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

SolitudeSakamoto Ryuichi

Solitude

“Solitude” is a piece included on the original soundtrack for the 2004 film Tony Takitani.

Tony Takitani is a film adaptation of a short story by Haruki Murakami, with all compositions and performances handled by Ryuichi Sakamoto himself.

Although there were initially no plans for a CD release, the decision was made after growing anticipation for the soundtrack following the film’s theatrical run.

Recorded using a distinctive method—bringing a screen into the studio and improvising while watching the footage—this track vividly conveys something like Sakamoto’s own cry from the heart.

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AquaSakamoto Ryuichi

Ryuichi Sakamoto – Aqua

“Aqua” is a beautiful solo piano piece included on Ryuichi Sakamoto’s New Age album “BTTB,” released in November 2001.

It was originally planned for inclusion on his daughter Miu Sakamoto’s album, but in an unusual turn, a cover version was released first.

Built on a simple chord progression, the melody deeply resonates and evokes an elegant world suffused with tranquility.

It also features prominently on the soundtrack of the 2023 film “Monster,” making it a profoundly moving track.

With its gentle, delicate character, it’s best performed in a relaxed, calm setting.

Before LongSakamoto Ryuichi

Before Long

Ryuichi Sakamoto’s piano piece “Before Long” is a captivating work with a calm and delicate atmosphere.

Featured at the beginning of the landmark 1996 album “NEO GEO,” it was composed at the request of American music producer Bill Laswell for “something like a prelude.” The graceful piano melody intertwined with soothing synthesizer sounds creates a musical flow that carries a lingering sense of quiet time, resonating deeply with the listener.

Simple yet profound, it is a piece that fully showcases Sakamoto’s uniquely crafted sonic world.

andanteSakamoto Ryuichi

andata

“andante,” included in composer Ryuichi Sakamoto’s final album 12, is a simple and beautiful piano piece that evokes the pulse of life.

The term “andante,” meaning “slowly and calmly,” aptly captures the world of this piece.

Its wistful melody offers a glimpse of Sakamoto’s stance as he faced his battle with illness, as if rendering the delicate shifts of his heart in sound.

The consistent tempo and resonant touch highlight the work’s elegant poise.

With a coexistence of vital melody and silence that guides listeners into a meditative realm, it is a piece that prompts reflection on life and death.

Mizu no Naka no BagatelleSakamoto Ryuichi

Mizu no Naka no Bagatelle

Ryuichi Sakamoto is a composer Japan is proud to share with the world.

“Mizu no Naka no Bagatelle” is a piece performed during his online solo piano concert on December 12, 2020, and is also included on the album “Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano 12122020,” which features recordings from that concert.

Considered part of a best-of selection curated by Sakamoto himself, this work is an instrumental with no lyrics.

As you imagine the scenes it evokes, you can feel Sakamoto’s delicate yet richly expressive sensibility conveyed through the music.

Experience the beauty of this piece, which can also be played on the piano, for yourself.

The Sheltering SkySakamoto Ryuichi

The Sheltering Sky

Among Ryuichi Sakamoto’s piano works, one of the most popular is The Sheltering Sky, composed as the theme for the film of the same name.

Its delicate, emotive piano melody and ambient soundscape are striking, showcasing Sakamoto’s distinctive musical sensibility.

The piece beautifully evokes the vast desert vistas and the characters’ solitude, and it continues to be cherished as a memorable masterpiece that lingers in the listener’s heart.

Its bittersweet melody—so moving it could bring you to tears—and its romantic tone make it perfect for immersing yourself in your own world at the piano.

With a relaxed tempo and relatively few notes, it’s also welcoming for beginners.

Why not conjure a scene from the film and perform your own version of The Sheltering Sky?

a flower is not a flowerSakamoto Ryuichi

A Flower Is Not a Flower

Ryuichi Sakamoto’s 1997 piece “A Flower Is Not A Flower” can be regarded as one of the special works in his rich discography.

The track was originally contributed to the album of Taipei-born erhu player Kennei Wen, and was later included in Sakamoto’s compilation “The Very Best of Güt,” which collects several of his signature works.

Sakamoto’s musicality spans a wide range, and “A Flower Is Not A Flower” likewise reflects his experimental approach.

As its title—derived from a Chinese saying, “A flower is not a flower”—suggests, the piece explores the essence of things, likely evoking different feelings and thoughts in each listener.