Cymbal of unity

In December 2018, invited by Chinese music critic and DJ, Zhang Youdai, Sakamoto gave an impromptu performance at Zhang's Cloud Nine live bar in Beijing, alongside Chinese musicians, including pianist Xiao Ying and singer-songwriter Zhu Zheqin, better known by her stage name, Dadawa.

"My friendship with Sakamoto dates back to 1996 when I watched his performance at a music festival in Denmark. The same year, he performed in Beijing and I interviewed him. We stayed in touch via fax for years and he introduced me as 'the first Chinese man to fax me'," said Zhang.

Because of the viral outbreak, Sakamoto had to postpone a much anticipated concert, which was set to feature Japanese artist Shiro Takatani and was scheduled to take place on April 3 and 4 at the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong.

"It has been many years since I've performed in Hong Kong and I've been longing to meet you all again. I'm looking forward to bringing this performance to you in September. We can overcome these tough times by standing together," he told his fans in the city.

Born in Tokyo, Sakamoto was introduced to the piano as a toddler and studied at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. However, he was drawn to the sounds that filled his teenage years. As a high schooler in Tokyo, he had to ride a commuter train to get to class. Unable to move due to the crowded train, all Sakamoto could do was listen. He amused himself by counting the sounds the train made every morning. In 1978, he co-founded techno-pop group Yellow Magic Orchestra with Japanese musicians Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi.

The 68-year-old musician was the first Japanese winner of the Academy Award for Best Original Score for the 1988 movie, The Last Emperor, directed by Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci.