Kyu Sakamoto

Kyu Sakamoto (1941–1985) was a Japanese singer and actor whose recording “Ue o Muite Arukō,” released internationally as “Sukiyaki,” became a global hit in 1963.

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Ue o Muite Arukō: A 1961 Japanese popular song recorded by Kyu Sakamoto and released internationally as “Sukiyaki.” This is the recording that made Sakamoto internationally famous.
Rokusuke Ei: A Japanese lyricist, essayist, and television personality who wrote “Ue o Muite Arukō.” His lyrics give the song its image of walking while looking upward through tears.
Japan in the 1960s: A period of rapid economic growth and social change in Japan during the decade after 1960. The song’s rise coincided with Japan’s expanding media and consumer culture.
Japan Airlines Flight 123: A Japan Airlines Boeing 747 that crashed in Gunma Prefecture on August 12, 1985, killing 520 people. Sakamoto died in this crash, one of the deadliest aviation disasters in history.
Sukiyaki (song): The 1963 English-language title under which “Ue o Muite Arukō” became a major international hit. The familiar export title helped the song reach listeners beyond Japan.
Hachidai Nakamura: A Japanese composer and pianist who wrote the melody of “Ue o Muite Arukō.” His melody carries the song’s wistful mood beneath its steady rhythm.
Japanese postwar economic miracle: Japan’s rapid economic growth from the 1950s through the early 1970s. The entertainment industry that launched Sakamoto grew alongside this economic transformation.
Aviation accident: An unintended event involving an aircraft that results in damage, injury, or death. The crash that killed Sakamoto was a catastrophic aviation accident.
Billboard Hot 100: A weekly chart ranking the most popular songs in the United States. Sakamoto’s recording topped this chart in 1963, a rare achievement for a Japanese-language song.
Karaoke: A form of entertainment in which people sing along to recorded music, often with lyrics displayed on a screen. Sakamoto’s songs became part of Japan’s enduring sing-along repertoire.