‘Ryuichi Sakamoto: Diaries’ Explores the Composer’s Mind Through His Personal Journals

A new documentary, Ryuichi Sakamoto: Diaries, will be released on Friday, November 28, 2025, offering an intimate look at the late musician’s final years. Ryuichi Sakamoto, who passed away in March 2023, chronicled his life in detailed diaries, recording what he saw, heard, and experienced in diverse formats. The film, created with the cooperation of his family, compiles private footage and portraits, tracing his three-and-a-half-year battle with cancer alongside the creative projects he pursued during that period.

The documentary is based on NHK’s 2024 broadcast Last Days: Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Final Days, but includes new, original elements such as unfinished music and additional visual material created specifically for the film. Sakamoto’s diaries reveal everything from everyday reflections to moments of profound struggle, including lines like “It’s like a death sentence” and “I am ready to accept any fate,” alongside his meditations on music, such as “Music to leave behind, music not to leave behind.”

The diaries are brought to life by narration from dancer and actor Min Tanaka, a longtime friend of Sakamoto. The film also features his collaborations and friendship with YMO bandmate Yukihiro Takahashi, the creative process behind his last unpublished works, and glimpses into his life in New York, temporary residence in Tokyo for treatment, hospital stays, and final studio performances.

The recently released trailer begins with Sakamoto’s own reflection on his diagnosis: “My life is over.” It includes his words, “As long as I’m alive, I want to keep making music,” footage of him performing Aqua, and photographs with members of YMO and the Tohoku Youth Orchestra. The promotional visuals feature the phrase “Music not to leave behind,” taken directly from Sakamoto’s diaries, highlighting the personal and creative legacy he left behind.