Kyu Sakamoto, born Hisashi Oshima - December 10, 1941 - August 12, 1985 - w… Read Full Bio ↴Kyu Sakamoto, born Hisashi Oshima - December 10, 1941 - August 12, 1985 - was a popular Japanese singer and actor. He was born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa prefecture as the youngest among 9 siblings and his parents; Hiroshi Sakamoto and Iku Sakamoto. His most popular song, Ue o muite aruko ("Looking up while walking") known as Sukiyaki in the US, was a hit in Japan and topped the Billboard pop charts in the United States in 1963 -- to date the first and only song sung entirely in Japanese to do so.

In 1985, Sakamoto was killed in the crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123. Before the doomed aircraft hit the ground, he managed to write a farewell note to his wife Yukiko Kashiwagi. Married in 1971, they had two daughters, Hanako and Maiko.

China Nights
坂本九 Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'China Nights' by these artists:

Dick Curless Oh those China nights neath the moon and flickering stars…
The Kim Sisters Shina no yoru Shina no yoru yo Minato no akari Murasaki no y…

We have lyrics for these tracks by 坂本九:

ashitaga arusa いつもの駅でいつも逢うセーラー服のお下げ髪もう来る頃もう来る頃今日も待ちぼうけ明日がある明日がある明日があ…
Boku No Hoshi 見上げてごらん夜の星を小さな星の小さな光がささやかな幸せをうたってる見上げてごらん夜の星をボクらのように名もな…
Kyu-Chan No Zuntatatta ズンタタッタズンタタッタズンタタッタズンズンタタッタズンタタッタズンタタッタズンズンタタッタズンタタッ…
Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi wo 見上げてごらん夜の星を小さな星の小さな光がささやかな幸せをうたってる見上げてごらん夜の星をボクらのように名もな…
Namida-Kun Sayonara 涙くんさよならさよなら涙くんまた逢う日まで君は僕の友達だこの世は悲しいことだらけ君なしではとても生きて行けそ…

Sayonara Sayonara 涙くんさよならさよなら涙くんまた逢う日まで君は僕の友達だこの世は悲しいことだらけ君なしではとても生きて行けそ…
Sukiyaki 上を向いて歩こう涙がこぼれないように思い出す春の日一人ぼっちの夜上を向いて歩こうにじんだ星を数え…
あの娘の名前はなんてんかなあの娘の名前はなんてんかな後姿の素敵な娘手当り次第に名前を呼べばまぐれ当りで可愛い返事ニッコリ僕に振り向いて「…
ステキなタイミングオーユーニーズタイミンアーティカティカティカグッドタイミングタィガタィガタィガ…
ビキニスタイルのお嬢さん海辺のせまい小屋からあの娘は出られない何処かで人が見てたらどうしようかとふるえてる「ねぇみんな何故だか教えて上…
上を向いて歩こう上を向いて歩こう涙がこぼれないように思い出す春の日一人ぽっちの夜上を向いて歩こうにじんだ星をかぞえて思い…
九ちゃんのズンタタッタズンタタッタズンタタッタズンタタッタズンズンタタッタズンタタッタズンタタッタズンズンタタッタズンタタッ…
九ちゃん音頭花が咲く時ゃ風が吹く月が出て来りゃ雲が出るとかくこの世はままならぬ愚痴はよそうぜ歌でも歌おうそれがねそれが浮…
九ちゃん音頭（これが浮世と云うものさ）花が咲く時ゃ風が吹く月が出て来りゃ雲が出るとかくこの世はままならぬ愚痴はよそうぜ歌でも歌おうそれがねそれが浮…
悲しき六十才ヤムスターファヤムスターファ遠い昔のトルコの国の悲しい恋の物語り純情かれんなやさしい男それは主人公ムスター…
明日があるさいつもの駅でいつも逢うセーラー服のお下げ髪もう来る頃もう来る頃今日も待ちぼうけ明日がある明日がある明日があ…
涙くんさよなら涙くんさよならさよなら涙くんまた逢う日まで君は僕の友達だこの世は悲しいことだらけ君なしではとても生きて行けそ…

