Ryuichi Sakamoto's 1996 Gets First-Ever Vinyl Pressing for 30th Anniversary
Ryuichi Sakamoto's 1996 — the trio reworking of his film scores and signature pieces — is getting its first-ever vinyl pressing to mark the album's 30th anniversary. Milan Records has remastered the album for a limited 2LP edition, due out December 11, 2026 (Friday). Taiwan's independent record shop beethobearrecords has opened preorders for fans in the region.
What was announced
The release keeps the album's original cover art and represents the first time 1996 has been pressed to vinyl in Europe or the US. It's a one-time limited pressing.
Release details
- Title: Ryuichi Sakamoto – 1996 (30th Anniversary Edition)
- Format: 2LP, newly remastered for vinyl, limited pressing
- Release date: December 11, 2026 (Friday)
- Price: NT$1,580 (via beethobearrecords)
- Venue/platform: Not a live show — this is a physical release; sold through beethobearrecords, an independent record shop in Taiwan
- On-sale / ordering window: Preorders open now; exact on-sale cutoff not stated
The shop has noted that supplier quotas for this pressing are limited, and preorder customers will be notified individually if orders are cut or stock falls short — a caveat worth knowing before committing to a preorder from overseas.
About the album
Released in 1996, 1996 is a collection of Sakamoto's film and TV scores and best-known compositions, rearranged for a trio of piano, violin and cello. It includes "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence," "The Last Emperor," and "Rain." Compared to the orchestral and electronic arrangements of the originals, the trio format gives the melodic lines a more direct quality, and the album has long been regarded by many fans as one of Sakamoto's most iconic recordings.