Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda

AroView: A beautiful portrait of revered Japanese composer and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, that captures the unique compositional process of a new work he developed after being diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014.

Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Sakamoto became an iconic figure in Japan’s social movement against nuclear power and an unofficial spokesperson for the fear, anger and anxiety of the Japanese people. As Sakamoto returns to music following his battle with throat cancer, his haunting awareness of his own life crisis, as well as that of his country and the whole world, leads to a creation of a resounding new masterpiece.

Through his early career in electronic music group Yellow Magic Orchestra through to his best known scores for “The Last Emperor” and “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence”, this documentary tour reflects his music as gratifyingly thoughtful, minimalist and meditative in fine Japanese tradition. Stephen Nomura Schible’s sensitive and illuminating film stands not only as a portrait of an extraordinary career, but as one of the most intimate examinations of the creative process ever committed to film.