見上げてごらん夜の星を見上げてごらん夜の星を小さな星の小さな光がささやかな幸せをうたってる見上げてごらん夜の星をボクらのように名もな…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@TsukkiOrSomething

1y↑20

Lyrics for those who want to sing along:

シナの夜シナの夜よ
Shina no yoru　shina no yoru yo
港の灯紫の夜に
Minato no akari　murasaki no yo ni
上るジャンクの夢の船
Noboru janku no　yume no fune
ああ忘られぬ胡弓の音
A-ah, a-ah, wasurarenu　kokyuu no ne
シナの夜夢の夜
Shina no yoru　yume no yoru

Maybe someday soon
Maybe when the cherry blossoms bloom
She will sail back to my shore
East and west together once more
She’ll never tell me “sayonara”
She’ll only tell me “hello”
A-ah, a-ah, If I wait and pray
She’ll come one day to remember
シナの夜シナの夜
Shina no yoru　shina no yoru

@hiratad004

7y↑36

Shina no yoru
Shina no yoru yo
Minato no akari
Murasaki no yo ni
Noboru janku no
Yume no fune
Aa wasurarenu
Kokyu no ne
Shina no yoru
Yume no yoru

Shina no yoru
Shina no yoru yo
Yanagi no mado ni
Lantan yurete
Akai torikago
Shina musume
Aa yarusenai
Ai no uta
Shina no yoru
Yume no yoru

Shina no yoru
Shina no yoru yo
Kimi matsu yoru wa
Obashima no ame ni
Hana mo chiru chiru
Beni mo chiru
Aa wakaretemo
Wasuraryo ka
Shina no yoru
Yume no yoru

All comments from YouTube:

@TsukkiOrSomething

1y↑20

@Brandon-iv5yz

2y↑34

I spent many a drunken night in Japan learning this song— RIP Kyu

@dickdaugherty198

Me too.

@georgeowens2539

35w

She ain't got no yo-yo

@marleenninaka9539

8y↑213

My parents introduced me to Kyu Sakamoto as a child because of our Japanese background. They are both gone now for many years and hearing Sukiyaki and Shinanoyoru helps to ease my loneliness.

@cogit8

8y↑7

You may be interested in where the song Shina no yoru actually came from: 1940s Shanghai. Hamako Watanabe and Yoshiko Yamaguchi both sang the song which was featured in the film "China Nights".
Many similar songs can be found in the bio of Yamaguchi at:
www.yoshikoyamaguchi.blogspot.com

@marleenninaka9539

8y↑7

Domo arigato goizaimasu

@sandrahill601

7y↑11

me too me too... miss my mom and Japan and all my Japanese relatives I haven't seen since I was a child. world's away.. this brings us a little bit closer through heart and music. all I can do is smile with kyu.

@colinmonk9113

7y↑11

it's very touching feeling your sadness marleene, hope you have lots more happiness.

@jamiesinjin8655

6y↑4

Marleen Ninaka I am very sorry for your loss Marleen, & I feel your pain. Lets just hope they are at Peace

7 More Replies...

@Tophatguy665

2y↑6

Rip kyu Sakamoto ❤️

@janepang484

2y↑2

KYU SAKAMOTO💖🕺🌟🤩✨
Great!🎼🎵🎸🎤📀🎧💯👍👏
From Hong Kong🙋‍♀️🌏💝🌺🥰

@wendymajor1748

2y↑9

First time I heard this song I was around 10 years old and I learnt every word. many years have gone by. I’m now 62 years old and haven’t heard the song for 52 years. Then I find it on itunes. I am so happy I’ve been listening to it all night 💗

@tharchandran3709

3y↑11

When he sings the "Aaaah~ Aaaah~" part, it catches my heart! <3

@beckylawler2768

5y↑79

Kyu Sakamoto died in a plane crash at the age of 44. He was on his way to an event. RIP Kyu. 💕

@beckylawler2768

2y↑1

@坂本九大ファン
He died four months before his 44th birthday. I guess I was giving him credit for 8 months. 🌹

@22lyric

I remember hearing it on the radio that he died. So sad! ❤️🙏

@lindaberg1695

26w

Yes, I believe it was the worst crash in aviation history. JAL flight 123.....that flight number was retired, never to be used again by JAL...What a lovely voice he had. RIP ♥

@Cyn55sam

45w↑1

(Rudi van Dalm) My Father in law learn this wonderful song
to me. When I sing I cry and miss him. Together we always sing this song. Rudi was a great famous performer singer. ❤

@jhonwask

9y↑73

I always loved this song, and I learned some Japanese.

