Editing Ryuichi Sakamoto (section)

==Solo career==

===1970s===
In 1975, Sakamoto collaborated with percussionist [[Tsuchitori Toshiyuki]] to release ''Disappointment-Hateruma''.<ref>{{cite web|title=土取利行 ＋ 坂本龍一 / Disappointment Hateruma|url=http://jazzamurai.exblog.jp/4664314/|website=jazzamurai.exblog.jp|access-date=January 23, 2016|language=ja|date=February 2, 2007}}</ref> In 1977, Sakamoto began working as a session musician with [[Haruomi Hosono]] and [[Yukihiro Takahashi]]. Together, the trio formed the electronic band [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]] (YMO) in 1978.

In mid-1978, Sakamoto released his first solo album ''[[Thousand Knives|Thousand Knives of Ryūichi Sakamoto]]'', 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 [[Fusion (music)|fused]] with traditional [[Music of Japan|Japanese music]]—while "Grasshoppers" is a more [[Minimalistic music|minimalistic]] piano song. The album was recorded from April to July 1978 with a variety of [[electronic musical instrument]]s, including various synthesizers, such as the [[Korg PS-3300|KORG PS-3100]], a [[polyphonic synthesizer]]; the [[Oberheim Eight Voice]]; the [[Moog synthesizer|Moog III-C]]; the [[Polymoog]], the [[Minimoog]]; the [[Micromoog]]; the [[Korg VC-10]], which is a vocoder; the [[Korg MS-20|KORG SQ-10]], which is an [[analog sequencer]]; the [[Pollard Syndrum|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.<ref name="roland">{{Cite web|url=https://articles.roland.com/yellow-magic-orchestra-808-revolution/|title=How Yellow Magic Orchestra Launched the 808 Revolution|access-date=January 17, 2022|website=[[Roland Corporation|Roland Articles]]|last=Shamoon|first=Evan|date=July 31, 2020 }}</ref>

===1980s===
[[File:Bob Motherbaugh, Yukihiro Takahashi, Ryuichi Sakamoto.png|thumb|Sakamoto (on the right) with [[Bob Mothersbaugh]] of [[Devo]] and [[Yukihiro Takahashi]] in 1980]]

In 1980, Sakamoto released his second solo album, ''[[B-2 Unit]]'', which has been referred to as his "edgiest" record<ref name="buckley"/> and is known for the electronic track "Riot in Lagos",<ref name="buckley">{{cite book|last=Buckley|first=Peter|title=The rough guide to rock|year=2003|publisher=[[Rough Guides]]|isbn=1-84353-105-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ctjc6UWCm4C&pg=PT908|access-date=May 25, 2011|page=901}}</ref> which is considered an early example of [[electro music]] (electro-funk),<ref name="broughton_2007">{{cite book|last=Broughton|first=Frank|title=La historia del DJ / The DJ's Story, Volume 2|year=2007|publisher=Ediciones Robinbook|isbn=978-84-96222-79-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1GMxP6mpRdgC&pg=PA121|access-date=May 25, 2011|page=121}}</ref><ref name="mantronik_interview"/> as Sakamoto anticipated the beats and sounds of electro.<ref name="wire_1996">{{citation|title=A-Z Of Electro|work=[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]|issue=145|date=March 1996|author=David Toop|url=http://www.thewire.co.uk/articles/210/|access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref> Early electro and [[hip hop]] artists, such as [[Afrika Bambaataa]]<ref name="wire_1996"/> and [[Kurtis Mantronik]], were influenced by the album—especially "Riot in Lagos"—with Mantronik citing the work as a major influence on his electro hip hop group [[Mantronix]].<ref name="mantronik_interview">{{citation|title=Kurtis Mantronik Interview|work=Hip Hop Storage|date=July 2002|url=http://www.cheebadesign.com/legends/articleX.html|access-date=May 25, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524234641/http://www.cheebadesign.com/legends/articleX.html|archive-date=May 24, 2011}}</ref> "Riot in Lagos" was later included in [[Playgroup (band)|Playgroup]]'s [[compilation album]] ''Kings of Electro'' (2007), alongside other significant electro compositions, such as [[Hashim Music|Hashim]]'s "Al-Naafyish" (1983).<ref>{{allMusic|album|r2003688|Kings of Electro}}</ref> The album is also credited with introducing the influential [[Roland TR-808]] [[drum machine]] "in the clubs for the first time" with "a new [[Electronic body music|body music]]" that "foretold the future" of music according to [[Mary Anne Hobbs]] of [[BBC Radio 6 Music]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite web |last1=Hobbs |first1=Mary Anne |author1-link=Mary Anne Hobbs |date=9 December 2020 |title=In praise of the 808 - 8 essential tracks to celebrate the drum machine that changed the world |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4vxylVTKQrw6Hl8kgNrFv61/in-praise-of-the-808-8-essential-tracks-to-celebrate-the-drum-machine-that-changed-the-world |access-date=3 March 2025 |website=[[BBC Radio 6 Music]] |publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref>

