In an essay penned before his demise, the iconic Japanese art-rock maestro Sakamoto Ryuichi unveiled a private rendezvous with BTS‘ SUGA during the latter’s Tokyo trip. Despite the brevity of their meeting, they shared profound insights that bridged gaps of age, generation, and nationality. “SUGA thinks so much about music that one could think he has no other hobbies,” Sakamoto remarked.

Tragically, in April 2023, Sakamoto succumbed to cancer, leaving behind a legacy of collaborations with artists. Among his final works was a collaboration with SUGA on a track titled “Snooze,” a dramatic rap-rock ballad from SUGA‘s third release under his Agust D persona. This song also features Woosung, the frontman of the South Korean rock band, the Rose.

BTS (방탄소년단) Agust D Ft. Ryuichi Sakamoto & WOOSUNG ‘Snooze’ MV

The allure of BTS

Sakamoto Miu, his daughter, opened up in a recent interview about her father, BTS, and the solace she found in SUGA‘s music. “I got hooked on BTS during the pandemic. Being obsessed with an idol is a first for me. I lived in the U.S. from the age of nine, and my first love was David Sylvian, the vocalist of the British band Japan. I never imagined I’d be squealing over idols in my forties. But many mature women in their forties, fifties, and sixties, not just in Japan but worldwide, are deep into the BTS fandom.”

When asked by interviewer Nakano Nobuko about the allure of BTS, Miu responded, “The entry point might be their faces or their songs. But beyond their music, the messages in their lyrics and their personalities play a significant role. What’s especially noteworthy is the wonderfulness of the fandom. The ARMY invested money, time, and effort to push them to the top. Having observed this industry since I was young, I’m aware that artists and fans are inseparable and mutually dependent. But I’ve never seen such unity, such mutual love between an artist and their fans.”

Reflecting on her father’s collaboration with SUGA, Miu shared, “A few years ago, I lectured him several times saying how SUGA-san started to like his songs since he saw Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence and The Last Emperor. Last year, he visited my father and they made a song together called ‘Snooze.’ It was released right after my father passed away. I feel like he’ll carry the spirit of Ryuichi Sakamoto.”

Miu’s work of mourning

She added, “During SUGA-san’s concert, there was a memorial message after the video, before he sang ‘Snooze,’ and seeing that made me feel that my father is still living in the song. I was truly comforted by that. I went to the concert in Japan and Thailand, but if I hadn’t gone through this process, I might still be stuck in deep sadness of losing my father.”

The interviewer then introduced the Freudian concept of “work of mourning.” She described it as a mental process to overcome grief and sorrow. By keeping oneself occupied, individuals can effectively navigate the emotional tumult of bereavement, allowing for a healthier and more adaptive grieving process. Miu responded, “If I think that way, I believe keeping up with SUGA-san’s solo activity was my work of mourning. It was physically hard, but something that was necessary for me.”

Music, as they say, has the power to heal. For Sakamoto Miu, the melodies of BTS and SUGA became her refuge during her darkest hours. Thank God for SUGA! – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: SUGA definitely lives up to BigHit Music’s old tagline, ‘Music for healing.’ Source: X/@061313purple.