Ryuichi Sakamoto Returns in Mixed Reality (MR) — The Long-Awaited Japan Premiere of 'KAGAMI'

"KAGAMI" is a work that captures Ryuichi Sakamoto’s piano performance in three dimensions and brings it back to life within a mixed reality (MR) space. This project was developed over the final four years of Sakamoto's life in collaboration with Tin Drum, led by Todd Eckert (production and visual design). Since its world premiere at The Shed in New York in 2023, "KAGAMI" has been performed in London, Manchester, Taipei, Singapore, Melbourne, Italy, Hong Kong, and other locations worldwide, continuing to garner significant acclaim. Now, it finally arrives in Japan.

By wearing specialized transparent headsets, audience members can witness the figure of Ryuichi Sakamoto, meticulously recreated through unique 3D imaging technology. His presence at the iconic grand piano, accompanied by ethereal 3D visuals from Tin Drum that respond to the music, feels so tangible that one could almost reach out and touch his gray hair. It offers an unprecedented immersive experience, allowing the audience to confront his refined performance at a proximity impossible in a real-world concert.

The venue will also feature videos, photographs, text, and a scent specially curated by Ryuichi Sakamoto himself, creating a space that gently opens the senses of every visitor.

The UK's The Guardian described the work as: "A magical experience that many would not have been able to have while he was alive."

Quiet yet leaving a profound resonance, "KAGAMI" acts as a silent mirror reflecting the music of Ryuichi Sakamoto.

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There is a virtual me inside reality.

The virtual me does not age, and will continue to play the piano for years, decades, and centuries.

Will humanity still exist then?

Will the squids that conquer the Earth after humanity listen to it?

What is the piano to them?

What is music?

Can empathy be established there?

An empathy that spans hundreds of thousands of years.

Ah, but the battery won't last that long.

Ryuichi Sakamoto

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Ryuichi Sakamoto was the person who taught me "how to listen to the world."

As a sensitive teenager living in a desolate American city, I encountered his music. It was so beautiful and urgent, unlike anything I had ever heard before. It changed my concept of "possibility" in both art and my outlook on life.

I am deeply grateful for the good fortune of knowing Ryuichi Sakamoto, and for the opportunity to create a work that transcends the limits of life, overcoming the difficulties of illness and global turmoil.

In "KAGAMI," he will continue to meet his audience forever. That was our wish from the very beginning, and as a director, there is no greater honor.

Todd Eckert / Director & Producer of KAGAMI

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RYUICHI SAKAMOTO & TIN DRUM KAGAMI+

Dates: 202...