According to ''Dusted Magazine'', Sakamoto's use of squelching [[Bounce music|bounce]] sounds and mechanical [[Beat (music)|beats]] was later incorporated in early electro and hip hop productions, such as "[[The Message (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five song)|Message II (Survival)]]" by [[Melle Mel]] and [[Duke Bootee]] (1982), "[[Whodini (album)|Magic's Wand]]" (1982) by [[Whodini]] and [[Thomas Dolby]], "Electric Kingdom" (1983) by [[Twilight 22]], and ''[[The Album (Mantronix album)|The Album]]'' (1985) by Mantronix.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Connell|first=Jake|title=Dusted Reviews – Mantronix: The Album (Deluxe Edition)|url=http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/4485|work=Dusted Magazine|access-date=July 21, 2011|date=August 22, 2008}}</ref> The 1980 release of "Riot in Lagos" was listed by ''[[The Guardian]]'' in 2011 as one of the 50 key important events in the history of [[dance music]], at number six on its list.<ref>{{cite news|last=Vine|first=Richard|title=Ryuichi Sakamoto records 'Riot in Lagos'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/15/ryuichi-sakamoto-riot-in-lagos|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|location=UK|date=July 9, 2011|access-date=July 9, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Resident Advisor]]'' said the track anticipated the sounds of [[techno]] and hip hop music, and that it inspired numerous artists from cities such as Tokyo, New York City and Detroit.<ref name="RA">{{cite news |title=Remembering Ryuichi Sakamoto's Extraordinary Musical Life |url=https://ra.co/features/4172 |access-date=29 June 2023 |work=[[Resident Advisor]] |date=3 April 2023}}</ref> Peter Tasker of ''[[Nikkei Asia]]'' said it was influential on techno, hip hop and [[house music]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tasker |first1=Peter |title=The real musical magic of Ryuichi Sakamoto |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Life/The-real-musical-magic-of-Ryuichi-Sakamoto |access-date=29 June 2023 |work=[[Nikkei Asia]] |date=8 April 2023 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407233620/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Life/The-real-musical-magic-of-Ryuichi-Sakamoto |archive-date=2023-04-07}}</ref>

One of the tracks on ''B-2 Unit'', "Differencia" has, according to ''[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]'', "relentless tumbling beats and a stabbing [[bass synth]] that foreshadows [[Oldschool jungle|jungle]] by nearly a decade". Some tracks on the album also foreshadow genres such as [[Intelligent dance music|IDM]], [[broken beat]], and [[industrial techno]], and the work of producers such as [[Actress (musician)|Actress]] and [[Oneohtrix Point Never]]. For several tracks on the album, Sakamoto worked with UK [[reggae]] producer [[Dennis Bovell]], incorporating elements of [[Afrobeat]] and [[dub music]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.factmag.com/2015/01/22/the-essential-yellow-magic-orchestra/|title=The Essential... Yellow Magic Orchestra|magazine=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]|date=January 22, 2015}}</ref> According to'' [[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'', "''B-2 Unit'' still sounds futuristic" with tracks such as "E-3A" looking "ahead to [[Mouse on Mars]]’ idyllic ’90s [[electronica]]."<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web |last1=Reynolds |first1=Simon |date=2 April 2023 |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto's Borderless Brilliance |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/afterword/ryuichi-sakamotos-borderless-brilliance/ |access-date=3 March 2025 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref>

