| Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence | |
| Type: | soundtrack |
| Artist: | Ryuichi Sakamoto |
| Cover: | Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (soundtrack).jpg |
| Released: | 1 May 1983 |
| Recorded: | 1983 |
| Studio: | Onkio Haus, Tokyo, Japan |
| Genre: |
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| Length: | 40:57 |
| Label: | Virgin |
| Producer: |
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| Prev Title: | Left-Handed Dream |
| Prev Year: | 1981 |
| Next Title: | Coda |
| Next Year: | 1983 |
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence is the soundtrack from the film of the same name, released on 1 May 1983 in Japan and towards the end of August 1983 in the UK. It was composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto, who also starred in the film. It was Sakamoto's first film score, though it was released several weeks after the film Daijōbu, My Friend, for which he also composed the music.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film has since become a cult classic, largely due to its soundtrack.[1] For the film's soundtrack, Sakamoto won the 1984 BAFTA Award for Best Film Music as well as the 1984 Mainichi Film Award for Best Film Score. David Sylvian contributed lyrics and vocals on "Forbidden Colours", a vocal version of the main theme, "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence", both of which were released as singles. A special 30th anniversary edition, which included a second CD of tracks, was released in November 2013 in Japan.
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] | 40 |
| Iceland (Dagblaðið Vísir)[3] | 7 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) | 8 |
| Country | Date | Format | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 1 May 1983 | LP | London | ||
| Various | August–October 1983 | LP, MC | Virgin, MCA | ||
| Australia | 1985 | CD | Virgin | ||
| Japan | 5 December 1985 | CD | London | ||
| 9 March 1988 | CD, LP, MC | Midi | |||
| UK | 1988 | CD, LP | Virgin | ||
| Japan | 21 September 1993 | CD | Midi | ||
| US & Europe | October 1994 | CD, MC | Milan | ||
| Japan | 11 November 2013 | 2xCD | Midi | ||
| France | 23 March 2015 | CD, digital download | Milan | ||
| US & France | 21 October 2016 | CD, LP, digital download | Milan | [4] |