---
name: "Ryuichi Sakamoto"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ryuichi-sakamoto"
fi1m_id: "ryuichi-sakamoto"
imdb_id: "nm0757098"
tmdb_id: 11382
wikidata_id: "Q345494"
roles: ["Composer"]
born: "17 January 1952"
died: "28 March 2023"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-20T10:25:26.753517+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ryuichi Sakamoto

## Identity

Ryuichi Sakamoto

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ryuichi-sakamoto
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ryuichi-sakamoto
- **IMDb ID:** nm0757098
- **TMDB ID:** 11382
- **Wikidata ID:** Q345494
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryuichi_Sakamoto, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q345494, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0757098/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11382

Composer. Born 17 January 1952 in Tokyo, Japan. Died 28 March 2023.

## Details

- **Work:** Composer
- **Born:** 17 January 1952, Tokyo, Japan
- **Died:** 28 March 2023
- **Active:** 1987–2015
- **Also known as:** Ryûichi Sakamoto, Ryūichi Sakamoto, 류이치 사카모토, Yellow Magic Orchestra, YMO
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 1 acting, 4 crew
- **Frequently works with:** [Domhnall Gleeson](https://film.one/person/domhnall-gleeson.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 80 (1), 2000s 69 (2), 2010s 78 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 72 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Mystery 2, Adventure 1, Crime 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $685m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryuichi_Sakamoto, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q345494, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0757098/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11382

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*Black Mirror*](https://film.one/tv/black-mirror.md) (81)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Last Emperor*](https://film.one/film/the-last-emperor.md) (80)
- **HBO Max:** [*The Revenant*](https://film.one/film/the-revenant.md) (74)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Femme Fatale*](https://film.one/film/femme-fatale.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Ryuichi Sakamoto was a Japanese composer, musician and actor. He co-founded the electronic music group Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978 and pursued a solo career alongside band work, releasing albums that spanned electronic, classical and experimental styles.

Sakamoto composed scores for numerous films and television productions. His work includes *Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence* (1983), in which he also acted; *The Last Emperor* (1987), for which he shared an Academy Award; *The Revenant* (2015); and the *Black Mirror* episode 'Smithereens' (2019). He received an Oscar, BAFTA, Grammy and two Golden Globe Awards for his film music.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, pitchfork.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

### Performed in (1)

- *The Last Emperor* (1987), Fi1m 80, as Amakasu — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-emperor.md)

### Crew (4) — the average rests on these

- *The Revenant* (2015), Fi1m 74, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-revenant.md)
- *Black Mirror* (2011), Fi1m 81, Music — [page](https://film.one/tv/black-mirror.md)
- *Babel* (2006), Fi1m 64, Songs — [page](https://film.one/film/babel.md)
- *Femme Fatale* (2002), Fi1m 74, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/femme-fatale.md)

