Ryuichi Sakamoto is one of the most famous Japanese in the world.
In 1983, he produced the music for the movie “Merry Christmas on the Battlefield,” in which David Bowie also starred, and he became the first Japanese to win the British Academy Award for Best Original Score.
In 1987 he appeared in the movie “The Last Emperor” and produced the music with David Byrne and Su Cong.
As a result, he became the first Japanese to win the Grammy Award for Film and TV Soundtracks, the Golden Globe Award for Best Score, and the Academy Award for Best Score.
In later years, he participated in activities to support victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake through music, and he has also put effort into social activities, such as activities appealing for a nuclear power plant phase-out.
He died on March 28, 2023, at the age of 71, because of rectal cancer and its metastasis to the liver and lymph node.
Following is the complete translation of his speech in Japanese at the demonstration appealing for a nuclear power plant phase-out.
Ryuichi Sakamoto’s speech at “100 thousand People’s Rally to Say Goodbye to Nuclear Power Plants” on July 16th, 2012【Full Translation】
Good afternoon everyone.
It is so crowded that it is even difficult to get here.
There are more than four venues, and it seems all full of people.
If I recall 42 years ago, I was only 18, and I was here.
I was here at Yoyogi Park.
At that time, I was here to oppose the revision of the Japan-US Security Treaty.
The people who participated in that demonstration were mostly students and workers.
But today, just like the protests in front of the prime minister’s official residents every Friday, many ordinary citizens are participating in the demonstration.
I came here as one Japanese citizen today.
I am overwhelmed with emotion that Japanese citizens are raising their voices for the first time in more than 40 years,
I believe it shows Japanese citizens’ fear of nuclear power plants and their anger toward the Japanese government’s nuclear power policy filled up.
The protests in front of the prime minister’s official residence every Friday are impressive, but unfortunately, that alone will not stop the nuclear power plant.
As if to prove the government reactivated the nuclear power plant.
It is important to raise our voices without giving up, but unfortunately, it seems that alone is not enough to send our voices to the government.
So, what we must do is to hold a big rally like this, write a lot of public comments, or increase the number of regional chiefs who oppose nuclear power plants in Japan.
As we raise our voices, Mr. Tetsuya Iida is running for governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture at the end of this month.
There are many local governors who are very discerning, so we should collect their voices as well.
It will take time, but what we can do is reduce our dependence on the electric power company.
These voices, of course, put a little pressure on them.
If issues such as the way electric power companies determine their tariffs, the separation of power generation and transmission, regional monopolies, and other issues be liberalized more and more, we citizens will be able to choose electricity that does not rely on nuclear power.
Also, if each household and business starts generating their own electricity more and more and if we reduce our dependence on the electric power company little by little, we can reduce the money that we pay to the electric company and the money that will be spent to build the nuclear power plant and related facilities.
I know it will take time, but it is important.
After all, it’s just electricity.
Why should we risk our lives just for electricity?
I have hope.
I don’t know when it will be, but by about halfway through this century, around 2050, it will be normal for each household, office, or factory to generate its own electricity in this society.
I really do hope so.
We should not risk the lives of our children, who are the future of this beautiful Japan, just for the sake of electricity.
Our choice will be life over money, life over the economy.
Protect your child. Let’s protect the land of our country, Japan.
At last, Keeping silent after Fukushima is barbaric.
Keeping silent after Fukushima is barbaric
That is my belief.
