kenleewrites in 日本

Going to karaoke with your Japanese friends or colleagues… maybe bosses. You want to sing something that appeals to everyone, songs that everyone can sing along to. But your Japanese isn’t really up to par and singing the current hits are just too difficult (currently). Want an easy Japanese song that will impress everyone? ^^.

Ue o muite arukō (“I look up when I walk”) is Kyu Sakamoto‘s most popular song. It’s one of those evergreen Japanese hits which you have to learn to sing if you want permanent residency (kidding ^^). It was not just popular in Japan, but internationally as well.

However, since the original title was too difficult for non-Japanese audiences to remember and pronounce, a short, catchy, recognizably Japanese word that people would associate with Japan was used – Sukiyaki. “Sukiyaki” actually refers to a popular Japanese steamboat dish usually containing beef and vegetables.

Do you associate Sukiyaki with Japan? ^^.

Despite having absolutely nothing to do with the song, Sukiyaki proved successful among non-Japanese speaking audiences. In the US, it topped the Billboard pop charts for three weeks in 1963, the only song sung entirely in Japanese to do so… at least the only song till the next one.

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 him doing this through each season of the year.

This is a great song to sing in karaoke because everyone knows it; everyone can sing along. The kanji is easy, the verses are short and repeating, and the tempo is slow. Won’t take much effort to memorize it too.

Try it yourself. ^^.

上を向いて歩こう (Looking up while walking)
Ue wo muite arukou

涙がこぼれないように (So the tears won’t fall)
Namida ga koborenai youni

思い出す春の日 (Remebering those spring days)
Omoidasu haru no hi

一人ぼっちの夜 (All alone at night)
Hitoribocchi no yoru

上を向いて歩こう (Looking up while walking)
Ue wo muite arukou

にじんだ星をかぞえて (And counting the scattered stars)
Nijinda hoshi wo kazoete

思い出す夏の日 (Remembering those summer days)
Omoidasu natsu no hi

一人ぼっちの夜 (All alone at night)
Hitoribocchi no yoru

幸せは雲の上に (Happiness lies above the clouds)
Shiawase wa kumo no ue ni

幸せは空の上に (Happiness lies above the sky)
Shiawase wa sora no ue ni

上を向いて歩こう (Looking up while walking)
Ue wo muite arukou

涙がこぼれないように (So the tears won’t fall)
Namida ga koborenai youni

泣きながら歩く (Keep walking on, while crying)
Naki nagara aruku

一人ぼっちの夜 (It’s a lonely night)
Hitoribocchi no yoru

思い出す秋の日 (Remembering those autumn days)
Omoidasu aki no hi

悲しみは星の影に (Sadness is in the shadow of the stars)
Kanashimi wa hoshi no kage ni

悲しみは月の影に (Sadness is in the shadow of the moon)
Kanashimi wa tsuki no kage ni

上を向いて歩こう (Looking up while walking)
Ue wo muite arukou

涙がこぼれないように (So the tears won’t fall)
Namida ga koborenai youni

泣きながら歩く (Keep walking on, while crying)
Naki nagara aruku

一人ぼっちの夜 (It’s a lonely night)
Hitoribocchi no yoru

一人ぼっちの夜 (It’s a lonely night)
Hitoribocchi no yoru