Ryuichi Sakamoto discography
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The Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto (1952–2023) released over 20 solo studio albums, over 25 collaboration albums, 3 remix albums, more than 10 live albums, several compilation albums, over 40 EPs and singles, and about 50 soundtracks. Several of the albums exist in both Japanese and internationally released versions, sometimes containing different track listings. Sakamoto has also released many video albums and music videos.
Albums
Solo studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN | AUS | US Cla. | ||
| 1978 | Thousand Knives Released: October 25, 1978 Labels: Nippon Columbia Formats: LP | — | — | — |
| 1980 | B-2 Unit Released: September 21, 1980 Labels: Alfa Records Formats: LP | 19 | — | — |
| 1981 | Left-Handed Dream Released: October 5, 1981 Labels: Alfa Records Formats: LP | 20 | — | — |
| 1983 | Coda Released: December 10, 1983 Labels: London Records Formats: LP | 38 | ||
| 1984 | Ongaku Zukan[A] Released: October 24, 1984 Labels: Midi Formats: LP | 5 | — | — |
| 1985 | Esperanto (music for a dance performance) Released: October 5, 1985 Labels: Midi Formats: LP | 9 | — | — |
| 1986 | Futurista Released: April 21, 1986 Labels: Midi Formats: LP | 5 | — | — |
| 1987 | Neo Geo Released: July 1, 1987 Labels: Sony Music Formats: LP | 8 | — | — |
| 1989 | Beauty Released: November 21, 1989 Labels: Virgin Records Formats: LP | 14 | — | — |
| 1991 | Heartbeat Released: October 21, 1991 Labels: Virgin Records Formats: LP | 6 | 94 | — |
| 1994 | Sweet Revenge Released: June 17, 1994 Labels: For Life Music Formats: LP | 7 | — | — |
| 1995 | Smoochy Released: October 20, 1995 Labels: For Life Music Formats: LP | 28 | — | — |
| 1996 | 1996 Released: May 17, 1996 Labels: For Life Music Formats: LP | — | — | — |
| 1998 | BTTB Released: November 30, 1998 Labels: Warner Music Japan Formats: LP | 26 | — | — |
| 2002 | Comica Released: February 27, 2002 Labels: Warner Music Japan Formats: LP | — | — | — |
| 2002 | Elephantism Released: May 15, 2002 Labels: Warner Music Japan Formats: LP | — | — | — |
| 2004 | Chasm Released: February 25, 2004 Labels: Warner Music Japan Formats: LP | 19 | — | — |
| 2004 | /04 Released: November 24, 2004 Labels: Warner Music Japan Formats: LP | — | ||
| 2005 | /05 Released: September 28, 2005 Labels: Warner Music Japan Formats: LP | 28 | ||
| 2009 | Out of Noise Released: March 4, 2009 Labels: Commmons Formats: LP | 16 | — | — |
| 2009 | Playing the Piano Released: September 23, 2009 Labels: Commmons Formats: LP | 41 | — | 10 |
| 2016 | Plankton (music for an installation) Released: 2016 Labels: Milan Formats: LP / CD / digital | |||
| 2017 | async Released: April 28, 2017 Labels: Milan Formats: CD / digital / 2xLP | 20 | — | 5 |
| 2023 | 12 Released: January 17, 2023 Labels: Milan Formats: Digital | 4 | — | — |
| "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart. |
- A^ Released internationally in 1986, with an altered track listing, as Illustrated Musical Encyclopedia.
