Ryuichi Sakamoto's memoirs to be published in English as 'Music Sets You Free'

The combined English translation of Ryuichi Sakamoto's two memoirs, 'Music Sets You Free', will be published in September 2026.

The volume brings together his first autobiography, originally published in Japan as '音楽は自由にする' in 2023, and his later reflections from 'ぼくはあと何回、満月を見るだろう'. The book covers his life from his youth and time with Yellow Magic Orchestra through his Academy Award-winning film work and his final years.

HarperVia will publish the US edition and William Collins will handle the UK edition. Both are scheduled for release on September 22, 2026.

The translation is by Sam Bett, a translator whose recent work includes the English version of Akira Toriyama's 'The Night of Baba Yaga'. The English edition will include a new afterword by Sakamoto's longtime collaborator, Fumio Suzuki.

The original Japanese memoirs detail Sakamoto's creative process, his activism, his battle with cancer, and his thoughts on the world he would leave behind. Sakamoto died in March 2023 at the age of 71.

The Japanese editions remain available from Shinchosha.

Source: PR Times via 株式会社新潮社