“I was aware of that theme of mortality in my music since around 2009. The decaying and the disappearance of the piano sound is very much symbolic of life and mortality. It's not sad. I just meditate about it.”

Japanese musician and composer

Ryuichi Sakamoto was a Japanese musician, composer, keyboardist, record producer, singer and actor. He worked across a wide range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of the synth-driven band Yellow Magic Orchestra. With Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, he helped shape and pioneer several forms of electronic music. He was also a film score composer whose work brought him an Academy Award, a BAFTA, a Grammy, and two Golden Globe Awards.