RADIO SAKAMOTO Uday: Official Report on the Ryuichi Sakamoto Tribute Festival

On February 10, “RADIO SAKAMOTO Uday -NEW CONTEXT FES × DIG SHIBUYA-“, a tribute festival honoring the legacy of Ryuichi Sakamoto, took place in Shibuya, Tokyo. The event was organized to continue the spirit of “RADIO SAKAMOTO”, a J-WAVE program that Sakamoto hosted for 20 years, from 2003 to 2023.

Held across three venues—Spotify O-EAST, duo MUSIC EXCHANGE, and Azumaya—the festival brought together a stellar lineup of artists deeply connected to Sakamoto, including Cornelius, TOWA TEI, U-zhaan × Tamaki ROY × Chinza DOPENESS, Daito Manabe + Yasuyuki Okamura, as well as South Korean acts SE SO NEON and Balming Tiger.

With the slogan “Dialogue, Collaboration, Resonance, and Restart with Ryuichi Sakamoto”, the festival served as both a tribute and a creative evolution of Sakamoto’s musical influence.

Doors opened at 6:00 PM, and from the very start, the energy was palpable. Long lines formed outside the venues, yet inside, the spaces were already packed with eager attendees. With performances happening simultaneously across different locations, festivalgoers found themselves carefully navigating the timetable to catch their favorite acts.

At Spotify O-EAST, the night kicked off with a DJ set by DJ STYLISH a.k.a. Chinza DOPENESS, who set the mood with a stylish selection of Japanese tracks, including Mikako Miyazaki’s “Ima wa Heiki yo” and Hiromi Go’s “Kimi no Na wa Psycho”.

Following this, the trio U-zhaan × Tamaki ROY × Chinza DOPENESS took the stage with a special rendition of Sakamoto’s “Energy Flow”, featuring the song’s iconic piano solo intertwined with newly added rap lyrics.

Fresh from a trip to India, U-zhaan delivered a mesmerizing tabla performance, while layered loops of trumpet and other live instruments created a dynamic, evolving soundscape. Over this, Tamaki ROY and Chinza DOPENESS engaged in a high-level rap interplay, performing tracks such as “Nana-Youbi” and “Nyaa feat. Akiko Yano” with effortless flow.

At one point, U-zhaan humorously stopped Tamaki ROY, requesting a redo on a verse that referenced the word “Ginbis”, a playful moment that brought laughter from the crowd. This spontaneous exchange helped dissolve the barrier between performers and the audience, creating a sense of closeness and shared experience.

The trio closed their set with “Energy Furo”, wrapping up their performance with a burst of energy that left the crowd buzzing.

As the night continued, performances across the festival carried on the spirit of Sakamoto—a celebration not only of his music but of the boundless creativity he inspired.

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Next up was a DJ set by TOWA TEI, who has shared a deep connection with Ryuichi Sakamoto since the late 1980s. His set blended his own tracks, including “TECHNOVA” and “MILKY WAY (feat. RYUICHI SAKAMOTO & YUKALICIOUS)”, with a selection of Sakamoto’s works such as “WAR HEAD” and “Thousand Knives”.

As the set neared its conclusion, an MC joined in, adding to the energy. For the final two tracks, TOWA TEI played “BEHIND THE MASK” and “Ikenai Rouge Magic”, both taken from YMO’s upcoming live album, recorded during their 1979 performance at the Greek Theatre and set for release this spring.

Then, SE SO NEON, who had traveled from South Korea specifically for this event, took the stage, shifting the atmosphere into the world of alternative rock.

During his lifetime, Ryuichi Sakamoto once stumbled upon a televised live performance by the then-unknown SE SO NEON at his home in New York. Instantly captivated, he searched for more information, remarking, “She has incredible talent.” That same summer, he attended their live show at Central Park, introduced himself backstage, and thus began their connection. Over the years, Sakamoto and SE SO NEON deepened their friendship—meeting for tea and meals in Seoul, Tokyo, and New York.

For this performance, the band took the stage as a three-piece: vocalist/guitarist Hwang Soyoon, bassist Park Hyunjin, and support drummer Kim Hyungkyun. Their set was electrifying, with soaring vocals riding over booming guitar riffs and pounding drums, while a crisp, groovy bassline tied everything together. The band performed a set centered around their original tracks, including “Stranger” and “A Long Dream.”

During the MC, Hwang Soyoon expressed her emotions, saying, “I feel like this is our second time performing for Sakamoto-san.” Her words, along with the band’s passionate performance, radiated a boundless love and energy dedicated to Sakamoto, making it a truly moving tribute.

The stage then transitioned back to a DJ set, this time featuring Sasuke Haraguchi, a rising star in the electronic music scene. Delivering what could be described as a live DJ performance, he carefully crafted a set featuring his own covers of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s works. He seamlessly played tracks such as “El Mar Mediterrani,” “TIBETAN DANCE,” and “Rain.”

In the latter half of the set, singer Yuka Nagase joined as a guest vocalist, performing three songs, including “Aishiteru, Aishitenai” and “Ballet Mécanique.”