Also in 1980, Sakamoto released the single "War Head/Lexington Queen", an experimental [[synthpop]] and electro record. His collaboration with [[Kiyoshiro Imawano]], "Ikenai Rouge Magic", also topped the [[Oricon]] singles chart.<ref>{{cite web|title=Biography|publisher=Kiyoshiro Imawano official site|url=http://www.kiyoshiro.co.jp/history/index.html|access-date=June 22, 2011|language=ja}} ([https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://www.kiyoshiro.co.jp/history/index.html Translation])</ref> Sakamoto also began a long-standing collaboration with [[David Sylvian]], when he co-wrote and performed on the [[Japan (band)|Japan]] track "Taking Islands in Africa" in 1980.

In 1981, Sakamoto collaborated with [[Talking Heads]] and [[King Crimson]] guitarist [[Adrian Belew]] and [[Robin Scott (singer)|Robin Scott]] for an album titled ''Left-Handed Dream''. According to ''[[The Baffler]]'', the album combined "slow, simmering, primeval" [[techno]] with "sprawling, raw-edged sci-fi [[gagaku]]" using traditional Japanese [[taiko]] drums.<ref name="Monroe 2023"/>

Sakamoto worked on another collaboration with Sylvian, a single entitled "[[Bamboo Houses|Bamboo Houses/Bamboo Music]]" in 1982. The song "Bamboo Houses" in particular "accidentally predicted" [[grime music]] according to ''[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]'' magazine, calling it "the earliest example of proto-grime" with similarities to the [[Sinogrime]] subgenre which [[Wiley (musician)|Wiley]] and [[Jammer (musician)|Jammer]] were known for in the 2000s.<ref name="Fact">{{cite web |last1=Raw |first1=Son |title=10 accidental grime tracks that predicted East London's signature sound |url=https://www.factmag.com/2016/07/30/10-accidental-grime-tracks-wolverine-proto-grime/ |website=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]] |access-date=4 March 2025 |date=30 July 2016}}</ref> Sakamoto's earlier 1978 songs "Grasshoppers" and "The End of Asia" from ''Thousand Knives'' also have melodic lines similar to grime or Sinogrime.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Takahashi |first1=Logan |author1-link=Teengirl Fantasy |title=Teengirl Fantasy's Logan Takahashi Gives Us the Lowdown on Ryuichi Sakamoto's Most Influential Releases |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/teengirl-fantasy-ryuichi-sakamoto-releases/ |access-date=7 March 2025 |work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |date=8 August 2016}}</ref>

Sakamoto began work on his next album ''Ongaku Zukan'' in 1982, but it didn't release until 1984. During production, he was one of the first musicians to use the [[Yamaha DX7]], the same year the [[digital synthesizer]] released in 1983. He initially used the DX7 for [[Mari Iijima]]'s debut [[city pop]] album ''Rosé'', released in 1983, before using it for his solo album ''Ongaku Zukan'', which eventually released in 1984.<ref name="Yamaha">{{cite web |title=Sakamoto and Yamaha Synthesizers |url=https://usa.yamaha.com/products/contents/music_production/synth_50th/anecdotes/011.html |website=[[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]] |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref>

Sakamoto broadened his musical range with a number of solo albums such ''Ongaku Zukan'' (1984), ''[[Neo Geo (album)|Neo Geo]]'' (1987), and ''[[Beauty (Ryuichi Sakamoto album)|Beauty]]'' (1989). These albums included collaborations with artists such as [[Thomas Dolby]],<ref>{{Citation |title=a tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto | date=April 3, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUw6nUkjFcM |access-date=2023-05-08}}</ref> [[Iggy Pop]], [[Youssou N'Dour]], and [[Brian Wilson]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Robin |first=William |date=2023-04-02 |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto, Oscar-Winning Composer, Dies at 71 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/02/arts/music/ryuichi-sakamoto-dead.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Peters |first=Daniel |date=2023-04-03 |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto, 1952–2023: an inimitable sonic innovator |work=[[NME]] |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/music-features/ryuichi-sakamoto-obituary-yellow-magic-orchestra-merry-christmas-mr-lawrence-3424911}}</ref>