## Complete filmography (118)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Sekiro: No Defeat* (2026), as Theme Song Performance
- *A Flower of Forgetfulness* (2026), as Compositor
- *Zi* (2026), In Memory Of
- *Flames of a Flower* (2025), as Theme Song Performance
- *Sons of the Neon Night* (2025), Original Music Composer
- *Frammenti* (2025), Original Music Composer
- *Black Ox* (2024), Original Music Composer
- *Kraftwerk - Fuji Rock Festival 2024* (2024), Original Music Composer
- *Ryuichi Sakamoto's Last Days* (2024), Actor
- *Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus* (2023), Music
- *Monster* (2023), Original Music Composer
- *Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV* (2023), Music
- *Stalingrad - Stimmen aus Ruinen* (2023), Music
- *Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano 2022* (2022), Original Music Composer
- *exception* (2022), series, Music Producer, Music Arranger, Original Music Composer
- *Piano Cinéma* (2022), Original Music Composer
- *After Yang* (2022), Main Title Theme Composer
- *Love After Love* (2021), Original Music Composer
- *Moskau 1941 - Stimmen am Abgrund* (2021), Music
- *Beckett* (2021), Original Music Composer
- *Brilliant Trees Sessions* (2021), Actor
- *Apausalypse* (2021), Music
- *NHK MUSIC SPECIAL* (2021), series, Actor
- *Incomplete* (2020), Original Music Composer, Director
- *Ryuichi Sakamoto: Improvisation for Sonic Cure* (2020), Actor
- *OKINA: Dance of Life* (2020), Actor
- *Adult Baby* (2020), Musician
- *Ryuichi Sakamoto Playing the Piano for the Isolated* (2020), Actor
- *Minamata* (2020), Original Music Composer
- *Proxima* (2019), Original Music Composer
- *Agniyogana* (2019), Original Music Composer
- *My Tyrano: Together, Forever* (2019), Original Music Composer
- *Paradise Next* (2019), Original Music Composer
- *The Staggering Girl* (2019), Original Music Composer
- *Your Face* (2018), Original Music Composer
- *Ryuichi Sakamoto: async at the Park Avenue Armory* (2018), Music
- *A Gentle Glow* (2017), Music
- *Ryuichi Sakamoto: CODA* (2017), Original Music Composer
- *The Fortress* (2017), Original Music Composer
- *Fullmoon* (2017), Music
- *Star Sand* (2017), Music
- *Haiku On A Plum Tree* (2017), Music
- *async - first light* (2017), Original Music Composer
- *Ryuichi Sakamoto + Alva Noto: The Glass House* (2016), Music
- *Rage* (2016), Original Music Composer, Theme Song Performance
- *The Ferryman* (2016), Original Music Composer
- *The Revenant* (2015), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-revenant.md)
- *Nagasaki: Memories of My Son* (2015), Original Music Composer
- *Ryuichi Sakamoto | Trio Tour 2012* (2015), Actor
- *Nuclear Nation II* (2014), as Theme Song Performance
- *Psychedelic Afternoon* (2013), Original Music Composer
- *Yae's Sakura* (2013), series, as Theme Song Performance
- *I Have to Buy New Shoes* (2012), Original Music Composer, Music Supervisor
- *Future Past Perfect Pt. 02 (Cité Radieuse)* (2012), Music
- *Light Up Nippon* (2012), Original Music Composer
- *Nuclear Nation* (2012), as Theme Song Performance
- *Black Mirror* (2011), series, Original Music Composer — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/black-mirror.md)
- *Utau Live in Tokyo 2010 - A Project of Taeko Onuki & Ryuichi Sakamoto* (2011), Music
- *Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai* (2011), Original Music Composer
- *Tripitaka Koreana Special ‘Dharma’* (2011), Music
- *Dhobi Ghat* (2010), as Songs
- *Women Without Men* (2009), Original Music Composer
- *Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto with Ensemble Modern: utp_* (2008), as Original Music Composer
- *Silk* (2007), Original Music Composer
- *100年インタビュー* (2007), series, as ゲスト
- *Babel* (2006), as Songs — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/babel.md)
- *Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto: Insen Live* (2006), Musical
- *Zarin* (2005), Original Music Composer
- *Shining Boy & Little Randy* (2005), Original Music Composer
- *Tony Takitani* (2004), Original Music Composer
- *Appleseed* (2004), Music
- *The Blonds* (2003), Music
- *Life Is Journey* (2003), Original Music Composer
- *VisualYMO:the Best* (2003), Actor
- *Miki Nakatani: AIR POCKET* (2002), Original Music Composer
- *My Daughter* (2002), Sound
- *Femme Fatale* (2002), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/femme-fatale.md)
- *Derrida* (2002), Original Music Composer
- *Alexei and the Spring* (2002), Original Music Composer
- *To the Backstreet: The Films Kenji Nakagami Left Out* (2001), Music
- *Miki Nakatani: BROKEN HEART* (2000), Sound
- *Ryuichi Sakamoto Trio World Tour 1996 - Complete Version* (2000), Actor
- *Taboo* (1999), Original Music Composer
- *Madonna: The Video Collection 93:99* (1999), as Director (segment "Rain")
- *New Rose Hotel* (1999), as Hosaka Executive
- *Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon* (1998), Original Music Composer
- *Snake Eyes* (1998), Original Music Composer
- *Jounetsu Tairiku* (1998), series, Actor
- *Wild Side* (1996), Original Music Composer
- *Little Buddha* (1993), Original Music Composer
- *Technodon in Tokyo Dome* (1993), Actor
- *Wild Palms* (1993), series, Original Music Composer
- *Wuthering Heights* (1992), Original Music Composer
- *Hurrah: Yellow Magic Orchestra* (1992), Actor
- *Tokyo Decadence* (1992), Original Music Composer
- *High Heels* (1991), Original Music Composer
- *Peachboy* (1991), Original Music Composer
- *The Sheltering Sky* (1990), Original Music Composer
- *Infinite Escher* (1990), Original Music Composer
- *The Handmaid's Tale* (1990), Original Music Composer
- *SAKAMOTO PLAYS SAKAMOTO* (1988), Actor
- *NEO GEO ～1987.7.19 NHKホール～* (1987), Actor
- *The Last Emperor* (1987), as Amakasu · Original Music Composer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-emperor.md)
- *Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honneamise* (1987), Original Music Composer
- *The Adventures of Milo and Otis* (1986), Original Music Composer
- *Ryuichi Sakamoto – Media Bahn Live* (1986), as Producer
- *Adelic Penguins* (1986), as Original Music Composer
- *TV WAR* (1986), Original Music Composer
- *On the Beach* (1985), Music Arranger
- *Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto* (1985), Original Music Composer
- *All Star Video* (1985), Director, Music
- *A Human Tube* (1985), Actor
- *Preparations For A Journey* (1984), Actor
- *YMO JAPAN TOUR at Nippon Budokan* (1983), Music
- *Where the Toys Come From* (1983), Music Arranger
- *Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence* (1983), as Yonoi · Original Music Composer
- *YMO: Winter Live '81* (1983), Music
- *It's All Right, My Friend* (1983), Original Music Composer

