I personally think that it’s a truly beautiful song. The harmonies, vocals, arrangement, and just everything all about it. Amazing that it was a huge No. 1 hit here in America as well.
Too bad he passed away in that 1985 plane crash. RIP.
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/123941h/any_thoughts_on_the_1963_hit_single_sukiyaki_by/
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It’s called Ue o muite arukou (上を向いて歩こう).
Everyone under the age of 60 is now searching for the Sukiyaki song in Google.
It’s a CLASSIC and never fade away. The song reminds me of my grandfather who passed away.
Yes, I have a quick story.
Our house in the States is in Hilo, Hawai’i. We live within easy walking distance of the Hilo Daijingu, the first Shinto shrine set up in the USA. We’ve been in full-on Kondo Marie mode in the house and are getting rid of stuff. Since so much of our stuff is from Japan, we often donate it to the jinja, where it’s subsequently sold or donated to someone in need.
Yesterday, we dropped off yet another bag of stuff, and there was a gathering in one of the general meeting rooms outside of the shrine. About 100 or so folks were singing 上を向いて歩こう, many holding sheet music with the words in romanji. Most were old, and there were a few folks rubbing and wiping their eyes a bit.
(Also, I came home and my wife said, tongue-in-cheek, “I wonder why 上を向いて歩こう is referred to as 「Sukiyaki」。The song has nothing to do with sukiyaki…” There’s probably a story there, but I’ve never bothered to look it up… )
The original has such beautiful lyrics. I love the concept of keeping your head up high and continuing to move on while pushing through tears.
The American version strips all that down and names it after a dish some guy ate and the lyrics are a more generic break up song.
This song has been sung for many different reasons than the original intended one. It was one of the songs used to unite Japan after the 2011 earthquake/tsunami that killed 20,000 people: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EaHZs9Y6CDU
I just listened to it, and It’s a beautiful song. I asked my parents of what they know about this song, here goes:
* “Sukiyaki” is an alternative title for “Ue o Muite Arukō”, a song by Japanese crooner Kyu Sakamoto, first released in Japan in 1961, it’s the song my grandparents and mother usually listened in the evening while sitting on the terrace.
* According to my dad, The song topped the charts in multiple countries, including the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. The song grew to become one of the world’s best-selling singles of all time, selling over 13 million copies worldwide.
* From what I’ve just heard, the lyrics tell the story of a man who looks up and whistles while he is walking so that his tears will not fall, with the verses describing his memories and feelings.
* The word “sukiyaki” does not appear in the song’s lyrics, nor does it have any connection to them; it was used only because it was short, catchy, recognizably Japanese, and more familiar to English speakers.
Tragically, Kyu Sakamoto died at the age of 43 in a Japan Airlines Flight 123 crash on August 12, 1985.
The plane left Tokyo International Airport, heading to Osaka for an event. About 12 minutes after takeoff, the rear pressure bulkhead failed, causing a rapid decompression and damaging the plane’s hydraulic systems. The plane crashed into two ridges of Mount Takamagahara in Ueno, Gunma, a disaster that remains the deadliest single-aircraft accident in history with 520 people killed, including Sakamoto. Only four people survived the crash.
I was living here in Yokohama when the JAL 747 crashed killing so many, including Sakamoto. It was just such a sad tragedy. I soon flew back to WA State for vacation and, as it happened, I was on the Northwest flight from Sea-Tac with the Boeing engineers that had flown out to examine the wreckage. The cause was a faulty repair job by Boeing technicians. In any case, the Northwest flight landed well away from the apron, the Boeing crew got off first and were picked up by a chartered bus. The rest of the passengers were then bussed to the arrival area at Narita. That accident stands as the deadliest crash ever of a single aircraft in history.
I was introduced to this beautiful piece through the Studio Ghibli film *From Up On Poppy Hill*, and it was truly well placed in its spot in the soundtrack. Naturally, in that it’s listed under its original Japanese title.
PPAP was better.
Kyu Sakamoto died in the JAL123 crash in 1985
https://www.angelfire.com/music5/archives/Japan123.html
It was one of the best parts of Wii Music. Remember trying to get your friends to synch up the bells?
Did you know that that infamous plane crash had several survivors? I think it was JAL123 or something like that. The pilots really did everything they could. Before the end they stopped trying to speak in English and switched to Japanese, and you can hear senior pilot saying “this is the end”, as they crash into a mountain.
i saw sukiyaki western django, does that count, and really liked sukiyaki sauce on my steak
It’s a classic. Nothing more has to be said.
It was popular decades before Asian music resonated with mainstream culture like it does now. If you put it on and walk under a cherry blossom tree today make sure you look up so the tears don’t fall.
Love that song. There’s a great NHK special about it.