In 1985, Sakamoto was commissioned to score a dance composition by New York choreographer [[Molissa Fenley]] called ''[[Esperanto (Ryuichi Sakamoto album)|Esperanto]]''. The performance itself debuted at the [[Joyce Theatre Foundation|Joyce Theater]], to mixed reviews from [[Anna Kisselgoff]] at ''The New York Times'' which said of Sakamoto's music, that "The sound often resembles a radio shut on and off."<ref name="Kisselgoff 1985">{{Cite news |last=Kisselgoff |first=Anna |date=1985-11-13 |title=Dance: Fenley Dancers at The Joyce |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/13/arts/dance-fenley-dancers-at-the-joyce.html}}</ref>
The score was subsequently released in Japan by Midi, Inc., and includes contributions from [[Arto Lindsay]] and YAS-KAZ. Jen Monroe of ''The Baffler'' said the [[Sampling (music)|sample]]-based music "manages to be unremittingly gorgeous, aggressive, angular, and lush."<ref name="Monroe 2023">{{Cite news |last=Monroe |first=Jen |date=2023-06-13 |title=Ryuichi Sakamto,1952-2023 |work=[[The Baffler]] |url=https://thebaffler.com/latest/ryuichi-sakamoto-monroe}}</ref>

===1990s===
''[[Heartbeat (Sakamoto album)|Heartbeat]]'' (1991) and ''[[Sweet Revenge (Ryuichi Sakamoto album)|Sweet Revenge]]'' (1994) feature Sakamoto's collaborations with a global range of artists such as [[Roddy Frame]], Dee Dee Brave, Marco Prince, [[Arto Lindsay]], [[Youssou N'Dour]], [[David Sylvian]], and [[Ingrid Chavez]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto – Heartbeat Album |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/heartbeat-mw0000613757 |access-date=2023-04-04 |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto – Sweet Revenge Album |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sweet-revenge-mw0000117926 |access-date=2023-04-04 |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> In 1992, Sakamoto composed music for the [[1992 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony]] of the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] in Barcelona, Spain.<ref name=":1"/>

In 1995, Sakamoto released ''Smoochy'', described by the ''Sound on Sound'' website as Sakamoto's "excursion into the land of easy-listening and Latin", followed by the ''[[1996 (Ryuichi Sakamoto album)|1996]]'' album, which featured a number of previously released pieces arranged for solo piano, violin, and cello.<ref name="sos">{{cite web |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto: Classical & Pop Fusion |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/ryuichi-sakamoto-classical-pop-fusion |website=[[Sound on Sound]] |access-date=March 28, 2024 |date=April 1998}}</ref> During December 1996 Sakamoto, composed the entirety of an hour-long orchestral work entitled "Untitled 01" and released as the album ''Discord'' (1998).<ref name="sos"/> The [[Sony Classical]] release of ''Discord'' was sold in a [[Jewel case#Jewel case|jewel case]] that was covered by a blue-colored [[slipcase]] made of [[Metal leaf|foil]], while the CD also contained a data video track. In 1998 the [[Ninja Tune]] record label released the ''Prayer/Salvation Remixes'', for which prominent electronica artists such as Ashley Beedle and Andrea Parker remixed sections from the "Prayer" and "Salvation" parts of ''Discord''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Prayer / Salvation Remixes|url=http://ninjatune.net/de/release/ryuichi-sakamoto/prayer-salvation-remixes|website=Ninja Tune|access-date=June 22, 2014|date=June 22, 2014}}</ref> Sakamoto collaborated primarily with guitarist David Torn and [[DJ Spooky]]—artist [[Laurie Anderson]] provides spoken word on the composition—and the recording was condensed from nine live performances of the work, recorded during a Japanese tour. ''Discord'' was divided into four parts: "Grief", "Anger", "Prayer", and "Salvation"; Sakamoto explained in 1998 that he was "not religious, but maybe spiritual" and "The Prayer is to anybody or anything you want to name." Sakamoto further explained:

