Ryuichi Sakamoto, a world-renowned Japanese composer, musician, and outspoken environmentalist, passed away at age 71 on March 28 in Tokyo due to colorectal cancer.
In 1983, Sakamoto co-starred alongside David Bowie in the film, “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence,” about a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp. He also scored the music for the film, winning him a 1984, BAFTA (British Academy Film Awards), Best Original Music Score Award. Over the years he went on to win a multitude of other music awards including an Oscar, a Grammy, and two Golden Globes.
