Osamu Sato

{{Short description|Japanese digital artist, video game developer, photographer, and composer}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Osamu Sato

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| native_name = 佐藤理

| native_name_lang = JP

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|4|14|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = Kyoto, Japan

| nationality = Japanese

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Digital artist
photographer
composer

}}

| website = {{URL|www.osamusato.net}}

}}

{{nihongo|Osamu Sato|佐藤理|Satō Osamu|born April 14, 1960 in Kyoto, Japan}} is a Japanese digital artist, video game developer, photographer, and composer. His first work was the ambient music album, Objectless (1983).{{cite web|last1=Dwyer|first1=Nick|title=Interview: Osamu Sato|url=http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2017/11/osamu-sato-interview|website=daily.redbullmusicacademy.com|publisher=Red Bull|accessdate=January 21, 2018|date=November 14, 2017}} His first work in the video game industry was Eastern Mind: The Lost Souls of Tong Nou, which first released in Japan for Classic Mac OS in 1994, and in North America for Microsoft Windows the following year.{{cite web|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/chuteng/chuteng.htm|title=Hardcore Gaming 101: Tong-Nou / Chu-Teng|work=hardcoregaming101.net|access-date=August 30, 2015|archive-date=March 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322112606/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/chuteng/chuteng.htm|url-status=dead}} In 1998, he produced and composed the music for the video game LSD: Dream Emulator on the PlayStation, which later became his most recognizable work outside of Japan.{{cite web|title=Osamu Sato Site|url=http://www.osamusato.net/|publisher=OsamuSato.net|accessdate=October 28, 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Vincent|first1=Brittany|title=The Elusive Creator of the Most Terrifying Video Games|url=http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-most-elusive-video-game-creator|work=Vice|accessdate=October 28, 2015|date=January 28, 2015}}{{Cite web |title=Osamu Sato on Osaka EXPO 70 — PLAYSTYLE |url=https://playstyle.world/Osamu-Sato-on-Osaka-EXPO-70 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=playstyle.world |language=en}}

Personal life

Sato was born on April 14, 1960, in Kyoto, Japan. During his childhood, his father and grandfather, both of whom were photographers, had a profound influence on him. His father and grandfather's photography of Buddhist art also shaped his artistic vision, as seen through out his creations.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-13 |title=L.S.D IS GROOVY - AN INTERVIEW WITH OSAMU SATO |url=https://gatamagazine.com/articles/art/lsd-is-groovy-an-interview-with-osamu-sato |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=MAGAZINE |language=en-GB}} The experience of visiting the Osaka Expo '70 with his father left a deep impression on the 10-year-old Sato. Sato pursued his formal education at the Kyoto Institute of Design and the Kyoto Saga Art College. After completing his studies, he worked for Mos Advertising Co., Ltd. before transitioning to freelance work.{{Cite book |last=Sato |first=Osamu |title=The art of computer designing: a black and white approach |date=1993 |publisher=Graphic-sha |isbn=978-4-7661-0736-4 |location=Tokoyo |language=engjpn}} In 1986, he established the Osamu Sato Design Office (OSD), which was rebranded as Outside Directors Company (OSC) in 1988.{{Cite journal |year=1992 |title=Interview: 快感的アルファベット |journal=Designer's Workshop |volume=52 |pages={{!}}page=72-73 |issn=0910-1950}} Initially working as a graphic designer, Sato shifted his focus to game development in the 1990s.{{Cite book |last=Manent |first=Mathieu |title=Playstation Anthology Collectors Edition |publisher=Geeks-Line |year=2018 |isbn=9791093752334 |location=France |language=English}} Currently, he is primarily engaged in artistic creation invoving music and graphics.

Works

= Albums =

1983 – Objectless
1994 – Transmigration
1995 – Equal
1997 – Linen Sampler
1998 – LSD & Remixes
1998 – Lucy in the Sky with Dynamites
2017 – All Things Must Be Equal
2018 – LSD Revamped
2020 – Grateful in All Things
2020 – Collected Ambient Grooves 1993 – 2001
2020 – Transformed Collection
2024 – Multiple Personality

= Video games =

1994 – {{Nihongo|Eastern Mind: The Lost Souls of Tong Nou|東脳|Tonnō}} (PC)
1995 – {{Nihongo|Chu-Teng|中天}} (PC)
1997 – {{Nihongo|Rolypolys: The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over the Lazy Dog|ローリーポーリーズの七転び八起き|Rolypolys no Nanakorobi Yaoki|extra2=lit. 'Rolypolys' Seven Tumbles, Eight Stand-Ups'}} (PC)
1997 – {{Nihongo|Banabana MK.1: Rolypolys World Tour|バナバナ一号　ローリーポーリーズの世界大冒険|Banabana Ichigō Rolypolys no Sekai Daibōken}} (PC)
1998 – LSD: Dream Emulator (PS1)
1999 – {{Nihongo|Tokyo Planet Planetokio|東京惑星プラネトキオ|Tōkyō Wakusei Planetokio}} (PS1)
2000 – {{Nihongo|Rhythm N Face|リズムンフェイス}} (PS1)

= Art books =

1991 – The Alphabetical Orgasm
1992 – Anonymous Animals
1993 – The Art of Computer Designing: A Black and White Approach
1998 – LSD - Lovely Sweet Dream
2017 – All Things Must Be Equal
2020 – Grateful in All Things

= Exhibitions =

1991 – The Alphabetical Orgasm, Tokyo
1992 – The Alphabetical Orgasm, Kyoto
1992 – Anonymous Animals, Tokyo
1998 – Osamu Sato and LSD Expo, Tokyo
2017 – All Things Must Be Equal
2018 – LSD Revamped ~Neo Psychedelia~, Tokyo
2020 – Grateful in All Things, Tokyo{{cite tweet|number=1232630785435267072|user=osd_word|title=今年も展覧会やります。ビームス２店舗、原宿と新宿でやります。会場１＿TOKYO CULTUART by BEAMS（ビームス原宿）2020年 3/20~4/1 会場２＿B_GALLRY（ビームスJapan )（新宿）20…|date=February 26, 2020}}{{Primary source inline|date=May 2020}}
2022 – ROOT(S), Tokyo
2024 – MULTIPLE PERSONALITY, Tokyo