{{Blockquote|The themes of Prayer and Salvation came out of the feelings of sadness and frustration that I expressed in the first two movements, about the fact that people are starving in the world, and we are not able to help them. People are dying, and yet the political and economical and historical situations are too complicated and inert for us to do much about it. So I got really angry with myself. I asked myself what I could do, and since there's not a lot I can do on the practical level, all that's left for me is to pray. But it's not enough just to pray; I also had to think about actually saving those people, so the last movement is called Salvation. That's the journey of the piece.<ref name="sos"/>}}

In 1998, Italian ethnomusicologist [[Massimo Milano]] published ''[[Ryuichi Sakamoto. Conversazioni]]'' through the Padova, Arcana imprint. All three editions of the book were published in the Italian language.<ref>{{cite book|title=Showing all editions for 'Ryuichi Sakamoto : conversazioni'|publisher=OCLC|year=2001–2014|oclc=801212773}}</ref> Sakamoto's next album, ''[[BTTB (album)|BTTB]]'' (1999)—an [[acronym]] for "Back to the Basics" is comprised a series of original pieces on solo piano influenced by [[Claude Debussy|Debussy]] and [[Erik Satie|Satie]] and includes "Energy Flow" (a major hit in Japan) and an arrangement of the Yellow Magic Orchestra classic "Tong Poo".<ref>{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Matt |date=2018-09-11 |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto's rare solo piano record, BTTB, to be reissued on its 20th anniversary |url=https://ra.co/news/42482 |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=[[Resident Advisor]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ismael Ruiz |first=Matthew |date=2021-11-24 |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto Shares New Arrangement of Yellow Magic Orchestra's "Tong Poo": Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/ryuichi-sakamoto-shares-new-arrangement-of-yellow-magic-orchestra-tong-poo-listen/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref>

Sakamoto's long-awaited "opera" ''{{ill|LIFE (Sakamoto opera)|ja|LIFE a ryuichi sakamoto opera 1999|lt=LIFE}}'' was released in 1999, with visual direction by [[Shiro Takatani]], artistic director of [[Dumb Type]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto + Shiro Takatani – Life-fluid, invisible, inaudible... |url=http://www.epidemic.net/en/art/takatani/proj/life-fii.html |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=Epidemic}}</ref> This ambitious multi-genre multi-media project featured contributions from [[Pina Bausch]], [[Bernardo Bertolucci]], [[Josep Carreras]], [[The 14th Dalai Lama|the Dalai Lama]], and [[Salman Rushdie]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto (Japan) |url=https://www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/apsa-nominees-winners/2012/fiapf-award/ryuichi-sakamoto-japan |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=Asia Pacific Screen Awards |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2007, they "deconstructed" all the visual images and the sound, to create an art installation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LIFE—fluid, invisible, inaudible... |url=https://www.ycam.jp/en/archive/works/life/ |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media [YCAM]}}</ref><ref name=Stames>{{Cite news |last=Starnes |first=Sadie Rebecca |date=2021-07-14 |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto on Life, Nature and ''Time''|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/14/arts/music/ryuichi-sakamoto-time.html|access-date=2023-04-04}}</ref>

===2000s===
[[File:Keigo Oyamada and Ryuichi Sakamoto.jpg|thumb|[[Keigo Oyamada]] with Sakamoto in 2007]]

In the early 2000s, Sakamoto did extensive work in experimental [[Ambient music|ambient]] and [[glitch music]]. His works in these genres at the time include collaborations with [[Fennesz]].<ref name="allmusic"/>

