Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Management Shares His “Last Playlist,” Which He Prepared for His Own Funeral

Ryuichi Sakamoto died on March 28, having been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2021 and throat cancer in 2014. When his management initially announced the news of his death, they wrote that the late artist had been engaging with music in his home studio as often as his health would allow: “He lived with music until the very end.” Today, the late composer’s management team shared what they call the artist’s “final playlist.”

Sakamoto, his management said, privately worked on the 33-song collection “to be played at his own funeral to accompany his passing.” The collection includes classical works by Bach, Debussy, and Ravel. It opens with an 11-minute piece from Sakamoto collaborator Alva Noto. There are soundtrack pieces from Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota, as well as works by David Sylvian and Bill Evans Trio. It closes with Laurel Halo’s “Breath” from 2020’s Possessed. Find the playlist below.