Kyu Sakamoto was a popular Japanese singer and actor. He was born on December 10, 1941, in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. His full name was Hisashi Oshima, but he adopted the stage name Kyu Sakamoto.
Sakamoto is best known internationally for his song "Ue o Muite Arukou" (I Look Up As I Walk), which was retitled "Sukiyaki" for Western audiences. This song became a major hit in several countries, including the United States, where it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963. It remains the only song sung entirely in Japanese to reach number one in the U.S. The song is a ballad that expresses feelings of optimism in the face of sadness.
Aside from "Sukiyaki," Sakamoto had several other hits in Japan and also worked as an actor in Japanese films and television. His career was cut tragically short when he died in the crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123 in 1985, which remains one of the deadliest single-aircraft accidents in history. Despite his untimely death, Sakamoto's music continues to be well-regarded, and "Sukiyaki" is a classic of Japanese pop music.