Sakamoto teamed with cellist [[Jaques Morelenbaum]] and singer [[Paula Morelenbaum]], on a pair of albums celebrating the work of [[bossa nova]] pioneer [[Antonio Carlos Jobim]]. They recorded their first album, ''Casa'' (2001), mostly in Jobim's home studio in [[Rio de Janeiro]], with Sakamoto performing on the late Jobim's grand piano.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tesser |first=Neil |date=2002-09-05 |title=Morlembaum 2 & Ryuichi Sakamoto |work=[[Chicago Reader]] |url=https://chicagoreader.com/arts-culture/morlembaum-2-ryuichi-sakamoto/ |access-date=2023-04-05}}</ref> The album was well received, having been included in the list of ''[[The New York Times]]''{{'}}s top albums of 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ratliff|first=Ben|author-link=Ben Ratliff|date=2002-12-29 |title=Music: the Year in Review – the Critics/the 10 Best Albums; Somber Anthems, Loose-Limbed Funk|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/29/arts/music-year-review-critics-10-best-albums-somber-anthems-loose-limbed-funk-536806.html |access-date=2023-04-05}}</ref> A live album, ''Live in Tokyo'', and a second album, ''A Day in New York'', soon followed. Sakamoto and the Morelenbaums would also collaborate on N.M.L. No More Landmine, an international effort to raise awareness for the removal of landmines. The trio would release the single "Zero Landmine", which also featured [[David Sylvian]], [[Brian Eno]], [[Kraftwerk]], [[Cyndi Lauper]], and [[Haruomi Hosono]] and [[Yukihiro Takahashi]], the other two founding members of [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]].<ref name=Sweeting>{{Cite news|last=Sweeting|first=Adam|date=2023-04-03|title=Ryuichi Sakamoto obituary|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/03/ryuichi-sakamoto-obituary|access-date=2023-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cochrane |first=Kez |date=2022-04-08 |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto shares new recording, Zero Landmine 2022, to support Ukraine |url=https://crackmagazine.net/2022/04/ryuichi-sakamoto-shares-new-recording-zero-landmine-2022-to-support-ukraine/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=[[Crack (magazine)|Crack]]}}</ref>

Sakamoto collaborated with [[Alva Noto]] (an alias of [[Carsten Nicolai]]) to release ''[[Vrioon]]'', an album of Sakamoto's piano clusters treated by Nicolai's unique style of digital manipulation, involving the creation of "micro-loops" and minimal percussion. The two produced this work by passing the pieces back and forth until both were satisfied with the result. This debut, released on German label [[Raster-Noton]], was voted record of the year 2004 in the electronica category by British magazine ''[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]''. They then released ''[[Insen]]'' (2005)—while produced in a similar manner to Vrioon, this album is somewhat more restrained and minimalist. After further collaboration, they released two more albums: ''[[Utp (album)|utp_]]'' (2008)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Couture|first1=François|title=Alva Noto / Ensemble Modern / Ryuichi Sakamoto: utp_|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/utp--mw0000818684|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=January 14, 2016}}</ref> and ''[[Summvs]]'' (2011).

In 2005, Finnish mobile phone manufacturer [[Nokia]] hired Sakamoto to compose ring and alert tones for their high-end phone, the [[Nokia 8800]]. In 2006, Nokia offered the ringtones for free on their website.<ref>[https://www.wired.com/2006/11/sakamoto_ringto/ Sakamoto Ringtones Offered to All] ''https://www.wired.com/''; Retrieved September 9, 2015.</ref> Around this time, a reunion with YMO cofounders Hosono and Takahashi caused a stir in the Japanese press. They released a single "Rescue" in 2007 and a DVD "HAS/YMO" in 2008. In July 2009, Sakamoto was honored as [[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres|Officier of Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]] at the French embassy in Tokyo.<ref>{{citation |last=Hongo |first=Jun |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto Diagnosed with Throat Cancer |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/07/10/ryuichi-sakamoto-diagnosed-with-throat-cancer/ |date=10 July 2014 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal}}</ref>

===2010s===
[[File:Jun_Miyake_and_Ryuichi_Sakamoto_at_Ibirapuera_Park_(2017)_36.jpg|left|thumb|Sakamoto performing in [[São Paulo]], 2017]]

Throughout the latter part of the 2000s, Sakamoto collaborated on several projects with visual artist [[Shiro Takatani]], including the installations ''LIFE – fluid, invisible, inaudible...'' (2007–2013), commissioned by YCAM, Yamaguchi, ''collapsed'' and ''silence spins'' at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo in 2012 and 2013 [[Sharjah Biennial]] (U.A.E.), ''LIFE-WELL'' in 2013, and a special version for Park Hyatt Tokyo's 20th anniversary in 2014, and he did music for the joint performance ''LIFE-WELL'' featuring the actor Noh/Kyogen Mansai Nomura, and for [[Shiro Takatani]]'s performance ''ST/LL'' in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digicult.it/news/the-scene-is-a-prism-notes-about-stll-of-shiro-takatani|title=The Scene is a Prism. Notes about ST/LL of Shiro Takatani|date=May 10, 2016 }}</ref>

