Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto was commended by the French government for his cultural achievements. He was awarded the Ordre national de la Legion d'honneur at a ceremony held at the French Embassy in Tokyo. At the ceremony, he received an Officer medal.

Sakamoto expressed that he would like to repay the numerous French artists that had an impact on his career, including composer Claude Debussy and director Jean-Luc Godard.

The Legion d’honneur is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. The Order is the highest commendation in France, and divided into five classes: Chevalier, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer, and Grand Croix. Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai, Yojimbo) was presented with the Officer rank in 1984.

Ryuichi Sakamoto produced the scores for Wings of Honneamise and Appleseed.