Ryuichi Sakamoto has made a career of crossing musical and technological boundaries. Sakamoto has experimented with, and excelled in many different musical styles, making a name for himself in popular, orchestral, and film music. Never one to be satisfied with the status quo, Sakamoto continues to push the limits of his artistry, fusing genres, styles, and technologies for the first time to create new and exciting directions in musical expression.

In 1963, at the age of eleven, Ryuichi Sakamoto, whose musical interests ranged from the Beatles to Beethoven, began studying music composition under Professor Matsumoto at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Eight years later, he entered Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, earning a BA in composition, and then a Masters degree with a concentration in electronic and ethnic music. In 1977, Sakamoto began working as a composer, an arranger and a studio musician with Japan's most popular rock, jazz, and classical artists, and within a few years, he became a noted producer, arranger and keyboardist.

In 1978, Sakamoto released his first solo album and formed Yellow Magic Orchestra along with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi. YMO was immediately recognized as an international sensation from Japan. Their second album sold well over a million copies, led to a world tour, and made them, along with Kraftwerk, the kings of technopop. Releasing eleven albums over the next five years, YMO developed a following that continues to the present day, and their influence on the rave, techno, and ambient movements is widely recognized.