Remix albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN | ||
| 2006 | Bricolages Released: 24 May 2006 Labels: Warner Formats: CD | 81 |
| 2018 | async - Remodels Released: 16 February 2018 Labels: Milan Formats: Digital, CD, LP | — |
| 2022 | To the Moon and Back Released: 30 November 2022 Labels: Milan Formats: Digital | — |
Collaboration albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1975 | Disappointment-Hateruma (with Tsuchitori Toshiyuki) |
| 1978 | Paraiso (with Haruomi Hosono) |
| 1979 | Summer Nerves (with Kakutougi Session) |
| 1982 | The End of Asia (with Danceries) |
| 1982 | The Arrangement (with Robin Scott) (originally released as an EP and later expanded into a full album with album-free singles) |
| 1983 | Chanconette Tedesche (with Danceries) |
| 1993 | Asian Games [live] (with Yōsuke Yamashita and Bill Laswell) |
| 2001 | Casa [live] (with Morelenbaum²) |
| 2001 | Morelenbaum²/Sakamoto "Live in Tokyo" [live] (with Morelenbaum²) |
| 2002 | Vrioon (with Carsten Nicolai, as alva noto + ryuichi sakamoto) |
| 2003 | A Day in New York (with Morelenbaum²) |
| 2005 | Insen (with Carsten Nicolai, as alva noto + ryuichi sakamoto) |
| 2007 | Cendre(with Fennesz) |
| 2007 | Ocean Fire (with Christopher Willits, as Willits + Sakamoto) |
| 2008 | utp_ [live] (with Alva Noto and Ensemble Modern) |
| 2010 | UTAU (with Taeko Onuki) |
| 2011 | Flumina (with Fennesz) |
| 2011 | Summvs (with Carsten Nicolai, as alva noto + ryuichi sakamoto) |
| 2012 | Ancient Future(with Christopher Willits, as Willits + Sakamoto) |
| 2012 | Three(with Jaques Morelenbaum, Judy Kang) |
| 2012 | Snow, Silence, Partially Sunny[live] (with Sachiko M) |
| 2013 | Disappearance (with Taylor Deupree) |
| 2015 | Perpetual (with Taylor Deupree and Illuha, as Taylor Deupree / Illuha / Ryuichi Sakamoto) |
| 2018 | Glass [live] (with Alva Noto) |
| 2018 | Glenn Gould Gathering [live] (with Alva Noto, Nilo, Fennesz, Francesco Tristano) |
| 2019 | TWO: Live at Sydney Opera House [live] (with Alva Noto) |
| 2019 | Live in London [live] (with Taylor Deupree) |
Live albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN | US Cla. | ||
| 1986 | Media Bahn Live Released: September 21, 1986 Labels: Midi Formats: LP | — | — |
| 1988 | Playing the Orchestra Released: December 16, 1988 Labels: Virgin Records Formats: LP | — | — |
| 1995 | Sweet Revenge Tour 94 Released: January 20, 1995 Labels: For Life/Güt Formats: CD | ||
| 1997 | Discord Released: July 2, 1997 Labels: Güt Formats: CD | ||
| 1999 | Cinemage Released: 1999 Labels: Sony Classical Records Formats: LP | — | — |
| 2000 | Audio Life Released: February 23, 2000 Labels: Warner Music Japan Formats: LP | — | — |
| 2001 | In The Lobby: At G.E.H. in London Released: March 22, 2001 Labels: Warner Music Japan Formats: LP | — | — |
| 2011 | playing the piano usa 2010 / Korea 2011 - ustream viewers selection Released: December 14, 2011 Labels: Commmons Formats: CD | — | — |
| 2013 | Playing the Orchestra 2013 Released: December 11, 2013 Labels: Commmons Formats: CD | — | — |
| 2015 | The Best of 'Playing the Orchestra 2014' Released: December 16, 1988 Labels: Commmons Formats: LP | ||
| 2020 | Playing the Piano 12122020 Released: December 12, 2021 Labels: KAB America Inc. Formats: LP | — | — |
