“Sukiyaki” by Kyu Sakamoto

For starters, it should be noted that the term sukiyaki, as most popularly used, refers to a Japanese dish dating back to the 19^th century. And the general popularity of this hot pot is manifested in the fact that this song is named after it even though the lyrics don’t have anything to do with said dish.

What the lyrics were actually inspired by was an event that went down in history known as the Anpo protests. This was when, in 1960, hundreds of thousands of Japanese protested against the signing of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between the United States and Japan that very year. 

However, as presented, there is no actual mention of said protest or treaty in the lyrics. Rather they represent how the vocalist, being one of the protesters, felt in the aftermath of their failure.

And again, he doesn’t do so specifically. Rather the parts of the song that we found translatable depict the vocalist as someone who is trying to get over depression. Indeed if anything, considering that he relies heavily on the word “lonely” to describe his mood, you would think that this piece was inspired by a dissolved romance. 

But more to the point is him apparently trying his best to put on a brave, more optimistic face despite whatever major disappointment or letdown he has experienced.

Primary Sentiment of “Sukiyaki”

So whereas this song may be sentimentally specific, historically, if you will, it is really vague. That is to say that as for the former, i.e. the sentiment being expressed, we know that the vocalist is trying to make the best of a less-than-ideal disposition. 

Indeed it is quite interesting that this may have been the first big international hit song from East Asia. And why? Considering that to this day hits that originate from that region (i.e. K-pop) tend to be more or less based on this same type overcoming-depression theme. 

But as to what exactly has the narrator “weeping” in the first place, we are not made privy of. And perhaps we could even say that such vagueness contributed to the success of “Sukiyaki”, i.e. giving it a general applicability. 

But considering that the residents of the majority of countries it blew up in don’t even speak Japanese, we can’t definitively assert that such was the case. Rather, it may be Kyu Sakamoto’s ability to relay such a mood via his talent and tonations.

Who was Kyu Sakamoto?

Kyu Sakamoto (1941-1985) was a singer from Japan, with “Sukiyaki” being definitely his signature hit. Sakamoto was also an actor, being most active in that regard during the 1960s. 

But “Sukiyaki” was the major global hit that made him into an international star. Yet unfortunately he died quite young. He died tragically at the age of 43, in the Japan Airlines Flight 123 crash of 1985. The fatal crash in question proved to be one of the worst aircraft disasters in history.

Facts about “Sukiyaki”

The actual title of this song, in its original Japanese language, is Ue o Muite Arukō. In the Anglophone world, where it blew up outside of Japan, it is rather known as Sukiyaki. And to note the tune did manage to become successful in said countries without actually being translated into English. 

In fact it wasn’t until 1981 that an American disco group known as A Taste of Honey came out with the first English version of “Sukiyaki” that really hit, though it wasn’t an actual translation of the original. 

But still it was a notable success, as was that another American band, 4 P.M., in 1994. Both of these renditions made it onto the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Also interesting to note is that the late Selena (1971-1995) dropped a cover of “Sukiyaki” in 1990, as featured on her self-titled debut studio album. And whereas it doesn’t have a chart history to speak of, it is still a favorite amongst her fans, i.e. appearing on a number of her greatest hits’ albums.

However the original, as rendered by Kyu Sakamoto, actually topped the Billboard Hot 100. In addition to this, it reached number 1 in Canada, Australia, Japan and a few other countries. It also peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart. 

But going back to the Billboard Hot 100, the success of Sakamoto made history. This was because he became the first Asian ever to top the Hot 100.

When was “Sukiyaki” released?

This classic from Sakamoto officially came out on 15 October 1961.

EMI is the primary label responsible for the release of this song via its partners and subsidiaries around the world. In Japan it actually came out via Toshiba-EMI. In America, it was through subsidiary Capitol Records. And in the UK the song came out via another of such entities, HMV. 

In fact it was in the UK where Louis Benjamin (1922-1994), the chairman of another label, Pye Records, who officially changed the name of the song. He changed it from “Ue o Muite Arukō” to “Sukiyaki”. And as implied earlier, he changed it due to the latter’s easier pronunciation. 

The reason he was compelled to do so was because one of his groups, called Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen, covered it after Benjamin came across the song while visiting Japan. And apparently they were the first Western musicians to cover it.

How “Sukiyaki” made its way to America

However, as the story goes, the above is not how the original, i.e. the version that actually bested the US Billboard Hot 100, came to America. Rather it is believed that a girl from the United States who was schooling in Japan purchased the record personally after hearing it in a movie in which Kyu Sakamoto starred. 

And then upon returning the recording stateside, it became a hit in her dorm. And interestingly, it just so happened that one of the students’ dad was a radio executive. From the said father, it eventually spread throughout America.

It may be that around the time this song blew up, the American public was more open to receiving music in completely foreign languages than it is now. For instance, late in the 1960’s Domenico Modugno’s “Nel Blu, Dipino di Blu” (1958), which is rendered in Italian, reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Furthermore, it also won the first ever Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. 

More Interesting Facts about “Sukiyaki”

As alluded to earlier, “Sukiyaki” was the first and, to date remains the only track by someone from Japan to become a US Hot 100 chart topper.

Sakamoto didn’t write “Sukiyaki”. It was written by two individuals. Musically the credit goes to Hachidai Nakamura (1931-1992). And the lyrics were authored by Rokusuke Ei (1933-2016). It should be noted that Rokusuke actually participated in the aforementioned Anpo protest.

In 1965, NASA sent a couple of astronauts into space aboard a vessel known as Gemini VII. While on the said mission, this was one of the songs which mission control played to them over the radio. Therefore, “Sukiyaki” became one of the first songs ever to be transmitted into space.

The true title of this song, “Ue o Muite Arukō”, translates to “I Look Up When I Walk”. That exercise plays a prominent role within the narrative. Apparently it is symbolic of the vocalist’s resolve to think more positivity.