Kyū Sakamoto

Kyū Sakamoto was a Japanese singer and actor whose warm, accessible performances made him a major popular entertainer of the postwar era. He first gained attention with Danny Iida and the Paradise King before achieving international fame with “Ue o Muite Arukō,” released abroad as “Sukiyaki,” which reached number one in the United States. He also appeared in television, films, stage productions, and musicals, while supporting charitable and welfare-related activities. Born Hisashi Ōshima in Kawasaki, he died in 1985 at age 43.