Japanese musician, composer and actor Ryuichi Sakamoto has died aged 71. EPA
Japanese musician, composer and actor Ryuichi Sakamoto has died aged 71. EPA
Japanese musician, composer and actor Ryuichi Sakamoto has died aged 71. EPA
Japanese musician, composer and actor Ryuichi Sakamoto has died aged 71. EPA

Culture

Film & TV

Ryuichi Sakamoto, composer of The Last Emperor score, dies aged 71

Avex, the recording company he worked with, said the composer died on Tuesday

Reuters

April 03, 2023

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Ryuichi Sakamoto, the Oscar-winning Japanese composer famed for his scores for Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence, The Last Emperor and other films, has died aged 71.

Sakamoto was also known for his acting, and for his work with the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra, which he co-founded.

"He lived with music until the very end," Avex, the recording company he worked with, said on its website. He had been suffering from cancer, but kept working in his home studio whenever his health allowed, the company added.

He died on Tuesday, according to Avex.

Ryuichi Sakamoto won the Best Original Score Oscar for The Last Emperor in 1988. AP Photo
Ryuichi Sakamoto won the Best Original Score Oscar for The Last Emperor in 1988. AP Photo

Introduced to the piano as a toddler, Sakamoto lived for music. As a high schooler, he rode on Tokyo commuter carriages so packed nobody could move, amusing himself by counting all the different sounds the train made along the way.

Sakamoto, who described French composer Claude Debussy as his hero, studied ethnomusicology at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, with particular interest in the traditional music of Japan's Okinawa prefecture, as well as Indian and African musical traditions.

"Asian music heavily influenced Debussy, and Debussy heavily influenced me. So the music goes around the world and comes full circle," he told WNYC public radio in 2010.

Embracing electronic music, he and fellow studio musicians Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi formed YMO in 1978. The band's groundbreaking use of a vast array of electronic instruments brought both domestic and global success.

Sakamoto's first score was for the 1983 film Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence, in which he also played the commandant of a prisoner of war camp, starring alongside David Bowie. The score went on to win a Bafta Award.

His most celebrated work was 1987's The Last Emperor — a film in which he also acted. The score won an Oscar, a Grammy and a Golden Globe.

Scroll through the gallery below to see some of the famous names we've lost this year

