REVIEW: RYUICHI SAKAMOTO - OPUS

5/5

Magnum 

The Shinjuku Park Hyatt hotel in the heart of Tokyo, Japan is one of the most famous landmarks and locations in the Land of the Rising Sun. And that's not just because of the holy trinity of the three points of its rising triplet towers. Definitive director Sofia Coppola made her classic 'Lost In Translation' film here in this very hotel. Setting off fireworks, like the ones you can see from the view of them Meiji Jingu Yakult Swallows baseball stadium after a summer showcase, between legend Bill Murray and a then, coming of age star, Scarlett Johansson. Sharing relaxing times and Suntory times in the famous New York bar from where you can see the whole city of Tokyo in the distance. Even a building that looks like the Empire State Building, right on time.

BTS star Suga (AKA Agust-D) made his way through the unmistakable art deco halls of the Park Hyatt to an executive suite as part of his Disney + documentary 'Road To D-Day', chronicling the completion of his own classic. As he entered the room masked up, for more reasons than corona, and made his way through many handlers and well-wishers, he was greeted by a grand piano, and the grandest maestros of masters behind it. One of the biggest acts in South Korea was honoured to meet a Japanese legend in the form of composer, pianist, record producer and actor Ryuichi Sakamoto. Those undeniable framed glasses, underneath curtains of platinum white hair, making this artist the Warhol of the piano. Fondly following the deepest of bows on both sides came an utterly compelling conversation between the two pioneers that made that documentary's road all the more definitive. Suga even got his chance to sit with Sakamoto behind the keys and play with him (collaborating on the 'D-Day' track 'Snooze'). It was a beautiful moment in the making. 

Mere months later, we said goodbye to Ryuichi Sakamoto.

But he has one last gift for us, just over a calendar later, with the swansong of his magnum 'Opus' album for his last waltz. One hour and a half of cinematic decadence in black and white from a man who will never fade to that. 'Opus' is outstanding. An absolute classic, start to finish, of pure piano and sobering sentiment. What else could you expect from the man who made scores, soundtracks and his own solo work his very own? Well...everything and anything. Rolling stone Sakamoto is Beatle famous in his native Japan, for everything from the Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO), to spearheading several electronic scenes. Fusing 'A Thousand Knives' with hip-hop, as seamlessly as the 'Liquid Swords' of the Wu-Tang Clan. Right now we might be in the last lap of the Paris 2024 Olympics that came after Tokyo's postponed games in 2020, but the flow of Ryuichi's energy even composed the music for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona like a dream team.

Oscars, BAFTAs, Grammys. France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Even ringtones for Finland's Nokia...THE mobile, back when iPhones were nothing but Steve Jobs dreams. Anime's, video games and movies like 'The Revenant' (or starring in 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence' (that's here, too)  with David Bowie). And now this, the soundtrack to score his concert film of the same name, released last year, directed by Neo Sora. Premiered at the 80th edition of the Venice Film Festival. You can feel how movie making it all sounds like the look of Bill Kirstein's classic cinematography of 'Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus'.  As lovely and lonely as walking those 'Lost In Translation' halls of the peaceful Park Hyatt at night, like Suga heading back to Seoul after sharing a heart-to-heart with his new friend he possibly saw for the last time. Yet these striking chords stay with you like the heaviest of hearts.

This New York film festival, BFI London, and of course Tokyo International Film Festival favourite, which scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, details the last concert of a great whose attention was always paid to those, like the love and honing of his craft. Recorded in the winter of 2022, a few months before his death, this powerful, poignant and profound concert saw Sakamoto return to the stage for the first time in years and the last ever occasion. But what a bittersweetly beautiful one it was. Struggling with cancer, but striving, surging and soaring above it all. Saving the best for his last performance. Piano perfect. From a 'Lack Of Love', to a 'Happy End'. The 'Wuthering Heights', 'Sheltering Sky' and 'Last Emperor' in-between. It's all in the stage spotlight solitude of all the small happiness we get from the pageantry of life's richest moments. Just like the opulence of this 'Opus'.

Here in Japan, just outside of Tokyo, I recently went on a date with a piano teacher to Yokohama's brand-new YAMAHA flagship store. Inspired by all the instruments and the one who has influenced my heart. Asking her to play a little something for me like Brad Pitt to his daughter as baseball's Billy Beane of the Oakland A's in 'Moneyball', I plugged in headphones privately and closed my eyes as she began to play. And at that moment...I think I might have just fell in love. Moved to do more. Like all the surrounding children, practising piano and each and every instrument thanks to people like her, the piano playing that populates Japan...and the legend of Ryuichi Sakamoto. The children of the future. The next great is being shaped there in his honour. Taking note and watching over from the heavens. Play it again, Sakamoto. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: Everything.