Osamu Sato

This article is about the digital artist. For the boxer, see Osamu Sato (boxer).

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).^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[3][4][5]

Osamu Sato
佐藤理
Born	(1960-04-14) April 14, 1960 (age 65) Kyoto, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Occupations	Digital artist photographer composer
Website	www.osamusato.net

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.^[1] His father and grandfather's photography of Buddhist art also shaped his artistic vision, as seen throughout his creations.^[6] The experience of visiting the Osaka Expo '70 with his father left a deep impression on the 10-year-old Sato.^[5] 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.^[7] In 1986, he established the Osamu Sato Design Office (OSD), which was rebranded as Outside Directors Company (OSC) in 1988.^[8] Initially working as a graphic designer, Sato shifted his focus to game development in the 1990s.^[9] Currently, he is primarily engaged in artistic creation involving 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 – Eastern Mind: The Lost Souls of Tong Nou (東脳, Tonnō) (PC)
• 1995 – Chu-Teng (中天) (PC)
• 1997 – 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) lit. 'Rolypolys' Seven Tumbles, Eight Stand-Ups' (PC)
• 1997 – 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 – Tokyo Planet Planetokio (東京惑星プラネトキオ, Tōkyō Wakusei Planetokio) (PS1)
• 2000 – 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^{[10][non-primary source needed]}
• 2022 – ROOT(S), Tokyo
• 2024 – MULTIPLE PERSONALITY, Tokyo

Videos

• 1994 – Compu Movie (VHS Tape)
• 1994 – The Esoteric Retina (Video CD)