| 2021 | Garden Of Shadows And Light (with David Toop) Released: July 9, 2021 Labels: ThirtyThree Records Formats: LP | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
Soundtrack albums
| Year | Album | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Daijōbu, My Friend | ||
| Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence | |||
| 1986 | The Adventures of Chatran: Original Soundtrack | ||
| 1987 | Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise | ||
| The Last Emperor | |||
| 1989 | Fantasy of Light and Life | ||
| Tengai Makyou: Ziria | PC-Engine CD video game | ||
| 1990 | The Sheltering Sky | ||
| The Handmaid's Tale | |||
| 1991 | Peachboy "Momotaro" | ||
| 1992 | High Heels | ||
| Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights | |||
| Tokyo Decadence | |||
| 1993 | Wild Palms | ||
| 1994 | Little Buddha | ||
| 1997 | The Other Side Of Love | Soundtrack for television series Stalker: Nigekirenu Ai | |
| 1998 | Snake Eyes | ||
| Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon | |||
| 1999 | Gohatto | ||
| Cinemage | |||
| Poppoya | Composed the main theme | ||
| 2000 | L.O.L.: Lack of Love | Dreamcast video game for which Sakamoto was also the scenario writer | |
| 2002 | Femme Fatale | ||
| Century of Reform | |||
| Derrida | Certain tracks from the film were released on the compilation album Minha Vida Como Um Filme (2002) | ||
| Alexei and the Spring | Certain tracks from the film were released on the compilation album Minha Vida Como Um Filme (2002) | ||
| 2004 | Seven Samurai 20XX | PlayStation 2 video game | |
| 2005 | Shining Boy & Little Randy | ||
| Tony Takitani | |||
| 2006 | Dawn of Mana | PlayStation 2 video game | |
| 2007 | Silk | ||
| 2008 | Indigo | Short film | |
| 2009 | Women Without Men | ||
| 2011 | Dhobi Ghat | ||
| Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai | |||
| 2012 | I Have to Buy New Shoes | With Kotringo | |
| 2015 | Living With My Mother | Album released in 2016 under the alternative English title Nagasaki: Memories of My Son. | |
| The Revenant | With Alva Noto and additional music by Bryce Dessner | ||
| 2016 | Rage | ||
| 2017 | The Fortress | ||
| 2018 | Your Face | Taiwanese documentary | |
| My Tyrano: Together, Forever | |||
| 2019 | Black Mirror: Smithereens | TV show | |
| Proxima | |||
| 2020 | The Staggering Girl | Short film | |
| Minamata | |||
| Love After Love | |||
| 2021 | Beckett | ||
| 2022 | After Yang | ||
| Exception | TV show | ||
| 2023 | Monster | 2 new original tracks |
Compilation albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN | ||
| 1982 | Tokyo Joe (with Kazumi Watanabe) Released: 1982 Labels: Nippon Columbia Formats: LP | — |
| 1983 | Favorite Visions Released: 1983 Labels: Better Days Formats: LP | — |
| 1986 | Ryuichi Sakamoto Best Selection Released: 1986 Labels: Alfa Records Formats: LP | — |
| 1989 | Gruppo Musicale Released: 1989 Labels: MIDI Formats: CD | — |
| 1994 | Soundbytes Released: May 17, 1994 Labels: Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings Formats: LP | — |
| 1998 | The Very Best of Güt Years 1994–1997 Released: 1998 Labels: Güt Formats: CD | — |
| 2002 | Works I – CM Released: November 20, 2002 Labels: Midi Formats: LP | — |
| 2003 | Moto.tronic Released: November 11, 2003 Labels: Sony Music Formats: LP | — |
| 2012 | Complete Güt Box Released: December 4, 2012 Labels: Güt Formats: CD | — |
