Do you know this Japanese song – Sukiyaki Song?
The original title of the song in Japanese is 上を向いて歩こう（うえをむいてあるこう）”Ue o muite arukou” by Kyu Sakamoto. ⠀
The Sukiyaki Song “Ue o muite arukou” was released in 1961 in Japan. It reached the top of the Billboard charts in the US in 1963.⠀
This is such a famous song in my country and I was truly surprised to learn that the song is called “Sukiyaki” outside Japan. 😮 Sukiyaki is the name of a Japanese hot pot dish and has nothing to do with the meaning of the song!⠀
They say the title “Sukiyaki” was picked only because it was short, catchy, and recognizably Japanese in English-speaking countries.⠀
Sukiyaki Song – Lyrics
One of the fun ways to learn a language is to learn from a song! 🎵 As you sing along, you naturally learn some vocabulary, train your listening comprehension and pronunciation. 🎶⠀
Find below the lyrics of “Ue o muite arukou” in Japanese and English. I did sing the song in Japanese in the video, so please try singing along with me! 🎤🎼
上を向いて歩こう（うえをむいてあるこう）Ue o muite arukou
I look up as I walk
涙がこぼれないように（なみだがこぼれないように）Namida ga koborenai youni
So that the tears won’t fall
思い出す春の日（おもいだすはるのひ）Omoidasu haru no hi
Remembering those spring days
一人ぼっちの夜（ひとりぼっちのよる）Hitoribocchi no yoru
And tonight, I am all alone
上を向いて歩こう（うえをむいてあるこう）Ue o muite arukou
I look up as I walk
にじんだ星を数えて（にじんだほしをかぞえて）Nijinda hoshi o kazoete
Counting the stars with tearful eyes
思い出す夏の日（おもいだすなつのひ）Omoidasu natsu no hi
Remembering those summer days
一人ぼっちの夜（ひとりぼっちのよる）Hitoribocchi no yoru
And tonight, I am all alone
幸せは雲の上に（しあわせはくものうえに）Shiawase wa kumo no ue ni
Happiness lies beyond the clouds
幸せは空の上に（しあわせはそらにうえに）Shiawase wa sora no ue ni
Happiness lies above the sky
上を向いて歩こう（うえをむいてあるこう）Ue o muite arukou
I look up as I walk
涙がこぼれないように（なみだがこぼれないように）Namida ga koborenai youni
So that the tears won’t fall
泣きながら歩く（なきながらあるく）Nakinagara aruku
But the tears well up as I walk
一人ぼっちの夜（ひとりぼっちのよる）Hitoribocchi no yoru
For tonight, I am all alone
Do you want to be able to read the lyrics in Hiragana? Try my complete Hiragana lesson!
About the Singer – Kyu Sakamoto
The singer, 坂本九（さかもときゅう）Kyu Sakamoto was called 九ちゃん Kyu-chan by Japanese people and dearly loved. Sadly, he was killed in an airplane crash in 1985 at the age of 43.
Here is the original version of Sukiyaki Song by Kyu Sakamoto.
Beautiful Lyrics in Japanese
The lyrics tell the story of a man who looks up and whistles while he is walking so that his tears won’t fall. The verses of the song describe his memories and feelings.
The lyricist of this song, 永六輔（えいろくすけ）Rokusuke Ei put a deep emotions into such a simple Japanese, which has added the song even more depth.
Learn Japanese Online
Are you interested in learning Japanese? I have a free online course for you to start. It is a self-faced course but I will always be there to assist you throughout the course. You can leave any questions you may have!
I hope you enjoyed this post about Sukiyaki Song. 🙂
Did you already know about the son? How did you like the song if this is the firs time you heard it? Leave me comments below! では、また。
裕子先生（ゆうこせんせい）Yuko sensei
Very useful and interesting. Thank you! Keep it coming!
Thomas-san,
I’m glad you enjoyed the song. 🙂
Love the song! Heard it for the first time
Stephanie-san, Arigatoo gozaimasu.
I’m glad you enjoyed the song! 😊
I heard the song for the first time. It is so nice I really enjoyed it.
Thanks a lot for sharing.
Prasad-san,
Arigatoo gozaimasu. Thank you! I’m glad you liked the song. 😊
I learned this song when I was a kid. We sang it all the time. Learned a couple of other Japanese songs by a wonderful music teacher. Still love this song.
Mere-san,
Did you learn the song in Japanese? That’s wonderful! Your sensei must have been a talented music teacher. 😊
I love this song. Its a ride of Nostalgia for me. I miss my childhood.
Bengia-san,
I’m glad you enjoyed the song. Quite a few people commented on YouTube that this song brings back their childhood memories. I’m amazed to learn how much this song was loved outside Japan! 😊
I loved this song the first time I heard it when I was a little boy, age 11, in 1963. Tonight I was listening to it on my computer and decided to follow along with the lyrics (written with English transliterated subtitles) to see, for the first time, what the words look like and to see what is being sung. What a beautiful song. I still love it now at age 68. Rodney Aho, Spokane, Washington, USA.
Rodney-san,
Thank you for the comment. I’m glad you could understand the meaning of lyrics and sing along in Japanese. It indeed is a beautiful song. 😊
I am using this song to practice 日本語, however I’m struggling with why 歩こう is translated as I am walking instead of let’s walk, and how I can tell when 歩こう means one or the other
Kelseyさん、
I’m glad you enjoy practicing with the song. When it comes to song lyrics, the translation is not particularly word-to-word. Here, the phrase 歩こう is more like the author speaking to himself rather to others, so “I walk/I am walking” is the most accurate translation.
Yuko Sensei, mahalo nui loa for your post. Kyu Sakamoto’s song is very familiar to baby-boomers who grew up in Hawaii. It’s still a karaoke staple.
A couple of other Japanese songs that were and still are quite popular in Hawaii were “Koko Ni Sachi Ari,” recorded by many artists over the years, and “Kimito Itsumade Mo (Forever More),” by the Tokyo Happy Coats. For some of us the latter is an anthem for the summer of 1970.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Maka-san,
Thank you for the comment. Arigatoo gozaimasu!
I’m so glad to know that so many Japanese “classics” are so love by people in Hawaii. 😊
I first heard the song in the US at age twelve. I adored it, and felt the emotions keenly at that tender age. Today is the first time I learned the lyrics in English. I was right to feel emotional when I heard it.
Kaern-san,
Music is such an universal language that goes beyond the language barrier. The message that Kyu Sakamoto has tried to convey must have arrived in your soul at the age of twelve in the exact way he intended. 😊
Still loving this song. First heard in the 80s but only today I learnt the lyrics and meaning and also got to know the singer. I enjoyed singing it so much 💕
Dayana-san,
I’m glad that the post helped you understand the lyrics. I constantly get surprised how much this song was loved by people outside Japan!