Tributes have poured in from around the world for Japanese musician and composer -- Sakamoto Ryuichi.
He died of cancer at the age of 71. He is known for his work with the trailblazing electronic band, Yellow Magic Orchestra.

Sakamoto co-founded the genre-defining group in 1978. YMO's use of computers and electronic instruments, including synthesizers, pioneered techno-pop.

Sakamoto earned global acclaim by scoring films like "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence". He also won an Oscar and a Grammy award for his work on "The Last Emperor."

Beyond music, Sakamoto was a prominent environmental activist.

He campaigned for forest conservation, as well as the abolition of nuclear weapons and nuclear power plants.

After the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident in northeastern Japan, Sakamoto devoted himself to helping the victims.

He served as music director for the Tohoku Youth Orchestra -- made up of kids from the disaster-hit areas.

Sakamoto disclosed his rectal cancer diagnosis in 2021. But he continued his musical activities such as an online performance released in December 2022.

On Sunday, his record company announced Sakamoto died while undergoing treatment on March 28.

The story made headlines around the world, including in China, where it was the top-ranked search item on the social networking platform Weibo.

Many musicians have also offered their condolences. Fellow YMO member Hosono Haruomi paid tribute on Instagram. Sakamoto himself posted a similar image after Takahashi Yukihiro -- another founding member -- died in January this year.