Other Side Of Love
坂本龍一 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know I must be right
darkest shadows
will someday come to light
I've been down,
but I can rise above
I keep searching
for the other side of love
just a game to me
never knew what each
lonely day would bring
now I'm so tired of
trying to run away
I've got to find a love
that's here to stay
in my heart,
I know the day will come
we'll be laughing
and dancing in the sun
what I've found
has never been enough
I keep searching
for the other side of love
I always heard that
love's supposed to be
more than a word
and more than just a dream
someone to share
your every joy and pain
someone who's there
for sunshine and the rain
in my heart,
I know I must be right
darkest shadows
will someday come to light
I've been down,
but I can rise above
I keep searching
for the other side of love
in my heart,
I know the day will come
we'll be laughing
and dancing in the sun
what I've found
has never been enough
I keep searching
for the other side of love
I know what I see
I see exactly how it'll be
he'll be strong
enough to be kind
he won't need to be tough
to know he's mine
and I must believe what I feel
I'll feel it deep
inside when it's real
and I know when day is done
he'll be so close to me
that we'll be one
on the other side of love...
The lyrics of "The Other Side Of Love" by 坂本龍一 explore the theme of searching for true love and finding fulfillment in a relationship. The song begins with a sense of determination and conviction, as the singer acknowledges their intuition that they are on the right path. They anticipate that the hidden truths and challenges they have faced will eventually come to the surface, providing clarity and understanding.
The singer reflects on their past experiences, realizing that they used to approach love as a mere game, not fully comprehending the emotional rollercoaster that each day can bring. They express exhaustion in trying to escape from the transient nature of relationships and express a desire to find a love that endures.
Amidst their search, the singer remains hopeful that one day they will experience a love that surpasses their expectations. They envision a future where they can laugh and dance in the sun, indicating a sense of joy and liberation. They acknowledge that what they have encountered so far in their quest for love has not been enough, motivating them to continue seeking the deeper, more profound aspects of love.
As the song progresses, the singer expresses their understanding of what love should truly be. They believe that love should be more than just a word or a fleeting dream. It should encompass a connection with someone who can be there for both the highs and lows, offering support and companionship in every aspect of life.
Overall, "The Other Side Of Love" portrays a journey of self-discovery and the longing for a meaningful connection. It emphasizes the importance of finding a love that goes beyond surface-level attractions and provides a genuine partnership.
Line by Line Meaning
in my heart,
Deep within my emotions
I know I must be right
I am certain of my correctness
darkest shadows
The hidden and concealed aspects
will someday come to light
Will eventually be revealed
I've been down,
I have experienced hardship
but I can rise above
Yet, I can overcome it
I keep searching
Continuously seeking
for the other side of love
To discover the deeper meaning of love
looking for fun was
Pursuing entertainment used to be
just a game to me
Merely a playful endeavor
never knew what each
Unaware of the consequences of each
lonely day would bring
Solitary day would bring forth
now I'm so tired of
Presently exhausted from
trying to run away
Attempting to escape
I've got to find a love
I must discover a love
that's here to stay
That will endure
I always heard that
I frequently heard that
love's supposed to be
Love is expected to be
more than a word
Beyond a mere verbal expression
and more than just a dream
And surpassing a mere fantasy
someone to share
A person to mutually exchange
your every joy and pain
Both the moments of happiness and suffering
someone who's there
An individual who is present
for sunshine and the rain
During both favorable and challenging times
I know what I see
I am aware of what I perceive
I see exactly how it'll be
I envision precisely how it will unfold
he'll be strong
He will possess strength
enough to be kind
Sufficiently compassionate
he won't need to be tough
He will not require to be rigid
to know he's mine
To acknowledge his affection for me
and I must believe what I feel
I must trust my emotions
I'll feel it deep
I will experience it profoundly
inside when it's real
Internally when it is genuine
and I know when day is done
Moreover, I am certain that at day's end
he'll be so close to me
He will be intimately near me
that we'll be one
Such that we will become unified
on the other side of love...
In the realm beyond conventional love...
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: sakamoto ryuuichi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Iris Li
Thanks for your music. Rest in peace.
Anne Brown
R.I.P. Ryiuchi Sakamoto. ❤🌹🙏🏽🕯
Clark Lee
Thank you for your Masterpieces. Ryuichi Sakamoto…Rest in peace !!
태형
RIP sakamoto. you are the best composer of korean
커피소환사
추억을 소환하는 노래입니다. 너무 슬프고 아련한.... 들려줘서 고마워요.
키우
Thank you. Ryuichi.
도토리뮥
Rip 🙏
민들레영토
Rip.
smith
노래 정말 좋은데 느낌이 먼가 슬프다
Stanley Yoon 🎗️
Ryuichi Sakamoto... ▷◁