American comedian Kelly Monteith died on January 1 aged 80. Getty Images
American comedian Kelly Monteith died on January 1 aged 80. Getty Images
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Daredevil rally driver Ken Block died on January 2 aged 55. EPA
Child actor Adam Rich died on January 7 aged 54. AP
Child actor Adam Rich died on January 7 aged 54. AP
British guitarist Jeff Beck died on January 10 aged 78. AFP
British guitarist Jeff Beck died on January 10 aged 78. AFP
German model Tatjana Patitz died on January 11 aged 56. Reuters
German model Tatjana Patitz died on January 11 aged 56. Reuters
Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, died on January 12 aged 54. Reuters
Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, died on January 12 aged 54. Reuters
Italian movie star Gina Lollobrigida, one of the last from the Golden Age of Hollywood, died on January 16 at 95. PA News
Italian movie star Gina Lollobrigida, one of the last from the Golden Age of Hollywood, died on January 16 at 95. PA News
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American folk-rock star David Crosby died on January 18 aged 81. EPA
American folk-rock star David Crosby died on January 18 aged 81. EPA
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Balkrishna Doshi, one of India’s most distinguished architects, died on January 24 aged 95. AP
TikTok star Randy Gonzalez died on January 25 aged 35. @enkyboys / Instagram
TikTok star Randy Gonzalez died on January 25 aged 35. @enkyboys / Instagram
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Cindy Williams, who played Shirley on the hit sitcom Laverne & Shirley, died on January 25 aged 75. AFP
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Barrett Strong, one of Motown’s founding artists, died on January 29 aged 81. AP
The Last of Us and 24 actress Annie Wersching died on January 29 aged 45. AP
The Last of Us and 24 actress Annie Wersching died on January 29 aged 45. AP
South Indian director and actor K Viswanath died on February 2 aged 92. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
South Indian director and actor K Viswanath died on February 2 aged 92. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Fashion designer Paco Rabanne died on February 3 aged 88. Reuters
Fashion designer Paco Rabanne died on February 3 aged 88. Reuters
Veteran Indian singer Vani Jayaram died in Chennai on February 4 aged 78. Photo: Twitter
Veteran Indian singer Vani Jayaram died in Chennai on February 4 aged 78. Photo: Twitter
Pop composer Burt Bacharach died on February 8 aged 94. AFP
Pop composer Burt Bacharach died on February 8 aged 94. AFP
South African rap sensation Kiernan Forbes, popularly known as AKA, died on February 10 aged 35. AFP
South African rap sensation Kiernan Forbes, popularly known as AKA, died on February 10 aged 35. AFP
David 'Trugoy the Dove' Jolicoeur of the US hip-hop band De La Soul died on February 12 aged 54. EPA
David 'Trugoy the Dove' Jolicoeur of the US hip-hop band De La Soul died on February 12 aged 54. EPA
Manga artist Leiji Matsumoto died on February 13 aged 85. AP
Manga artist Leiji Matsumoto died on February 13 aged 85. AP
American actress Raquel Welch died at the age of 82 on February 15. EPA
American actress Raquel Welch died at the age of 82 on February 15. EPA
Stella Stevens, pictured in New York in 1968, died on February 18 aged 84. AP
Stella Stevens, pictured in New York in 1968, died on February 18 aged 84. AP
Law & Order actor Richard Belzer died aged 78 on February 19. AP
Law & Order actor Richard Belzer died aged 78 on February 19. AP
Jansen Panettiere, who appeared in shows such as Major Crimes and The Walking Dead, died aged 28 on February 19. Getty
Jansen Panettiere, who appeared in shows such as Major Crimes and The Walking Dead, died aged 28 on February 19. Getty
Football commentator John Motson died on February 23 aged 77. PA
Football commentator John Motson died on February 23 aged 77. PA
Hollywood film producer Walter Mirisch died aged 101 on February 24. AP
Hollywood film producer Walter Mirisch died aged 101 on February 24. AP
Animator and director Burny Mattinson worked with Disney for nearly 70 years until his death aged 87 on February 27. WireImage
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French football player Just Fontaine died aged 89 on March 1. EPA
French football player Just Fontaine died aged 89 on March 1. EPA
Pulp bassist Steve Mackey, right, died aged 56 on March 2. Getty
Pulp bassist Steve Mackey, right, died aged 56 on March 2. Getty
Wayne Shorter, an influential jazz musician, died aged 89 on March 2. AFP
Wayne Shorter, an influential jazz musician, died aged 89 on March 2. AFP
Architect Rafael Vinoly died aged 78 on March 2. Getty
Architect Rafael Vinoly died aged 78 on March 2. Getty
Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore died aged 61 on March 3. Reuters
Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore died aged 61 on March 3. Reuters
Gary Rossington, a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, died aged 71 on March 5. EPA
Gary Rossington, a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, died aged 71 on March 5. EPA
Pakistani actor Qavi Khan died aged 80 on March 5. Photo: Parveen Shah Productions
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Bollywood actor, comedian, writer and director Satish Kaushik died aged 66 on March 8. Jeff Topping / The National
Bollywood actor, comedian, writer and director Satish Kaushik died aged 66 on March 8. Jeff Topping / The National
Israeli actor Chaim Topol died aged 87 on March 8. AP
Israeli actor Chaim Topol died aged 87 on March 8. AP
British TV presenter and comedian Paul O'Grady died on March 28 at the age of 67. PA
British TV presenter and comedian Paul O'Grady died on March 28 at the age of 67. PA
Moonbin, a member of K-pop boy band Astra, died at the age of 25 on April 19. AFP
Moonbin, a member of K-pop boy band Astra, died at the age of 25 on April 19. AFP
Bodybuilding social media influencer Jo Lindner, popularly known as Joesthetics, died on July 1 at the age of 30. @joesthetics / Instagram
Bodybuilding social media influencer Jo Lindner, popularly known as Joesthetics, died on July 1 at the age of 30. @joesthetics / Instagram
Peter Hellyer, who moved to the UAE in the 1970s, died on July 2 at the age of 75. Pawan Singh / The National
Peter Hellyer, who moved to the UAE in the 1970s, died on July 2 at the age of 75. Pawan Singh / The National
British-French actress and singer Jane Birkin, who inspired the famous Hermes Birkin bag, died aged 76 on July 16. AFP
British-French actress and singer Jane Birkin, who inspired the famous Hermes Birkin bag, died aged 76 on July 16. AFP
American musician Tony Bennett died on July 21 at the age of 96. Reuters
American musician Tony Bennett died on July 21 at the age of 96. Reuters
Acclaimed Irish singer Sinead O’Connor died at the age of 56 on July 26. Sarah Dea / The National
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Matthew Perry, one of the stars of TV sitcom Friends, died on October 28 aged 54. AFP
Matthew Perry, one of the stars of TV sitcom Friends, died on October 28 aged 54. AFP
Former US first lady Rosalynn Carter died at the age of 96 on November 19. AP
Former US first lady Rosalynn Carter died at the age of 96 on November 19. AP
South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in Parasite, died on December 27 aged 48. Reuters
South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in Parasite, died on December 27 aged 48. Reuters
Sole survivors
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Founder: Omar Onsi

Launched: 2018

Employees: 35

Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)

Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

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On Women's Day
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What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
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  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
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  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
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  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

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Founded: 2013

Based: Egypt, Cairo

Sector: IT

Employees: 100

Stage: Series A

Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors

'The Lost Daughter'

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Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson

Rating: 4/5

Updated: April 03, 2023, 5:51 AM
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