Kyu Sakamoto - Sukiyaki (1963) Tribute

Biography
Sakamoto was born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture as the youngest among nine siblings—his nickname Kyu, meaning 'nine', is an alternate reading of the kanji (九) for his given name (Hisashi). His parents, Hiroshi Sakamoto and Iku Sakamoto, both worked at a restaurant. Sakamoto was cousin to the free-jazz saxophonist Kaoru Abe. In high school Sakamoto began to sing and became very popular. In 1958 he joined the Japanese pop-band "The Drifters" as a singer.

One of his best known and most beloved songs was "Ashita ga Aru Sa" ("There's Always Tomorrow"). It was covered by the Japanese band Ulfuls in 2001.

Sakamoto worked very hard for old, young and handicapped people in Japan. "Ashita Ga Aru Sa" was the leading theme of the 1964 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo.

Death
On August 12, 1985, Kyu Sakamoto died in the crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123. Before the aircraft crashed, Sakamoto wrote a farewell note to his wife, Yukiko Kashiwagi. Married in 1971, they had two daughters, Hanako and Maiko.

Success outside Japan
His most popular song, "Ue o muite arukō" ("I look up when I walk") was popular around the world. In 1963, the British record label Pye Records released a cover version of the song by Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen. They were concerned that English-speaking audiences might find the original title too difficult to remember/pronounce, so they gave it the new title of "Sukiyaki'". This title was retained when Capitol Records in the United States, and His Master's Voice (HMV) in the UK, released Kyu Sakamoto's original version a few months later. The song topped the Billboard pop charts in the United States for three weeks in 1963 — to date the only song sung entirely in Japanese to do so. In the UK, it was the first ever Japanese language song to enter the charts, but only went to number 6 with no further chart entries. Well-known English-language cover versions include a 1981 cover by A Taste of Honey and a 1995 cover by 4 P.M.

Sakamoto had only one other song reach the U.S. charts, "China Nights (Shina no Yoru)" (Capitol 5016), which peaked at #58 in 1963. His only American album, Sukiyaki and Other Japanese Hits (Capitol 10349), peaked at #14 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart (now known as the Billboard 200) in 1963 and remained on the Pop Albums chart for 17 weeks.

In the summer of 1963, Kyu went out on a world tour that lasted to the beginning of 1964. A few of the countries that he visited included the United States (including Hawaii), Germany, and Sweden. When Sakamoto visited the United States, he was a guest on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show with Steve Allen. He was supposed to be on The Ed Sullivan Show, but it was cancelled due to the recording of his upcoming movie Kyu chan no katana wo nuite.

Artist - Kyu Sakamoto
Song - Sukiyaki
(Lyrics) Both Japanese and English version below -

Ue o muite arukoo I look up when I walk
Namida ga kobore nai yoo ni So the tears won't fall
Omoidasu haru no hi Remembering those happy spring days
Hitoribotchi no yoru But tonight I'm all alone
Ue o muite arukoo I look up when I walk
Nijinda hoshi o kazoete Counting the stars with tearful eyes
Omoidasu natsu no hi Remembering those happy summer days
Hitoribotchi no yoru But tonight I'm all alone
Shiawase wa kumo no ue ni Happiness lies beyond the clouds
Shiawase wa sora no ue ni Happiness lies above the sky
Ue o muite arukoo I look up when I walk
Namida ga kobore nai yoo ni So the tears won't fall
Nakinagara aruku Though my heart is filled with sorrow *
Hitoribotchi no yoru For tonight I'm all alone
(whistling) (whistling)
Omoidasu aki no hi Remembering those happy autumn days
Hitoribotchi no yoru But tonight I'm all alone
Kanashimi wa hoshi no kage ni Sadness hides in the shadow of the stars
Kanashimi wa tsuki no kage ni Sadness lurks in the shadow of the moon
Ue o muite arukoo I look up when I walk
Namida ga kobore nai yoo ni So the tears won't fall
Nakinagara aruku Though my heart is filled with sorrow *
Hitoribotchi no yoru For tonight I'm all alone
(whistling) (whistling)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kyu
• Sakamoto
• Sukiyaki
• 1963
• tribute
• japan
• japanese
• singer
• Bacmaster
• Music
• Videos

[2008cp]

kyu passed away in 2005 in a plane crash this song will always make us smile but htere is nothing like the origal

[Bacmaster]

@2008cp On August 12, 1985, Kyu Sakamoto died in the crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123.

[Betilda60]

I have always loved this song, I don't remember how old I was when I first heard it and didn't understand one word, but it touches my heart. I have heard it in English, but still love Kyu's best! Thanks for posting.

Oh, I just turned 60 last month. Not a fossil yet though!

[Bacmaster]

@Betilda60 Happy Birthday!!! I'm right behind you so be careful with those numbers. lol

If you want to sing (like sing along with Mitch Miller) below the video where it says " Show More"

click on that, scroll down and you'll find the Japanese version on the left and the english version on the right.

Now start singing!

Joe

[stormbear1248]

Many years ago I had my pen-pal (Eiko Ide) send me the sheet music for this song. I was about 14 but something about this song did and still does touch a spot deep within me. Haven't written to my pen-pal in years (wish I could) but still listen to this song (glad that I can). Magical song for a special time.

[gaAry1]

awesome song.

for some reason makes me cry.

[TigerTrak]

A sad but great tune by a great singer! RIP Kyu!

[TheLadandLass]

i really love this song

brings a tear to my eye when I read about how he died and the note to his precious wife!

life is so short. RIP

[Bacmaster]

@69ssrszl1 If you click "show more" below the video the lyrics there. They are split both Japanese (left) and English (right).

[TheAlohagil]

This beautiful piece of artistry proves the point profoundly the universality of heart touching music no matter what language! One of my all time favorites!!!! ELA, CA

[cippy2k]

the song give me goosebumps still all I ca add is thanks for the background and those lyrics thanks..this may sound stupid but I was 13 when the song came out i was a real pinball wizard  but when in the arcade this song came on Id lose concentration I loved the song..and my buddies would sing it and of course id lose the ball..stupid memory but GREAT SONG thank you again for posting

[ardalsgirl]

I love, love this song so much :)

[louisyoung1]

Great song! Beautifully sang!

[MrJaxyagi]

Thank you for listing the relics in both original Japanese and English. I'm from Tokyo moved to Minnesota in the Spring of 1963. Got a job, bought a Corvair Monza, driving on Lake St. of Minneapolis some June lunch hour suddenly I heard a DJ on my radio said "here, a Japanese song, SUKIYAKI!". I was shocked to hear a Japanese word, more so a song called Sukiyaki?!

Even though the song is about a lost love, I felt so happy at that time, I still am.

[edmilan1]

One of the most beautiful songs of all times.

[28voy]

meus parabens por postar este video, ja faz uns 40 anos que venho tentando descobrir quem canta e qual e o nome da musica agora graças a esta postagen eu encontrei confesso que fiquei arrepiado me fes lembrar o tempo de escola eu sempre levava o meu radinho de pilha escondido só pra ouvir esta musica ... obrigado por me fazer voltar no tempo...OBG ( brasil - sao paulo )