sakamotocommon GINZA

Introduction
Program
Collabolator
Overview

Introduction

Ginza Sony Park will serve as the starting point for "sakamotocommon."

sakamotocommon is an initiative to share the legacy of Ryuichi Sakamoto. It aims to create a shared (common) resource from Sakamoto's intellectual property, musical instruments, personal library, and a wide variety of other items in his estate, for the benefit of future creators.

Ginza Sony Park is an extremely valuable building that embodies the concept of public spaces (or "commons") in urban areas, as well as the role of culture and architecture in a new era.
sakamotocommon resonates deeply with the vision and initiatives of Ginza Sony Park.

This led to the establishment of a temporary space for shared creativity between sakamotocommon and Ginza Sony Park.

So, how should we share the legacy of Ryuichi Sakamoto? There is no definitive answer, and we must continue to explore and ask ourselves this question.

We need everyone's support to ensure the activities of sakamotocommon continue being open to the public.
For a start, we call on everyone to visit Ginza Sony Park to take active part in this initiative.

sakamotocommon

Those who participate in the "sakamotocommon crowdfunding" will be granted admission to the program.

Click here to participate in the "sakamotocommon crowdfunding."

(You will be redirected to the "sakamotocommon crowdfunding" page.)

Exterior
1F
Exhibit of B2
Entrance of B2
Exhibit of 4F
Exhibit of 4F
Exhibit of 3F
Exhibit of 3F

Exhibition

"Sensing Streams 2024 - Invisible Inaudible (GINZA Version)"

Ryuichi Sakamoto + Daito Manabe

Cooperation by Studio Daito Manabe, Sony PCL Inc.

Exhibition Floor: B2

This collaborative work by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Daito Manabe (Studio Daito Manabe, Rhizomatiks) senses and visualizes "electromagnetic waves," which are normally imperceptible to humans. While "electromagnetic waves" are an essential part of modern infrastructure, they often go unnoticed in daily life. This work makes these waves apparent in various forms and visualizes a kind of "ecosystem" that is formed as individuals actively engage with the invisible territorial distribution of frequency bands assigned to broadcasters and carriers.
The work, which has been exhibited in various cities around the world such as Sapporo, Seoul, Amsterdam, Sao Paulo, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Chengdu, will now be presented in the underground space of Ginza Sony Park. It will sense the electromagnetic waves traversing "Ginza" and display them in a new form using Sony's high-definition LED display, Crystal LED.

The exhibition image for Sensing Streams features a man standing in front of a large monitor with his right hand on a controller.

PHOTOGRAPH:
Ryuichi Sakamoto + Daito Manabe Sensing Streams - invisible,inaudible, 2014
Installation view at Sapporo International Art Festival 2014
Photo：Keizo Kioku
Courtesy of Sapporo International Art Festival Executive Committee

Daito Manabe

Born in Tokyo in 1976, Daito Manabe was raised surrounded by music and programming thanks to his parents who were both musicians.
After gaining experience as a DJ and in jazz bands, he studied at the Tokyo University of Science where he was inspired by Xenakis to begin exploring mathematical approaches to creating music. This laid the groundwork for his later creative work.
He founded Rhizomatiks in 2006. He explored the fusion of technology with physical expression, with the choreographer, MIKIKO, through collaboration with Perfume and ELEVENPLAY. This led to innovative projects, including the AR production at the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics.
He has collaborated with numerous artists, including Ryuichi Sakamoto, Björk, Nosaj Thing, Squarepusher, and Arca, and his unique audiovisual performances have been showcased at international festivals like Sonar Barcelona.
In recent years, he has been working with neuroscientists to create works that bring life and machines together, such as through biofeedback systems using cultured neural cells. He currently spearheads Studio Daito Manabe, where he is striving in pursuit of works spanning art, technology and science.

PHOTOGRAPH: MIKIKO

Ryuichi Sakamoto Field Recordings & "12" by 360 Reality Audio + Sakamoto Library Extension

Cooperation by Sony Corporation

Exhibition Floor: 3F

During his lifetime, Ryuichi Sakamoto always carried a microphone and recorder (sometimes a smartphone) to capture any sound that intrigued him. These recordings were often utilized in his works, yet they have never been released to the public to this day.
A space has been designed for visitors to immerse themselves in a 360 Reality Audio experience of seven field recording samples (collected at different times and places), including the sounds of rain and wind that Sakamoto recorded daily. These will be played through speakers at the venue, accompanied by tracks from Sakamoto's last album, "12," mixed in 360 Reality Audio with his direct involvement at Sony's Nogizaka studio.
sakamotocommon is committed to developing a system that allows Ryuichi Sakamoto's extensive field recording archives to be utilized by future generations of creators.
For this exhibition, Sony’s next-generation engineers developed spatial audio designs using the latest technologies to offer visitors an audio experience, and raise awareness for the potential use of this data.