@nelin6162

6y↑1

Y too!

@ahmedrafi4611

4y↑1

Me too

@louisakingi5837

8y↑48

In memory of Kyu Sakamoto. Love your songs.

@hiratad004

7y↑36

@rozyaslamat4191

5y↑2

Thk you for the lyrics

@marthaperdew

3y↑10

Beautiful!

@marcoscavalcanti7696

42w↑4

Kyu Sakamoto o maior cantor da Ásia Arigato🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼❤❤❤❤❤❤❤👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

@MrRankamateur1

11y↑24

Great great record. Should have been a much bigger hit in America.

@rowdyjman94

Back then international singers had one big song & a follow-up song chart but the follow-up usually end up outside the top 10 & in this case I think this song was #58 on billboard

@dyahutami90

3y↑4

I heard this song when i was 11 years old and my favourite song Sukiyaki 😁😁😁, wonderful i can watch the photos and video of Kyu Sakamoto

@user-bm3so8bt6b

4y↑4

本当に癒されるなぁ。。。

@xivmercenary

11y↑20

Kyu Sakamoto was one of the best..

@VeraLucia-xg6ll

33w↑1

Valeu, Dimitry! Bom 😃 dia!

@pascalguerandel8181

31w↑1

Such a beautiful voice!❤️

@joestacey2756

2y↑1

Heard this song thru our traditional Hopi songs. A Hopi man stationed in Okinawa back in the day reworked this song rhythm into a Hopi Buffalo dance song.

@alanstrong3295

5y↑8

Kyu could sing.

@georginafairchild7609

2y↑2

Such a beautiful voice. Tranquil, just what we need in this troubled climate. Music has no boundaries and brings people together from all nationalities. Love and peace ✌

@hja52

Well said 🌸😌

@egbertlau2562

2y↑1

Some songs, you never grow tired of them and this is one of them.

@debrawhiteloon1325

9y↑14

My Respect is sent.

@marcoscavalcanti25

2y↑3

Big singer japanese kyu sakamoto sukiaky💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖🔯🔯🔯🔯🔯🔯

@marcoscavalcanti25

2y↑5

O saudoso kyu sakamoto maior cantor japonês de todos os tempos espero um dia nos que nos encontramos noutra dimensão do universo espero 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖meu irmão

@marcoscavalcanti7696

40w↑2

China no yoru ❤❤❤❤❤👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

@raymitchell439

5y↑2

My Mother played this song many times over during the war years (WWll) - It became a hit again when Kyu brought it to America in the early '60s - I was attending the Kodokan in Toyko at the time. It remains a favorite

even though she did not understand the words, she loved it as I do.

@seantezb7102

Ray Mitchell he was born during the war

@bigbungus4466

@@seantezb7102 original song is from like 1937/38

@cochisegeronimo4664

4y↑1

Ein ganz besonderer Künstler, danke.

@Sonnenfalke

6y↑40

Why isn't this great song at Spotify?

@Paige-1312

5y↑2

It used to be, but it isn't anymore :(

@reneepallo7779

4y↑2

Look to see if they have Kyu Sakamoto 90 greats

@johndick7874

4y↑3

You have to search it up in japanese

@sandcrab4004

1y↑1

just in case you are still looking, you can found the song in his "presenting kyu sakamoto's sukiyaki" album 1960

@maccharles100

One of the very best songs EVER!

@meili2502

6y↑7

I heard this song when I was young (mean now I'm old lol) and I like this song even I don't understand at all the meaning I just love the music and the song.