| 2015 | Year Book 2005–2014 Released: January 17, 2015 Labels: Commmons Formats: LP | 46 |
| 2016 | Year Book 1971–1979 Released: January 17, 2016 Labels: Commmons Formats: LP | 77 |
| 2017 | Year Book 1980–1984 Released: March 29, 2017 Labels: Commmons Formats: CD | — |
| 2018 | Year Book 1985–1989 Released: February 18, 2018 Labels: Commmons Formats: CD | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
Mini-albums
| Year | Album details | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Music for Yohji Yamamoto: Collection, 1995 Released: January 29, 1997 Labels: Gut Records Formats: Mini-LP | |
| 2001 | Zero Landmine (as part of N.M.L. No More Landmines) Released: April 25, 2001 Labels: Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Records Formats: EP |
Singles and EPs
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "Riot in Lagos" | B-2 Unit |
| 1980 | "War Head" | Non-album single |
| 1981 | "Computer Obaachan" (with Syuko Sakai) | Non-album single |
| 1981 | "Front Line" | Non-album single |
| 1982 | "Ike Nai Rouge Magic" (with Kiyoshiro Imawano) | Non-album single |
| 1982 | "Bamboo Houses" (with David Sylvian) | Non-album single |
| 1982 | "The Arrangement" (with Robin Scott) | Non-album single |
| 1983 | "Life in Japan" | Non-album single |
| 1983 | "Forbidden Colours" (with David Sylvian) | Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence |
| 1983 | "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" | Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence |
| 1985 | "Field Work" (with Thomas Dolby) | Non-album single |
| 1985 | "Steppin' into Asia" | Non-album single |
| 1986 | "G.T." | Futurista |
| 1986 | "Neo-Plant" (with Koharu Kisaragi) | Non-album single |
| 1987 | "Risky" (with Iggy Pop) | Neo Geo |
| 1987 | "The Last Emperor" (with David Byrne) | The Last Emperor |
| 1987 | "Behind the Mask" | Non-album single |
| 1989 | "Undo #1" | Non-album single |
| 1990 | "We Love You" | Beauty |
| 1990 | "You Do Me" (with Jill Jones) | Beauty (international version only) |
| 1992 | "Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II)" (with David Sylvian) | Heartbeat |
| 1994 | "Moving On" | Sweet Revenge |
| 1994 | "Love & Hate" (with Holly Johnson) | Sweet Revenge |
| 1994 | "Futari No Ha-Te (Sentimental)" (with Taeko Onuki) | Non-album single |
| 1997 | "The Other Side of Love" (featuring Sister M) | Non-album single |
| 1998 | "Prayer / Salvation" | Non-album remix single |
| 1998 | "Anger / Grief" | Non-album remix single |
| 1999 | "– ウラBTTB" | BTTB |
| 2000 | "Lost Child" | Non-album single |
| 2001 | "O Grande Amor" (with Morelenbaum²) | Casa |
| 2003 | "World Citizen" (with David Sylvian) | Chasm |
| 2004 | "Undercooled" | Chasm |
| 2005 | "Sala Santa Cecilia" (with Fennesz) | Non-album live EP |
| 2006 | "Revep" (with Alva Noto) | Non-album EP |
| 2008 | "Koko" | UTAI |
| 2015 | "A word I Give" | Sometimes |
| 2018 | "Ff2" | Non-album single |
| 2019 | "エナジー風呂 / Energy Flow" (with U-zhann) | Non-album single |
| 2021 | "Tong Poo for JUNYA WATANABE" | Non-album single |
| 2022 | "Ieta" | Non-album single |
| 2022 | "After Yang" | Non-album single |
| 2022 | "Freeflow" (with Alex Heffes) | Non-album single |
| 2022 | "Suite for Krug in 2008" | Non-album single |
