Why Susumu Yokota’s Sakura Inspired My Music

When it comes to ambient and electronic music, there aren’t many albums that have stuck with me the way Susumu Yokota’s Sakura has. Released back in 2000, it’s not just a collection of tracks, it feels more like a sound journey. It blends ambient, minimalism, and gentle electronic textures in a way that feels meditative and has had a big impact on how I think about music.

Album cover for Sakura, Listen here

It captures that delicate, fleeting feeling of beauty that doesn’t last forever. Songs like “Saku” and “Tobiume” wash over you with warm, nostalgic melodies, while “Genshi” adds soft rhythms that give everything a little more depth.

Every sound feels like it’s there for a reason, and the mix of natural and electronic elements creates this beautiful, emotional balance. A balance that has definitely inspired my own music. I’ve taken a lot from Sakura—not just the sound, but the feeling behind it. I try to bring that same kind of stillness into what I create. Even though my style’s a bit different, I feel like you can hear echoes of Sakura in the ambient textures and quiet details in my tracks.