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Digital Garage Launches Ryuichi Sakamoto Network Studio Project
Mr. Sakamoto’s Personal Instruments and Equipment will be Moved to Akiya DG CAMP in Yokosuka City Next Spring
– Digital Garage, Inc. (DG) hereby announces its plan to establish an “Artist-in-Residence Studio” at “DG CAMP AKIYA Yokosuka City” in Kanagawa Prefecture, carrying out Ryuichi Sakamoto’s legacy.
– This studio has the latest music and video production facilities and provides a place for artists to devote themselves to their creative activities.
■Past interactions between DG and Ryuichi Sakamoto
DG’s interaction with Ryuichi Sakamoto dates back to the movie “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” (released in 1983). Mr. Sakamoto performed and produced the music when DG’s predecessor company, From Garage, was established. Later, he met Joichi Ito through Timothy Leary, collaborated with Jun Murai, Professor of Keio University, on the early days of the Internet with WIDE PJ, and supported the Tohoku Youth Orchestra. In addition, we have deepened our relationship over the years, resonating not only with his artistic and musical activities but also with his environmental protection and social activities, such as receiving the “Digital Garage First Penguin Award 2017,” which recognizes globally active Japanese people, and providing Mr. Sakamoto’s original music “DG25” for the 25th anniversary of the DG.
This project will pass on to the next generation of creators, the private digital studios in Tokyo and New York of Mr. Sakamoto, the global first penguin of music and technology, and will permanently transmit his philosophy and aesthetics.
■Features
In this studio, artists will have access to the instruments and musical equipment Mr. Sakamoto used before his death and can create artwork while staying there, honing their skills and sensibilities. Further, a program to train artists and engineers will be implemented simultaneously. By having talented young people who will lead the next generation to carry on the spirit of Mr. Sakamoto and gain experience in music production, we will build a creative community that will continue. It will also pursue the fusion of music and environmental protection, aiming to become a new base for expanding the circle of creativity and empathy.
Details of the “Ryuichi Sakamoto Network Studio Project” will be announced in February 2025 by the Shibuya City Office, the hub city for the project in Tokyo. We are looking at “collaboration with domestic and international studios,” “Ryuichi Sakamoto Foundation for environmental protection,” “tribute concerts and software distribution,” and others, utilizing the latest communication networks and DAOs.
The “Artist-in-Residence Studio” in “Yokosuka Akiya DG CAMP” is positioned as the initial stage of these efforts and aims to be a next-generation version of the legendary studio where Alfa Music, Inc. once produced world-class artists such as YMO and Yumi Arai.
■Comments
The bereaved family of Ryuichi Sakamoto
When Ryuichi passed away, he left many instruments and equipment supporting his music production.
We wanted to give new life to the vintage synthesizers, the piano he called “my hand extension,” the tube microphones that collected their sounds, and other old and new equipment as a source of imagination without letting them fall into ruin. A close friend, Kaoru Hayashi of Digital Garage, kindly told us, “Let’s build a studio.”
A CASA for his instruments and equipment will be located in Akiya. We hope it will lead the world from there and that many new talents will be born.
Jun Murai (Professor of Keio University)
When I worked with Mr. Sakamoto on his projects and works of intellectual challenge and curiosity, I often heard the line, “I want to make young people’s dreams come true.” He recalls that the subject went beyond music and art and was his own dream, such as the global environment.
I look forward to the “Artist-in-Residence Studio” becoming a place that helps to foster the “hope and love for the next generation” that the great artist Ryuichi Sakamoto always embraced. From there, I hope to see new people become a part of his dream and spread their wings to the world.
Kaoru Hayashi（Representative Director, President Executive Officer and Group CEO of Digital Garage, Inc.）
I am honored and grateful to have been asked by Mr. Sakamoto’s bereaved family to serve as a bridge to pass on his instrument to the next generation. Mr. Sakamoto was truly a multifaceted thinker. Sometimes, he used cutting-edge digital technology; sometimes, he was a musician who spoke out about environmental issues; sometimes, he was an enduring film musician; and sometimes, he happily played classical music with the children of Fukushima in the aftermath of the nuclear accident.
Through this project, we look forward to connecting Mr. Sakamoto’s “sound” and “heart” to the next global generation with this studio concept and look forward to the birth of new talent that will resonate with him.
Joichi Ito（Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Chief Architect and Co-Founder of Digital Garage, Inc.）
I recall Mr. Sakamoto saying he wanted to pass on good, genuine music to young people. Numerous people have received various inspirations from him, who have gone beyond his musical activities to work for the improvement of society. His thoughts and spirit will continue to inspire the artists and engineers using this studio.
■Company profiles
Name: Digital Garage, Inc. ( https://www.garage.co.jp/en/ )
Representative: Kaoru Hayashi, Representative Director, President Executive Officer and Group CEO
Head office address: DG Bldg., 3-5-7 Ebisu Minami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shibuya PARCO DG Bldg., 15-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Date founded: August 1995
Business: Digital Garage’s corporate purpose is “Designing ‘New Context’ for a sustainable society with technology.” Digital Garage operates a payment business providing one of Japan’s largest comprehensive payment platforms. In addition, DG has a marketing business that offers one-stop solutions in the digital and real world and a startup investment and development business that reaches out to promising startups and technologies in Japan and overseas.