| 2022 | "Thousand Knives Thundercat Remodel)" | To the Moon and Back |
Video albums
| Year | Video details | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | TV War (with Radical TV) Distributor: CBS/Sony Format: LaserDisc | |
| 1986 | Adelic Penguins Distributor: Sony Video Software Format: LaserDisc | |
| 2006 | Insen Live (as alva noto + ryuichi sakamoto) Released: October 2006 Distributor: Raster-Noton Format: DVD | |
| 2008 | LIFE - fluid, invisible, inaudible... (as Ryuichi Sakamoto + Shiro Takatani) Released: May 28, 2008 Distributor: Commmons Format: DVD | |
| 2015 | Playing the Orchestra 2014 Released: April 7, 2015 Distributor: Commmons Format: DVD, Blu-ray | |
| 2015 | Trio Tour 2012 Japan Released: December 9, 2015 Distributor: Commmons Format: DVD, Blu-ray |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | "Bamboo Music" (with David Sylvian) | ||
| 1983 | "Forbidden Colours" (with David Sylvian) | ||
| 1985 | "Field Work" (with Thomas Dolby) | Thomas Dolby | |
| 1987 | "Risky" (feat. Iggy Pop) | Meiert Avis | |
| 1990 | "You Do Me" (feat. Jill Jones) | ||
| 1992 | "Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II)" (feat. David Sylvian and Ingrid Chavez) | Kevin Westenberg | |
| 2003 | "Trioon I" (as alva noto + ryuichi sakamoto) | Karl Kliem | |
| 2013 | "Psychedelic Afternoon" (with David Byrne) | Uruma Delvi | |
| 2016 | "The Revenant Main Theme (Alva Noto Edit)" | Alejandro González Iñárritu |
Other album appearances
Soundtracks
| Year | Song(s) | Album | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "Laserman" | Black Rain soundtrack | ||
| 1992 | "El Mar Mediterrani" | El Mar Mediterrani | Composition for 1992 Summer Olympics opening ceremony officially released on the 1997 mini-album of the same name | |
| 1998 | "Dreamcast Startup" | Startup sound for the Dreamcast video game console | ||
| 2003 | "Chinsagu No Hana" | Japanese Story soundtrack | An alternate mix by Elizabeth Drake originally from Beauty | |
| 2006 | "Bibo No Aozora", "Only Love Can Conquer Hate", "World Citizen (I Won't Be Disappointed)" | Babel soundtrack | Alternate mixes originally from 1996 and Chasm | |
| 2017 | "M.A.Y. in the Backyard", "Germination" | Call Me by Your Name soundtrack |
Guest appearances
| Year | Album | Artist | Details | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Auroila | Lily | Arranger | |
| Hi Tomoshi Goro | Maki Asakawa | Organ | ||
| Grey Skies | Taeko Onuki | Vibraphone, fender rhodes, marimba, organ, prepared piano, piano, Clavinet, tambourine, harpsichord, tubular bells, arp solina string ensemble, ARP Odyssey, arranger, string arrangements, arrangements | ||
| 1977 | Sunshower | Taeko Onuki | Keyboards, arrangements, musical director, composer | |
| SPACY | Tatsuro Yamashita | Acoustic and electric pianos, organ, vibraphone | ||
| 1978 | Pacific | Haruomi Hosono, Shigeru Suzuki, Tatsuro Yamashita | Keyboards, piano, percussion, glockenspiel | |
| Go Ahead! | Tatsuro Yamashita | Synthesizers, electric and acoustic pianos | ||
| 1979 | Intimate | Keizo Inoue | Piano, synthesizer | |
| Kylyn | Kazumi Watanabe | Co-producer, keyboards | ||
| Moonglow | Tatsuro Yamashita | Synthesizer | ||
| 1980 | Romantique | Taeko Onuki | Arranger, conductor, mix engineer, keyboards | |
| Gentlemen Take Polaroids | Japan | Co-writer ("Taking Islands in Africa") | ||
