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Digital Garage Promotes Support Activities for Continuing on the Will of Musician Ryuichi Sakamoto
Forming a Next-Generation Community through Art and Technology for Creating an Impact on the Environment and Society
– Digital Garage, Inc. (TSE Prime section: 4819; HQ: Tokyo; Representative Director, President Executive Officer and Group CEO: Kaoru Hayashi, Digital Garage) is promoting support activities for continuing on the will of musician Ryuichi Sakamoto for the next generation.
As part of these efforts, Digital Garage is sponsoring a range of activities for carrying on the spirit and legacy of Ryuichi Sakamoto, including “RADIO SAKAMOTO Uday -NEW CONTEXT FES × DIG SHIBUYA-” (hosted by J-WAVE, date: February 10, 2025), the “Tohoku Youth Orchestra Concert 2025” (hosted by the Tohoku Youth Orchestra, date: March 21, 2025) and the “Ryuichi Sakamoto | seeing sound, hearing time” exhibition (organized by The Asahi Shimbun; venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo; exhibition period until March 30, 2025).
This press release provides an insight into the history of Digital Garage’s interactions with Mr. Sakamoto, as well as the “Ryuichi Sakamoto Network Studio Project.”
<Interaction between Digital Garage and Ryuichi Sakamoto>
Digital Garage’s interaction with Mr. Sakamoto dates back to the movie “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” (released in 1983). Mr. Sakamoto performed and produced the music when Digital Garage’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, Digital Garage have deepened the relationship, resonating not only with his artistic and musical activities but also with his environmental protection and social activities, such as awarding 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 Digital Garage.
<About “Ryuichi Sakamoto Network Studio Project”>
In September 2024, Digital Garage announced plans to establish a studio featuring Mr. Sakamoto’s favorite equipment relocated to the newly opened incubation center “DG CAMP AKIYA Yokosuka City.” Digital Garage has also embarked on a “network studio project” featuring the ability to connect with studios in Japan and overseas by harnessing the latest communication networks. Digital Garage is working to create a new center where talented young people who will lead the next generation can carry on the spirit of Mr. Sakamoto and expand the circle of creativity and empathy.
Going forward, Digital Garage will provide more details on the network studio project in cooperation with Shibuya Ward.
<About the Sponsorship>
■ “RADIO SAKAMOTO Uday -NEW CONTEXT FES × DIG SHIBUYA-”
A one-night-only tribute festival that carries on, evolves, and expands the “spirit” of Mr. Sakamoto’s long-running regular program “RADIO SAKAMOTO,” which aired on J-WAVE (81.3FM) for 20 years. It will be held as an official partner program of DIG SHIBUYA 2025.
This is a circuit-type event to be enjoyed while freely moving back and forth between 3 venues in the Shibuya area: Spotify O-EAST/Azumaya/duo MUSIC EXCHANGE. The event will also feature performances by U-zhaan, Tamaki ROY, Chinza DOPENESS, Cornelius, Yoshinori Sunahara, Daito Manabe + Yasuyuki Okamura (DJ SET), DONGROSSO, TOWA TEI, SE SO NEON, Balming Tiger, Dos Monos, Sasuke Haraguchi, and Fuki Kitamura, among other artists, and will be held on the day of the festival.
Title: “RADIO SAKAMOTO Uday -NEW CONTEXT FES × DIG SHIBUYA-”
Date & time: February 10, 2025 (Mon) 18:00 OPEN 23:00 CLOSE
Venue: Spotify O-EAST / AZUMAYA / duo MUSIC EXCHANGE
Ticket price: 8,800 yen (tax included) * Drinks not included
Organizer: J-WAVE
Sponsor: Digital Garage, Inc.
Website: https://www.j-wave.co.jp/special/uday2025/
■ “Tohoku Youth Orchestra Concert 2025”
Founded by Ryuichi Sakamoto, the Tohoku Youth Orchestra is a mixed orchestra with members mainly from the 3 prefectures affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake (Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima), and are children from elementary, junior high, high school, and university who usually play in different organizations. Digital Garage continues to provide support for this orchestra.
The Tohoku Youth Orchestra has a youthful, flexible sensibility and the power of beautiful music.