In 2013, Sakamoto was a jury member at the [[70th Venice International Film Festival]]. The jury viewed 20 films and was chaired by filmmaker [[Bernardo Bertolucci]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/news/07-09.html|title=Juries and Awards of the 70th Venice Film Festival |work=La Biennale|access-date=June 22, 2014|date=September 7, 2013}}</ref>

On April 14, 2013, he also participated in a performance of film and music by video pioneer [[Nam June Paik]], selected by musicians and composers who knew him well: himself, [[Stephen Vitiello]], and [[Steina Vasulka]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Strange Music for Nam June Paik, Performed by Ryuichi Sakamoto, Stephen Vitiello, and Steina Vasulka |date=April 14, 2013 |url=https://americanart.si.edu/videos/strange-music-nam-june-paik-performed-ryuichi-sakamoto-stephen-vitiello-and-steina-vasulka|website=americanart.si.edu}}</ref>

In 2014, Sakamoto became the first guest artistic director of the Sapporo International Art Festival 2014 (SIAF2014). On July 10, Sakamoto released a statement indicating that he had been diagnosed with [[oropharyngeal cancer]] in late June of the same year. He announced a break from his work while he sought treatment and recovery.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/07/10/ryuichi-sakamoto-diagnosed-with-throat-cancer/|title=Ryuichi Sakamoto diagnosed with Throat Cancer|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=July 10, 2014|last1=Hongo|first1=Jun}}</ref> On August 3, 2015, Sakamoto posted on his website that he was "in great shape ... I am thinking about returning to work" and announced that he would be providing music for [[Yoji Yamada]]'s ''[[Haha to Kuraseba]]'' (''Living with My Mother'').<ref>{{cite web|last1=Monroe|first1=Jazz|title=Ryuichi Sakamoto "In Great Shape" Following Cancer Treatment|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/60643-ryuichi-sakamoto-in-great-shape-following-cancer-treatment/|publisher=[[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]]|date=August 3, 2015}}</ref> In 2015, Sakamoto also composed the score for the [[Alejandro González Iñárritu]]'s film, ''[[The Revenant (2015 film)|The Revenant]]'',<ref name="FMR">{{cite web|title=Ryuichi Sakamoto Scoring Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's ''The Revenant''|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2015/09/29/ryuichi-sakamoto-scoring-alejandro-gonzalez-inarritus-the-revenant/|website=Film Music Reporter|access-date=September 30, 2015|date=September 29, 2015}}</ref> for which he received a Golden Globe nomination.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/best-original-score-motion-picture|title=Best Original Score – Motion Picture|website=www.goldenglobes.com|access-date=July 24, 2018}}</ref>

In January 2017 it was announced that Sakamoto would release a solo album in April 2017 through Milan Records;<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/21585-ryuichi-sakamoto-preps-new-album|title=Ryuichi Sakamoto Preps New Album|date=January 21, 2017|work=The Quietus|access-date=January 21, 2017}}</ref> the new album, titled ''async'', was released on March 29, 2017, to critical acclaim. In February 2018, he was selected to be on the jury for the main competition section of the [[68th Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name="Berlin18">{{cite web|url=https://www.berlinale.de/en/das_festival/preise_und_juries/preise_internationale_jury/index.html |title=The International Jury 2018 |date=February 6, 2018|access-date=February 6, 2018}}</ref>