@LadyL31786

10y↑14

Out of most versions of this Shina No Yoru, this one is the best!!!!!

@fuerstmetternich5935

10y↑2

Shirley Yamaguchi ain't bad either....plus a great band...;)

@rickytan3483

8y↑3

+LadyL31786 you can't compared Li Xiang Lan version to this........technologies never stood still. The two versions was >10 years apart.

@LadyL31786

Ricky Tan I must listen to that version. Thanks!

@micheltessier1114

4y↑1

@@LadyL31786 Hibari Misora is my personal favorite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyv95-PJ02E
just found a korean from 1940 and a great one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XchRyVaDKds
what Ricky said is right, to compare a song with several decades gap between is pointless...better just to feel the mood and the time of each.

@marcoscavalcanti7696

22w↑2

Kyu Sakamoto saudades Brother The peace of Jesus Cristo 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼❤❤

@superyouper

3y↑1

Oh the memories. 1963 Okinawa

@marcoscavalcanti7696

1y↑3

Kyu Irmão você e um heroi sobreviveu o terror da 2 Guerra mundial época que nasceu 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

@mollywee8669

4y↑4

Love this song

@peacebewu

7y↑9

lovin that 'AaaAaaaa'

@franklinhu573

4y↑4

heard sukiyaki in the army and was surprised at Japanese hit on American billboards

@VeraLucia-xg6ll

33w↑1

Amei!

@marcoscavalcanti4160

1y↑2

Girl Japanese is beautifull pricess From Japan ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@marcoscavalcanti7855

2y↑2

Irmão Saudades Kyu Sakamoto

@marcoscavalcanti25

2y↑1

Kyu sakamoto não conheci materialmente também nasci em 71 mais você tá com a idade de.20 ano lá rejuvenesce e o contrário daqui 💖💖💖💖💖💖🐦🐦

@marcoscavalcanti25

2y↑4

Oh mano você é uma das coisas boas do Japão e a mãe de meu filho se encontrar ela lá diga que ele sente muita falta dela 💖💖💖💖💖💖

@woodysagan424

5y↑2

Trey the Explainer brought me here and i love it !! "Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiina no Yo-ho- ruuuuuu "

@wpghi5

3y↑1

That smile! Did I mention I miss that?!

@marcoscavalcanti7855

2y↑2

Saudades do nosso Japão 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

@funmanlo5373

27w

Sakamoto san.
Always wears a.warm smiling face.

@cherieallen1131

5y↑2

Cute as can be ! Sorry you are not with us now. But we will see you again soon. God bless 😊

@lynnkirton

5y↑6

OMG just love his voice. XLX

@marcoscavalcanti7696

1y↑3

Irmão Kyu saudades do nosso Nipon🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼❤❤❤❤❤❤

@captebbtide

11y↑22

Great Japanese artist gone too soon.

@benman7689

24w

十分動聽😊

@sakuranippon4434

5y↑1

RIP Kyu Sakamoto

@michaeldanello3966

7y↑16

Isn't that a red panda he's holding? Cute as his singing voice!

@Hazespring

4y↑3

Michael Danello It’s a Japanese Shiba Inu which just means Japanese small dog. They are like little foxes with curled up tails. Lovely little dogs but can be very strong willed. We used to have some, loved them.

@henryquenin6580

11y↑3

I had a copy of this song in the early 60s when I was a kid but I'm really scratching my head because it was by the same artist but the version was a little more upbeat, with a different instrumental in the middle between verses done with some kind of Asian stringed instrument. Like this one, it was sung half in Japanese and half in English, but the title of the record was "Golden Moon (China Nights)" and the final words of the song were in English: "dreamy nights of China".

