It was announced on the 14th that Takahashi Yukihiro, a well-known drummer and a member of the legendary band “Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO)” that caused a techno boom in the 1980s, has passed away. He was 70 years old.
Born in Tokyo. The cause and date of his death have not been revealed. He underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor in August 2020 and was battling illness. Takahashi shocked the world not only with YMO’s music, but also with his unique fashion.
According to sources, Takahashi suffered from pneumonia at the beginning of the year in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, where he was recuperating, and his condition worsened.
He is believed to have died this week, and reports to his business associates and people close to him have begun.
He has been suffering from intermittent headaches since the early summer of 2020, and an MRI examination in August of the same year revealed a brain tumor.
In October of the same year, when he announced that the surgery was successful and that all the hospitalization procedures had been completed, he declared, “I have decided to return as Shin Yukihiro”.
While he rested at his villa in Karuizawa, he continued his outpatient treatment. However, he received a regular checkup in June 2021 and posted, “I have a bad feeling and will start another treatment.” He declined to give details of his treatment, although he said it was not a recurrence.
His performance at the 50th anniversary of his professional debut was the driving force behind his fight against illness. It’s something he’s been envisioning for years, positioning it as the starting point for his 70-year-old self. He continued to look forward to setting the stage for his recovery, working hard on treatment and rehabilitation. The performance itself was held, but the person himself was not able to appear.
In 1978, he formed “YMO” with Ryuichi Sakamoto (70) and Haruomi Hosono (75). He sparked a techno boom in the 80’s with his bold use of synthesizers. The representative song “Rydeen” released in 1980 was composed by Takahashi.
His impact on the Japanese pop scene is immeasurable, and it was Takahashi who supported YMO with his precise rhythm and tight drumming. The evaluation is not limited to Japan, and the world tour has been carried out for two years in a row since the year after the formation. In 1983, after only 5 years of activity, the group sold more than 5 million records worldwide. Takahashi has also created an innovative group image in terms of fashion.
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