Photo/Illutration Ryuichi Sakamoto speaks about his music during an interview in Tokyo in 2017. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

There was a time when we could declare spring had arrived when cosmetic companies started playing commercial songs on TV to promote their new products.

In 1982, industry giant Shiseido Co. commissioned the task to an unlikely pair--composer Ryuichi Sakamoto playing the keyboard and rock musician Kiyoshiro Imawano humming the lyrics.

The song’s title Shiseido had in mind was “Suteki na Ruju Magikku” (Amazing rouge magic), but the duo took the liberty of replacing “sutekina” with “ikenai” (no good), and their finished song went by the title “No-good rouge magic.”

Much to the distress of the producer, Sakamoto and Imawano insisted while laughing that they wouldn't have it any other way.

Once the record went on sale, however, it sold a whopping 400,000 copies. I remember gawking at the flamboyant makeup Sakamoto and Imawano wore.

What was Sakamoto’s understanding of music of his own creation? When he was asked that question years later and the interviewer suggested if the answer could be something like liberally smearing a sheet of white paper with whatever idea popped into his head, Sakamoto said, “That’s not it.”

He went on to explain that on numerous occasions in the past, he thought he’d invented something original, only to realize it resembled something that already existed.

In his book “Shigoto” (Work), film producer Genki Kawamura quotes Sakamoto as saying, “I study hard because I want to create something that is originally mine and avoid imitating something from the past.”

Sakamoto must have made near-superhuman efforts to learn from the past so he wouldn’t inadvertently mimic what someone else had already created. When I look back on his works, ranging from pop tunes to film music, I marvel anew at the prodigiousness of his creativity.

Sakamoto died on March 28 at age 71.

“Art is long, life is short” was said to have been his favorite adage.

Outstanding works of music remain long after the composer’s death. But right now, “life is short” keeps echoing in my mind. I will no longer be able to hear Sakamoto’s new piano tunes.

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 4

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.