"Sakamoto Library Extension"

"Sakamoto Library" is a project by Ryuichi Sakamoto to share his personal book collection with a wide audience, while also sharing the cultural assets of "books that moved someone's emotions." The initiative was launched in 2017 by Sakamoto himself, and in September 2023, he opened "Sakamoto Library" at an undisclosed location in Central Tokyo, where visitors can read books from his collection. The library operates on a reservation-only basis due to its limited space.
"Sakamoto Library Extension" will showcase a selection of books with the same title from "Sakamoto Library." Come to this special reading space to enjoy some of the books that Sakamoto had deep connections with, along with field recordings from his audio collection gathered daily.

Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Opera Piano" designed for "LIFE a ryuichi sakamoto opera 1999"

Cooperation by Yamaha Corporation

Exhibition Floor: 4F

"Opera Piano" was designed for "LIFE a ryuichi sakamoto opera 1999." The performance data left by Ryuichi Sakamoto will be played on his personal OPERA PIANO (with an automatic play function). "Opera Piano" was envisioned to make the piano’s "foundation" transparent and visible, removing all decorative elements to reveal its function as a musical instrument. It was designed by the Yamaha Design Lab in response to Sakamoto's wish for a piano that would be suitable for his style of playing and conducting an orchestra on stage.
For this exhibition, the OPERA PIANO will be placed in the center of the floor at Ginza Sony Park, which is undergoing construction, allowing visitors to listen to performances left by Sakamoto.
The pieces performed will be "Aqua," "energy flow," "put your hands up," "POPPOYA," and "Merry Christmas Mr.Lawrence."

Workshops, Concerts, and Talk Events

During the exhibition period, various events such as workshops, concerts, and talk events related to sakamotocommon will be held. You can apply for participation in these events through the "sakamotocommon crowdfunding" page.

Concept Meeting for sakamotocommon

Date and Time: Monday, December 23, 2024, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

The establishment of sakamotocommon was inspired by the question, "Who owns the works left behind by Sakamoto?" Starting from this question, we will hold a participatory talk event, "Concept Meeting for sakamotocommon," to explore what sakamotocommon is all about. The speakers will be Seiichi Saito from Panoramatiks and Kei Wakabayashi from Blkswn Publishers, the founding members of sakamotocommon.

Seiichi Saito
Seiichi Saito is the principal of Panoramatiks. He studied architectural design at the Graduate School of Architecture of Columbia University and founded Rhizomatiks Co., Ltd. (currently Abstract Engine Co., Ltd.) in 2006. In 2020, he formed Panoramatiks, a design collective focusing on regional design, tourism, digital transformation, etc. Since 2023, he has been the Chairperson of the Good Design Award jury and is also the President and CEO of Abstract Engine Co., Ltd. He serves as the Director of the Expo Co-Creation Program for Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai.

Kei Wakabayashi
Kei Wakabayashi is the content development director at Blkswn Publishers/WORKSIGHT. After starting his career in the editorial department of Heibonsha's "Gekkan Taiyo," he became a freelance editor in 2000. Since then, he has edited numerous magazines, books, and exhibition catalogs. He also works as a music journalist. In 2012, he was appointed as the Editor-in-Chief of the Japanese edition of WIRED, a position he held until 2017. He then founded Blkswn Publishers in 2018. His works include "Sayonara Mirai" (Goodbye to the Future, Iwanami Shoten), "NEXT GENERATION GOVERNMENT" (special edition, Blkswn Publishers), which he served as Editor-in-Chief, and co-authored "Experimental Democracy: From Tocqueville’s Thought to Digital, Fandom" (Chuokoron Shinsha) with Shigeki Uno, and "Wasurerareta Nihonjin wo Hiraku" (Rediscovering the Forgotten Japanese, Blkswn Publishers) with Akihiro Hatanaka.

sakamotocommon Workshop: Get to Know How the Opera Piano Works!

Date and Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am, Saturday, December 21, 2024

A special workshop featuring Takeshi Sakai, the piano tuner who worked with Ryuichi Sakamoto for 5 years from 2010 to 2015, and who was also responsible for tuning the piano for his final solo concert, "Opus." This workshop will delve into the structure, history, and mechanics of how the piano produces sound, as well as the unique sound qualities that Ryuichi Sakamoto sought to achieve through his piano.

Takeshi Sakai, piano tuner / concert tuner

Cooperation by Yamaha Corporation

Tohoku Youth Orchestra in Ginza Sony Park Concert

Time and Date: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Sunday, December 22, 2024

Prompted by the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Tohoku Youth Orchestra was founded by Ryuichi Sakamoto, and formed by children from the three disaster-stricken prefectures. They are aiming to create a new future through the energy of children to revitalize local adults and communities, as well as the entire Tohoku region.
The orchestra currently operates under the policy to “become supporters instead of being the supported,” and they have also made it an important mission of theirs to support other disaster-stricken areas at home and abroad.
A mini concert will be held by a small ensemble of theirs on Sunday evening. They plan to perform for around one hour, centered on representative works by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Come and enjoy a relaxing time.
Parent-child tickets will be made available in addition to general tickets.

Collabolator

sakamotocommon

"sakamotocommon" was launched to share the tangible and intangible assets Ryuichi Sakamoto.
The initiative strives to serve as a common ground where future creators can connect and continue to build on the work that Sakamoto sent into motion.
During his lifetime, Sakamoto often said that the creative process was what intrigued him, even more than finished product itself.
In this spirit, we believe that Sakamoto's story is not something meant to be merely locked away under museum glass, but rather, part of a living process that continues to grow and offer fertile ground for cultivation long after his death.
Join "sakamotocommon" in exploring the next chapter in this evolving process, open to all.

Web：sakamotocommon
Instagram：@sakamotocommon
X：@sakamotocommon

Ryuichi Sakamoto: He was born in Tokyo in 1952. He made his solo debut in 1978 with "Thousand Knives." That same year, he took part in forming the Yellow Magic Orchestra, and he continued engaging in a variety of activities even after it disbanded in 1983.
He won a BAFTA Award for the score he composed for the film "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" (1983), as well as an Academy Award for Best Original Score, and a Grammy Award among others for the film "The Last Emperor." He was also involved in many initiatives to address environmental and peace issues, which led him to establish "more trees."
Furthermore, he engaged in activities to support the victims of the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami through music, including establishing the Tohoku Youth Orchestra.
From the 1980s to 2000s, he took part in numerous exhibitions and major media and video events.
In 2013, he was inaugurated as the artistic director of the Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media, and in 2014, he was appointed as the guest director of the Sapporo International Art Festival 2014.
He exhibited a large-scale installation at "Piknic" (Seoul) in 2018, "M Woods" (Beijing) in 2021, and "M Woods" (Chengdu) in 2023. He continues to engage in cross-border activities in the world of art, with his latest MR work, "Kagami," posthumously touring New York, Manchester, London, and other cities. He passed away on March 28, 2023, aged 71.

Overview

Title: sakamotocommon GINZA

Date: Monday, Dec 16 - Wednesday, Dec 25, 2024

Opening Hours

11:00 am - 7:00 pm (tentative)

On December 22, due to the "Tohoku Youth Orchestra in Ginza Sony Park" event, entry to the Opera Piano on the 4th floor will be allowed until 3:30 pm.
On December 23, due to the "sakamotocommon Concept Meeting" event, entry to the Sensing Streams 2024 - invisible inaudible (GINZA version) on the B2 floor will be allowed until 4:00 pm.

Venue: Ginza Sony Park : B2/3F/4F
5-3-1, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (Google Maps)

Admission: Admission tickets are being distributed to those who take part in sakamotocommon Crowdfunding (starting from 3,000 yen).
Click here to participate in the "sakamotocommon crowdfunding."

(You will be redirected to the "sakamotocommon crowdfunding" page.)

Admission Method on the Day: Reception Location: B2 Floor of Ginza Sony Park (near Exit B7, directly connected to Tokyo Metro Ginza Station)
Please prepare the purchase completion screen from your Ubugoe My Page and present it.
* You may also be asked to show personal identification. Please bring personal identification with a picture of your face.

Important Notes

If you wish to enter sakamotocommon GINZA, please participate in the crowdfunding by 6:00 pm on December 25.
With the purchase of one crowdfunding course, one person can visit as many times as they like during the program period.
If you are coming with multiple people, each attendee must purchase their own course, or the representative can purchase multiple courses. If the representative makes the purchase, please enter together with the accompanying guests.
- Please purchase for one person for those aged 13 and above.
- Children aged 12 and under can enter without a purchase, accompanied by one parent or guardian.
This program does not allow date-specific reservations to be made. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. During busy times, we may distribute numbered tickets for the safety and comfort of our guests. We will guide guests in the order of the numbered tickets, so we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Restrooms are not available for use inside the building due to ongoing construction.
The resale of tickets for profit is strictly prohibited under all circumstances.
Visit the Ubugoe "sakamotocommon crowdfunding" page for more details on the crowdfunding initiative.

Organizer: sakamotocommon Preparatory Committee (Sakamoto Library)

Co-organizer: Ginza Sony Park Project

Collaborators: Sony Corporation, Sony PCL Inc., Studio Daito Manabe, Eastern Sound Factory Co., Ltd., Ubugoe Inc., Nippon Design Center, Inc./Irobe Design Institute, Saito Office Co., Ltd

Supporter: Arts Council Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture