Osamu Sato


Osamu Sato is a Japanese digital artist, video game developer, photographer, and composer. His first work was the ambient music album, Objectless. 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. 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.
WWW osd.co.jp𝕏 osd_word

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 throughout his creations. 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. In 1986, he established the Osamu Sato Design Office, which was rebranded as OutSide Directors Company
in 1988. Initially working as a graphic designer, Sato shifted his focus to game development in the 1990s. Currently, he is primarily engaged in artistic creation involving music and graphics.

Works

Music

Albums

  • 1983 – Objectless
  • 1994 October 21 – Transmigration
  • 1995 October 21 – Equal
  • 1997 – Linen Sampler
  • 1998 October 22 – Lucy in the Sky with Dynamites
  • 1998 October 22 – LSD & Remixes
  • 2017 November – Objectless: Classic Ambient Works and More
  • 2001 July – Aura 20/07/01
  • 2017 – All Things Must Be Equal
  • 2018 – LSD Revamped
  • 2020 – Grateful in All Things
  • 2020 April 10 – Collected Ambient Grooves 1993 – 2001
  • 2020 October 21 – Transformed Collection
  • 2022 – Root
  • 2023 November 12 – LSD Transformed New Fancy Tracks
  • 2024 December 25 – Multiple Personality
  • 2025 November 5 – ''Love Is Glamorous／Life Is Gorgeous''

EPs

  • 2020 November 17 – ''Experimental Demo Tapes''

Singles

  • 2020 April 15 – I Dub You
  • 2020 October 21 – Done
  • 2020 October 21 – Extra Sunrise/ 808 Ambient Mix
  • 2020 November 17 – Bonus
  • 2020 November 17 – Daimonji Espresso
  • 2022 – Fax Factory
  • 2024 December 7 – ''Outtakes''

Video games

Apps

  • 2010 April 23 – ●▲■
  • 2010 April 23 – ''Pocket Montage''

Art books/zines

  • 1991 – The Alphabetical Orgasm
  • 1991 – Out Side Directors Company Limited: Corporate Identity and Works
  • 1992 November 4 – Alphabetical Animals
  • 1993 April 6 – Homosexual
  • 1993 June 25 – The Art of Computer Designing: A Black and White Approach
  • 2000 – Rhythm 'n' Face Supplementary Reader
  • 2010 August 24 – Maru Sankaku Shikaku
  • 2015 July – Symmetric
  • 2015 – Photo
  • 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
  • 1993 April 6–24 – Homosexual, Tierrart Gallery, 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
  • 2022 – ROOT, Tokyo
  • 2024 – MULTIPLE PERSONALITY, Rittor Base, Tokyo
  • 2024 – MULTIPLE PERSONALITY, SOMSOC, Harajuku
  • 2025 November 11–23 – OSAMU SATO EXHIBITION PART 1, Tanabe Gallery
  • 2025 November 28-December 14 – OSAMU SATO EXHIBITION PART 2, SOMSOC, Harajuku

Videos

  • 1994 – Compu Movie
  • 1994 November 21 – The Esoteric Retina
  • 2001 – ''The Alphabet''

NFTs

  • 2021-2022 – LSD Transformed
  • 2022 October 22 – Root