Just yesterday one of Japan's most beloved and prolific composers, Ryuichi Sakamoto, released a statement on his website saying that he would be forced to postpone all professional projects due to his recent diagnosis of throat cancer. With an incredible music career that began in 1978 as a member of the electronic music group, Yellow Magic Orchestro (or "YMO"), the Japan and New York based composer has since expanded onto a solo career that brought forth highly regarded albums like Thousand Knives and B-2 Unit. His innovative style has not only brought him great recording recognition, but even presented him with honors such as composing music for the 1992 Olympics held in Barcelona, Spain.
Seeking to take care of his health first, Sakamoto has put a halt on all musical projects that included a number of collaborative efforts with different artists and his director's role at the Sapporo International Art Festival. Read his personal statement below:
