Morimura Ryosuke (27), trumpeter with the popular ska-punk band Kemuri, died in a pile up on the Tohoku expressway on Sunday. Drummer Shoji Hiraya (37) suffered a broken back as three passenger vehicles and a large truck rammed into the band’s van after it flipped on the highway. Ironically, the 6-member band was driving in typhoon #15 while on their “Typhoon” tour of Japan. All future dates have been cancelled.
• The legendary techno unit Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) are working together again. Sakamoto Ryuichi (51) teamed up with Japan vocalist David Sylvian and Sketch Show, a unit created by former bandmates Hosono Haruomi (56) and Takahashi Yukihiro (52), on the new single “World Citizen – I Won’t Be Disappointed.” It is the first time for the YMO members to write new music together since 1993. They have no plans to produce anything more than the one single, which goes on sale October 8.