JCCI would like to celebrate the life of Japanese composer, producer, and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto. Mr. Sakamoto was one of our Eagle-on-the-World Awardees at our 32nd Annual Dinner Gala, Advancing Together, in 2016. A pioneer for electronic pop music in Japan, he was awarded for his indelible career in the global music industry.
“I have always been devoted to my music,” he remarked during his acceptance speech. “So, pursuing relationships with those working in other fields in this country is something that I haven’t done. Perhaps you can understand my surprise when I heard the Eagle Award had been granted to me.”
Upon his recognition, he had been diagnosed with cancer two years prior, and while his treatment forced him to stay in New York for a full year, he remarked that he was able to discover a new side of the city by experiencing the change of seasons.
Since his breakthrough with the Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) in 1978 alongside bandmates Haruomi Hosono and the late Yukihiro Takahashi, he pushed to define a novel form of sound, and his experimental prowess quickly became a worldwide phenomenon. His presence, while not with us today, will always be cherished here at the Chamber.
“Let me end with one more thing: politicians and big companies have a responsibility towards future generations. There are many problems, such as environmental degradation, that humanity is facing globally. So, we do not have the time to discriminate against people based on culture, skin color, religion or language. I am certain that culture, such as music and the arts, plays an important role in overcoming these boundaries. We need to cherish our diversity,” he said.
Pictured: Dinner Chairman Tsutomu Yoshida (IHI); fellow Eagle on the World Awardee recipient Irene Hirano Inouye; Mr. Yasushi Takahashi, then JCCI President (Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc.); Keynote Speaker Raymond L. Conner (The Boeing Company); Co-Chairman Jim Rosenthal (Morgan Stanley).
Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York Blog 