For the finale, Haraguchi performed his original track, “Modorisasete.” The song, infused with a fresh and contemporary sound, reflected the evolution of electronic music, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

The final performance at Spotify O-EAST was by Cornelius, led by Keigo Oyamada. The set began with a video projected onto a white curtain, creating a moment of suspense as the audience waited to see what would unfold. As the curtain dropped, the band members emerged, dressed in all-black outfits. Keigo Oyamada, typically seen in sunglasses, appeared without them, donning a black jacket, black tie, and black pants—a style that seemed to pay tribute.

The band was joined by support members: Hirohisa Horie on keyboard and guitar, Yuko Araki on drums, and Yumiko Ohno on Moog synthesizer and bass. Together, they covered a series of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s songs. The stage design, incorporating large screens and lighting typical of Cornelius, was also spectacular.

The setlist included songs like “Mic Check,” “Point of View Point,” and “Audio Architecture,” and during “Another View Point,” an image of Ryuichi Sakamoto appeared on the screen, making for a poignant moment. The crowd was deeply moved when Keigo Oyamada tenderly performed “Thatness And Thereness.”

After performing YMO’s “Cue,” the set concluded with Cornelius’ “Anata ga Iru Nara” as the final song, bringing the live performance to a heartfelt close.

At the other venue, duo MUSIC EXCHANGE, a remarkable lineup of performances unfolded. The opening act was the much-discussed artist Fuki Kitamura, who captivated the audience with a cover of “Undercooled” and showcased her original songs. She created a distinct sonic world with a mesmerizing yet intense approach.

Next up was Dos Monos, a leading force in the neo-mix genre. They kicked off with the instrumental track “Dos Game” from their first album, which samples “Computer Game: Circus Theme” from YMO’s debut album **”Yellow Magic Orchestra.” The set continued with several tracks from their latest album, “Dos Atomos,” as well as other releases, one after another. Their performance was a high-voltage, straight-to-the-point display of hardcore, hip hop, and rock fusion. As expected, Dos Monos proved why they are a global force.

Without missing a beat, the spotlight shifted to Balming Tiger, the much-discussed alternative K-pop crew from Seoul. Paying homage to classic YMO, they appeared on stage in matching red suits. By this point, the venue was packed to capacity, with entry restrictions in place and a long line of people waiting outside. Their performance, filled with dance elements and upbeat, infectious sounds that made you want to dance along, was electrified further when they performed the familiar drama theme song “Wash Away,” which amped up the crowd even more. It was a truly incredible live show.

Next came the B2B DJ set by Daito Manabe and Yasuyuki Okamura. Daito Manabe played a set centered around remixes he created using original multi-track audio sources specially provided for this occasion. His remixes of classic Ryuichi Sakamoto tracks, including “1919,” “Rain,” “Asience,” “Chasm,” “A WONGGA DANCE SONG,” and “Wind, Cypresses & Absinthe,” left a strong impression. Standing next to him, Yasuyuki Okamura energized the crowd by playing “Riot in Lagos.” The DJ set, perfectly synchronized with visuals, was an outstanding display. It also served as a moment to reflect on the musical and artistic exploration Daito Manabe and Ryuichi Sakamoto had built together over the years.

Next up was Yoshinori Sunahara, a key figure in Japan’s electronic music scene. As soon as he took the stage, he completely transformed the atmosphere, immersing the crowd in his unique Sunahara World. He played several tracks from his album “Esperanto” and samples from YMO songs, perfectly synced with visuals, creating a mesmerizing, trip-like experience that captivated both the audience’s auditory and visual senses.

The final act at duo MUSIC EXCHANGE was DONGROSSO, a collaboration between Shinichi Osawa and Dongurizu. They performed a set heavy on new material, including their latest single “MY HARDCORE VALENTINE.” Their performance was driven by powerful rap lyrics with a strong emphasis on bass-heavy beats, maintaining high energy throughout. Their electrifying performance brought the festival to an unforgettable close.

At Tōmeya, the DJ-focused venue, the lineup featured NOTYPE 9, Miu, and TOYOMU, all of whom had passed the “RADIO SAKAMOTO” DJ audition. Despite this, they were already established sound producers in various fields. Their sets included a range of performances, from Dos Monos and Botsu aka NGS, to Chloé Juliette, who played vinyl and introduced a deep, immersive sound world. Mars89 kept the crowd energized with a steady mix of bass-heavy and electronic tracks, keeping the floor lively until the very end.

From 2003 to 2023, Ryuichi Sakamoto served as the navigator for the J-WAVE radio program “RADIO SAKAMOTO”, and from February 8 to 11, the art and technology festival “DIG SHIBUYA” in Shibuya teamed up with the radio show to create a new kind of music festival, “RADIO SAKAMOTO Uday”. If we interpret music that uses technology as electronic music, then Sakamoto was, without a doubt, a true artist who, over the years, explored and pursued the possibilities of technological evolution through music and art. His work captivated music fans worldwide across generations and genres. The musicians influenced by him took their craft even further, delivering exceptional live performances. Beyond the emotions of the experience, one thing is clear: music is the best. The Ryuichi Sakamoto legacy is a “culture” that we should continue to carry forward in a never-ending journey.

Text: Kana Yoshioka