[Ryuichi Sakamoto] Piano Works | A Selection of Moving and Healing Masterpieces

High HeelsNEW!Sakamoto Ryuichi

High Heels

This piece was created as the main theme for Pedro Almodóvar’s 1991 film High Heels, and its official soundtrack was released in January 1992.

Within its elegantly melancholic melody, a distinctly European refinement and a hint of Latin passion gently waft, creating a deeply sensual atmosphere.

It was re-recorded with a chamber arrangement for piano and strings on the May 1996 album 1996, and it has long been cherished in concert performances.

I highly recommend this work to anyone who wants to step away from daily life and immerse themselves in a romantic, slightly mature mood.

Through the beautiful resonance of the piano, why not savor a richly expressive performance while envisioning the intertwined drama of love and hate among the characters?

Yamazaki 2002NEW!Sakamoto Ryuichi

Yamazaki 2002

Titled with a product name and a year, this piece is a beautiful piano work that cherishes the spaces between sounds.

Composed in 2002 as music for a Suntory Whisky commercial and included that October in a collection of CM music, it was later re-presented as a standalone listening piece on the acclaimed 2004 album “/04.” The poised right-hand melody overlaps with left-hand arpeggios, evoking matured silence and the accumulation of time.

With few notes, it paints deep scenes, showcasing Sakamoto’s characteristically delicate expression.

Because it requires no flashy virtuosity, it’s ideal for those who want to savor the quiet resonance of each note as it gently permeates the heart.

Why not try playing it when you want to spend a leisurely, unhurried time?

Asience (Fast Piano Version)NEW!Sakamoto Ryuichi

Asience (Fast Piano Version)

This is a celebrated piece composed in July 2003 as the commercial music for Kao’s haircare brand “ASIENCE,” and it opens the album “/04,” released in November 2004.

Its oriental melody, evoking the shadows of East Asia, is captivating, overflowing with a refined urban resonance and overwhelming drive.

The piece has such a striking impact that it changes the atmosphere within the first few seconds, and the layering of chords that seem to drift between tonalities evokes new emotions with every listen.

It’s perfect for those who want to step away from the noise of everyday life and fill their hearts with the rich timbre of a high-quality piano.

Why not surrender yourself to the flowing, beautiful phrases and savor a truly luxurious moment?

nostalgiaNEW!Sakamoto Ryuichi

nostalgia

A beautifully intricate piano piece that conveys a sense of momentum within stillness.

It was first used in November 2008 as the commercial song for Samsung Electronics’ “SoftBank 930SC OMNIA,” and was later included on the album “out of noise,” released in March 2009.

The track continues to enjoy enduring support.

Characterized by repeated keystrokes and transparent harmonies, it has the allure of expressing the layering of memory and time through sound itself.

With restrained emotion and a delicate design that extends to its reverberations and silences, the more you listen, the more each grain of sound seeps deeply into your heart.

It’s a piece I highly recommend to anyone who wants to briefly forget the clamor of everyday life and spend some quiet time facing their inner self.

ReversingNEW!Sakamoto Ryuichi

Reversing

Let me introduce a hidden gem, remarkable for its beautiful layers of harmonies that resonate in the silence.

Belonging to the lineage of the landmark album BTTB, it’s a piece released back in August 2002 that, while embracing the coloristic sensibilities of French modernists like Satie and Ravel, invites you to listen closely to subtle shifts born of repetition.

Rather than pushing a melody to the forefront to speak in overt emotion, the work’s brilliance lies in how even the afterglow of sounds—rising and then dissolving into space—is meticulously crafted.

It’s a perfect track for those who want to savor the piano’s inherent richness without relying on flashy ornamentation.

How about setting aside the bustle of everyday life and spending some calm time in which each note seeps gently into your heart?

Railroad Worker (piano version)NEW!Sakamoto Ryuichi

POPPOYA (piano Version)

This is a piece whose quiet, beautiful melody strikes the heart, evoking scenes of snowy landscapes and station buildings.

Included on the classic album “Ura BTTB,” released in May 1999, this work is a piano solo reimagining of the theme song from the film “Railroad Man (Poppoya),” which won numerous awards at the 23rd Japan Academy Prize.

By deliberately removing the vocal line, the core of the melody—its wistfulness and warmth—stands out even more, which is what makes this piece so wonderful.

Through the resonance of its chords and the use of silence, emotions such as farewell and a sense of loss are carefully portrayed.

It’s also one of the unique appeals of the piano that performers can easily layer their own memories and feelings onto the music.

I highly recommend this masterpiece to anyone seeking a work that allows them to step away from the busyness of daily life and quietly face their own heart.

Composition 0919NEW!Sakamoto Ryuichi

composition 0919

A hidden gem known to those in the know, where serenity and dynamism intersect beautifully.

This track, placed at the end of the album “out of noise” released in March 2009, had already been used in advance starting in November 2008 for Samsung Electronics’ SoftBank 930SC OMNIA commercial.

By layering multiple takes of his own piano performance, Sakamoto creates an intelligent yet soothing rhythm.

The development, in which short phrases repeat while subtly evolving, brings a deep sense of healing that lets you momentarily forget the clamor of everyday life.

It’s a work I especially recommend to those who want to savor the exquisitely layered textures and delicate resonances in full.