| Eating Pleasure | Sandii | Keyboards | ||
| 1981 | Tadaima | Akiko Yano | Producer | |
| Aventure | Taeko Onuki | Arranger, Prophet 5, rhodes piano, piano, analog synthesizer, mixing engineer | ||
| Neuromantic | Yukihiro Takahashi | Keyboards | ||
| 1982 | What, Me Worry? | Yukihiro Takahashi | Keyboards | |
| 1983 | Rose | Mari Iijima | Producer | |
| 1984 | Brilliant Trees | David Sylvian | Guest piano/synthesizers on three tracks | |
| Variety | Mariya Takeuchi | Synthesizers | ||
| Big Wave | Tatsuro Yamashita | Synthesizer | ||
| 1985 | Copine | Taeko Onuki | Synthesizer, Rhodes, all instruments, mixing engineer, arranger | |
| Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities | David Sylvian | Guest piano and strings on Steel Cathedrals | ||
| Memory Theatre | Ayuo Takahashi | Guest musician | ||
| 1986 | Hope in a Darkened Heart | Virginia Astley | Producer | |
| Venus Tanjō | Yukiko Okada | Co-writer ("Wonder Trip Lover", "Kuchibiru Network", "Nemurenu Yoru no AQUARIUS") | ||
| Album | Public Image Ltd | Synthesizer ("Rise", "Fishing", "Bags", "Ease") | ||
| 1987 | Secrets of the Beehive | David Sylvian | Arrangement, organ, synthesizer, piano | |
| 1989 | Safety in Numbers | David van Tieghem | Keyboards | |
| 1991 | Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses | Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses | Piano, backing vocals | |
| Mais | Marisa Monte | Keyboards, piano | ||
| 1992 | Circuladô | Caetano Veloso | Sampler, Keyboards ("Neide Candolina"); Strings, Bass, Piano ("Lindeza") | |
| Sahara Blue | Hector Zazou | Piano ("Ophelie", "Hapolot Kenym", "Harar et les Gallas") | ||
| 1993 | Dreamland | Aztec Camera | Co-producer | |
| 1994 | Future Listening! | Towa Tei | Fender rhodes, strings, piano, arrangements | |
| 1995 | The Geisha Girls Show | Geisha Girls | Producer | |
| 1996 | O Corpo Sutil | Arto Lindsay | Guest musician | |
| Red Hot + Rio | Red Hot Organization | Keyboards ("É Preciso Perdoar (You Must Forgive)") | ||
| 1998 | Noon Chill | Arto Lindsay | Prepared piano, keyboards, piano | |
| 1999 | Dead Bees on a Cake | David Sylvian | Arrangement, piano, guitar, bansuri, insects | |
| 2000 | Everything and Nothing | David Sylvian | Arrangement, piano | |
| 2002 | Audio Sponge | Sketch Show | Keyboards, guitar [sample], clavinet | |
| 2003 | Strong Currents | Hector Zazou | Piano | |
| 2004 | Shine | Cyndi Lauper | Co-writer ("Eventually") | |
| Astromantic | M-Flo | Guest musician ("I Wanna Be Down") | ||
| Cinema | Rodrigo Leão | Guest musician | ||
| 2005 | Snow Borne Sorrow | Nine Horses | Piano ("Atom and Cell", "Snow Borne Sorrow") | |
| 2006 | Yellow Fever! | Senor Coconut | Guest musician | |
| 2008 | Sound Unbound | DJ Spooky | Song “The Need to Be” with Daniel Bernard Roumain | |
| Telecoteco | Paula Morelenbaum | Piano | ||
| 2009 | 影の無いヒト | Asa-Chang & Junray | Vocals | |
| 2011 | Heligoland (Extended Edition) | Massive Attack | Co-remixer ("Fatalism") | |
| Forgetfulness | Natalie Beridze TBA | Co-writer ("Blue Shadow") | ||
| 2018 | Love in the Time of Lexapro | Oneohtrix Point Never | Remix, production | |
| 2019 | Adult Baby | Kazu | Objects, chimes, triangle, tape loops, synthesizer, piano, field recordings | |
| 2021 | kiCK iiiii | Arca | Vocals ("Sanctuary") | |
| 2023 | D-Day | Agust D | Piano ("Snooze") |