This idea lives on throughout Tohoku, in the Tohoku Youth Orchestra, and in the hearts of each and every one of us.
The last message from Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Ars longa, vita brevis – Art is long, life is short.
The Tohoku Youth Orchestra has announced a new mission statement for future activities this term.
Even if someone says that the recovery is over,
We will never forget 3.11.
Even if Ryuichi Sakamoto disappears from this world,
his spirit will not disappear.
Sakamoto said,
I want you to know about this vast musical horizon,
Sakamoto said,
I want children who are hurting and in adversity to know about this vast musical horizon.
It is frustrating, but the world is full of disasters and strife.
Music can bring out the strength to live.
Then, we who have been encouraged by music,
What can we do in the future?
From being supported,
to support.
Tohoku Youth Orchestra
empowered by Ryuichi Sakamoto
Tohoku Youth Orchestra Concert 2025
Date: March 21, 2025 (Fri)
Afternoon concert: 15:00 (doors open at 14:15) Evening concert: 19:00 (doors open at 18:15)
Venue: Suntory Hall Main Hall
Conductor: Toshio Yanagisawa
Performance: Tohoku Youth Orchestra
Recitation: Sayuri Yoshinaga
MC: Mari Watanabe
Guest: Illia Bondarenko (violin), Yurie Miura (piano)
Songs to be performed: Ryuichi Sakamoto: Piece for Illia / Tong Poo / Little Buddha / Now, the time is tilting (commissioned work for Tohoku Youth Orchestra) / The Last Emperor / Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, etc.
* Please note that the program is subject to change.
Inquiries: DISK GARAGE Inquiry Form http://www.diskgarage.com/form/info
S seats: 5,500 yen, A seats: 4,500 yen (tax included)
(2,000-yen donation to Tohoku Youth Orchestra included)
* Tickets required for ages 3 and up.
Ticket Agency
e+ https://eplus.jp/tohoku-youth-orchestra/
Lawson https://l-tike.com/tohoku-youth-orchestra/
Ticket Pia https://w.pia.jp/t/tohoku-youth-orchestra/
Organizer: Tohoku Youth Orchestra
Sponsor:
Digital Garage, Inc.
Kakaku.com, Inc.
Zenkyoren (National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives)
Yamada Bee Farm Co., Ltd.
Morinaga Angel Foundation
Inquiries: DISK GARAGE Inquiry Form
http://www.diskgarage.com/form/info
■ “Ryuichi Sakamoto | seeing sound, hearing time” exhibition
This first comprehensive exhibition in Japan focusing on large-scale installation works of Mr. Sakamoto that is currently being held at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo.
Based on the exhibition concept Ryuichi Sakamoto bequeathed to the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo before his passing, the exhibition is a dynamic composition and showcase featuring around ten immersive and interactive sound installations comprising new unreleased works, as well as representative titles from throughout his career.
“Ryuichi Sakamoto | seeing sound, hearing time”
Exhibition period: 21 December (Sat), 2024 – 30 March (Sun), 2025
Opening hours: 10 AM to 6 PM (Tickets available until 30 minutes before closing)
Temporary night hours: until 20:00 on March 7 (Fri.), 14 (Fri.), 21 (Fri.), 28 (Fri.), and 29 (Sat.). (more information here)
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo Exhibition Gallery, 1F/B2F, etc.
(4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo)
Admission: Adults: 2,400 yen / University & College Students, Over 65: 1,700 yen / High school & Junior High School Students: 960 yen / Elementary School Students & Younger: free
Organized by: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo operated by Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture / The Asahi Shimbun / TV Asahi
Sponsored by: Kakaku.com, Inc. / Digital Garage, Inc. / TOHO LÉO Corporation /
Nissha Co., Ltd. / New Balance Japan Inc. / Yamada Bee Company, Inc.
Special Cooperation: KAB Inc. / KAB America Inc. / Dumb Type Office Ltd. /
Avex Entertainment Inc. / K Garage LLC / TAKENAKA Co Ltd /
TOHO LÉO Corporation / HOT STUFF PROMOTION Co., Ltd. / UNIQLOSpecial Equipment Cooperation: Eastern Sound Factoryhttps://www.mot-art-museum.jp/en/exhibitions/RS/