On June 14, 2018, a documentary about the life and work of Sakamoto, entitled ''[[Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda]]'', was released.<ref>{{Citation|last=Schible|first=Stephen Nomura|title=Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda|date=June 14, 2018|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6578572/|others=Ryuichi Sakamoto|access-date=July 24, 2018}}</ref> The film follows Sakamoto as he recovers from cancer and resumes creating music, protests nuclear power plants following the [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster|Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster]], and creates field recordings in a variety of locales. He also elucidates the influence of Russian director [[Andrei Tarkovsky]] on the making of his then upcoming album [[Async (album)|async]]. Sakamoto says, "When I started making the album, the sound that was in my mind was the Bach theme from ''[[Solaris (1972 film)|Solaris]]'', arranged on synthesizers by [[Eduard Artemyev]]. I arranged the same piece in the beginning of the process for ''async'', and it sounded really good. It was very different from Artemyev's version, so I was very happy. Then I arranged four more Bach chorales next to that, and they all sounded really good. So I thought, maybe this is the album? Then I thought I needed to do something more, to write my own chorale. I tried, and that became the song "solari", obviously, with no "s".<ref name="hyperallergic">{{cite web |last=Hubert |first=Craig |title=Composer Ryuichi Sakamoto Reflects on His Life, Work, and Battle with Cancer |url=https://hyperallergic.com/451093/ryuichi-sakamoto-coda-interview/ |website=[[Hyperallergic]] |date=July 16, 2018 |access-date=12 August 2023}}</ref> Directed by Stephen Nomura Schible, the documentary was met with critical praise.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Kenigsberg |first1=Ben |date=July 5, 2018 |title=Review: 'Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda' Shows a Composer Attuned to Nature |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/05/movies/ryuichi-sakamoto-coda-review.html |access-date=July 24, 2018 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ryuichi_sakamoto_coda/ |access-date=July 24, 2018}}</ref> 

He later said, "As I've been making music and trying to go deeper and deeper, I was finally able to understand what the Tarkovsky movies are about – how symphonic they are – it's almost music. Not just the sounds – it's a symphony of moving images and sounds. They are more complex than music." He calls Tarkovsky and French director [[Robert Bresson]] his favorites, claiming their books – ''[[Notes on the Cinematographer]]'' and ''[[Sculpting in Time]]'', respectively – as "[his] bible."<ref name="hyperallergic" />

=== 2020s ===
In 2021 he was associate artist of [[Holland Festival]] in Amsterdam where he presented the world premiere of ''TIME'', his last collaboration with his long-term collaborator [[Shiro Takatani]]. This "wordless opera", featuring dancer and actor [[Min Tanaka]] and shô player [[Mayumi Miyata]] was inspired by the first tale from [[Natsume Sōseki|Soseki Natsume]]'s collection of short stories ''[[Ten Nights of Dreams]]''.<ref name=Stames />

In 2022 he took part in the creation of [[Dumb Type]]'s new installation ''2022'' as a new member of the Japanese collective, for the [[Japanese pavilion|Japan Pavilion]] at the 59th International Art Exhibition – [[Venice Biennale|La Biennale di Venezia]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.artnews.com/list/art-news/artists/venice-biennale-national-pavilions-1234620060/japan-dumb-type |last1=Greenberger |first1=Alex |title=A Guide to the 2022 Venice Biennale National Pavilions, From Futuristic Gardens to AI-Influenced Performance Art |work=ARTnews.com |date=3 March 2022}}</ref>

The same year Sakamoto collaborated with the young Ukrainian violinist Illia Bondarenko on the single "Piece for Illia" as part of the compilation fundraiser ''Ukraine (volume 2)'' for relief for victims of the [[Russian Invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.thefader.com/2022/04/26/ryuichi-sakamoto-and-illia-bondarenko-share-track-from-ukraine-fundraiser-album | title=Ryuichi Sakamoto and Illia Bondarenko share track from Ukraine fundraiser album|magazine=Fact|date=April 26, 2022 }}</ref>

On April 24, 2023, the song "[[Snooze (Agust D song)|Snooze]]" was released by Agust D ([[Suga (rapper)|Suga]] of BTS), in loving memory of Ryuichi Sakamoto, in which he is featured in the song as keyboards. He also appears in the music trailers leading up to the Agust D album, D-Day.<ref>{{Citation|title=SUGA: Road to D-DAY' Official Trailer| date=April 6, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPjfJrtLpww&ab_channel=BANGTANTV}}</ref>

In 2023, filmmaker [[Neo Sora]]–Sakamoto's son–directed a final performance of Sakomoto playing solo piano, released as ''[[Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus]]''. It premiered at the [[80th Venice International Film Festival|Venice Film Festival in 2023]].