## Gallery

- ![2011-05-29 | ryuichi sakamoto](https://film.one/media/person/46792/gallery-b44f00127ba1.jpg) 2011-05-29 | ryuichi sakamoto — clemisan from Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/2011-05-29_ryuichi_sakamoto_%2837581571004%29.jpg/1280px-2011-05-29_ryuichi_sakamoto_%2837581571004%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Keigo Oyamada and Ryuichi Sakamoto (2007)](https://film.one/media/person/46792/gallery-5e5916b69c35.jpg) Keigo Oyamada and Ryuichi Sakamoto (2007) — Joi Ito from Inbamura, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Keigo_Oyamada_and_Ryuichi_Sakamoto.jpg/1280px-Keigo_Oyamada_and_Ryuichi_Sakamoto.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Keigo Oyamada and Ryuichi Sakamoto (2007)](https://film.one/media/person/46792/gallery-6fd334108b86.jpg) Keigo Oyamada and Ryuichi Sakamoto (2007) — Joi Ito from Inbamura, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Keigo_Oyamada_and_Ryuichi_Sakamoto_%28cropped2%29.jpg/1280px-Keigo_Oyamada_and_Ryuichi_Sakamoto_%28cropped2%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ryuichi Sakamoto 2008](https://film.one/media/person/46792/gallery-73b696ceb657.jpg) Ryuichi Sakamoto 2008 — Joi Ito, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/RyuichiSakamotoJI4-1.jpg/1280px-RyuichiSakamotoJI4-1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://film.one/media/person/46792/gallery-84060df37092.jpg) Ryuichi Sakamoto — Image via TMDB
- ![Ryuichi Sakamoto 2008](https://film.one/media/person/46792/gallery-94663495b67c.jpg) Ryuichi Sakamoto 2008 — Joi Ito, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/RyuichiSakamotoJI4.jpg/1280px-RyuichiSakamotoJI4.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ryuichi Sakamoto 2008](https://film.one/media/person/46792/gallery-b54d7930a12d.jpg) Ryuichi Sakamoto 2008 — Joi Ito, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/RyuichiSakamotoJI4_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-RyuichiSakamotoJI4_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won

- 1988: Best Original Score (won), for *The Last Emperor*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 1 won

- 1983: Best Original Music (won), for *Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence*

### Other awards — 3 won, 1 nominated

- Art Encouragement Prizes 2010: Art Encouragement Prizes (won)
- Officer of Arts and Letters 2009: Officer of Arts and Letters (won)
- Order of Rio Branco 2002: Order of Rio Branco (won)
- Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media 1988: Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (nominated), for *The Last Emperor*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ryuichi-sakamoto