Legendary Japanese composer and electronic/ambient musician Ryuichi Sakamoto has shared that he is currently battling stage 4 cancer.
As reported by The Japan Times, Sakamoto was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and rectal cancer in 2021. In a piece written for the literary magazine Shincho, the 70-year-old shared that he underwent surgery last October and December to remove cancer that had spread to both lungs.
The article is the first instalment of a new series of articles titled How Many More Times Will I See the Full Moon? that covers the artist's musical activities since 2009 and his views on life and death.
In a statement accompanying the launch of the article series, Sakamoto wrote, "since I have made it this far in life, I hope to be able to make music until my last moment, like Bach and Debussy whom I adore."
Sakamoto has had a long and boundary-pushing career in the worlds of experimental composition and electronic music. He's won an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Grammy, and two Golden Globe Awards for his work as a film composer.
His last solo album was 2017's async.
As reported by The Japan Times, Sakamoto was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and rectal cancer in 2021. In a piece written for the literary magazine Shincho, the 70-year-old shared that he underwent surgery last October and December to remove cancer that had spread to both lungs.
The article is the first instalment of a new series of articles titled How Many More Times Will I See the Full Moon? that covers the artist's musical activities since 2009 and his views on life and death.
In a statement accompanying the launch of the article series, Sakamoto wrote, "since I have made it this far in life, I hope to be able to make music until my last moment, like Bach and Debussy whom I adore."
Sakamoto has had a long and boundary-pushing career in the worlds of experimental composition and electronic music. He's won an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Grammy, and two Golden Globe Awards for his work as a film composer.
His last solo album was 2017's async.