@marcoscavalcanti25

2y↑5

Meu irmão essa é linda e lembra as reencarnações passadas na China e Japão a mãe do meu filho era neta de japoneses kaline kimei nakamura cavalcanti medica pediatra desencarnou 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

@marcoscavalcanti7696

1y↑2

China.niight The girls.chinese like the boys japonese🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼❤❤❤❤❤

@derrickmillion

5y↑1

i never knew id love japanese baroque pop this much

@marcoscavalcanti25

2y↑1

Oraior JAPÃO Kyu sakamoto 💖💖💖

@pompoonsert7373

5y↑2

awesome

@marcoscavalcanti4160

1y↑2

Kyu eterno ❤❤❤❤❤❤🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦

@marcoscavalcanti4160

1y↑2

Chineses e Japoneses irmãos eternos ❤❤❤❤❤❤

@mokarramhossain4892

5y↑1

My family likes China song very much

@aracellibuguenotapia6764

11y↑4

La buscaba y porfin la encontre

@marcoscavalcanti25

2y↑1

Big singer japanese kyu sakamoto china no yoru sukiaky aí que saudade de sua patrícia kaline kimei nakamura cavalcanti 💖💖💖💖💖💖

@tugiyonokiswan9543

11y↑1

I love it. Back to early 1960 this great song played after "Sukiaky" (either in Englis or original of Mr Sakamoto). I and my "litte Larti" used to heard this from our old (the only) "Blue Dot" radio.

@sheikhheisen

Thank you for sharing this. It's interesting!

@BN61956

12y↑1

Best version of this song by far. Not even close

@acorazadobismarck2356

4y↑1

Antes me lo veia todos los dias y despues por primera vez que lo veo

@armandocolli1522

6y↑2

おはよう、日本！壮大な音楽。それは喜び、幸福そして良い気持ちを翻訳します。私はBrasilia-BRにいますが、私は簡単に自分をTerra do Solに運ぶことができます！平和、喜び、そしてみんなのための多くの愛...乾杯。私はあなたに感謝します。
Ohayō, Nihon! Sōdaina ongaku. Sore wa yorokobi, kōfuku soshite yoi kimochi o hon'yaku shimasu. Watashi wa Brasilia - BR ni imasuga, watashi wa kantan ni jibun o Terra do Sol ni hakobu koto ga dekimasu! Heiwa, yorokobi, soshite min'na no tame no ōku no ai... Kanpai. Watashi wa anata ni kansha shimasu.

@user-bv3zm5xy3j

6y↑3

Good

@JuanReyes-lq5nf

8y↑3

Es maravillosa!!!

:D

@WolfRun59

4y↑13

My buddy Ron Yager was stationed in Okinawa and heard this song there. He loved to sing it. Unfortunately, he sang it VERY poorly 😂. Hope you are doing well Ron during this Covid crisis.

@muxx4335

9y↑7

good song but dont known that meaning , I like this theme of musis and sound type for that old period of song

@hitoshisawa8479

6y↑3

Rip

@marioglezglez6416

4y↑2

bellisima melodia

@ColonelMarcellus

2y↑1

Another great talent taken away too soon.

@marcoscavalcanti25

2y↑1

Kyu sakamoto a mãe dos meus dois filhos era japonesa Kaline nakamura amo o Japão 💖💖💖💖mais meu amor era sua colega de música Nazia Hassan

@marcoscavalcanti25

Parece repetitivo mais eu adoro as músicas do kyu sakamoto china no yoru sukiaky etc. Além de um ser humano wonderful 💖💖💖💖💖

@solarguy1702

6y↑2

Many thanks to Michael Jack Kirby, a NW DJ that turned me on to this. Couldn't sing it all but the intro got me into a lot of places in Japan otherwise off limits to gaijin.

@chumichi3345

12y↑3

hmmm... there are little people that wnjoys this nowadays... they turn to justin bieber instead... and i think this one deserves more views...

@LeeePowers

2y↑1

I've only heard the Misora Hibari version.
I thought it was her song.

@marcoscavalcanti25

2y↑1

Eta mano kyu sakamoto o coje só dá trabalho mano 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

@margaretcheong108

5y↑1

Shina na yoru

@edwinsalau150

She ain’t got no yo-yo! He ain’t got no yo-yo ah so!
Whatsa matter you tooo night!
Just like Christine Jorgensen
Oh what a big surprise!Dry run!
Whatsa matter you tooooo night!
Lyrics overheard many times in the bars on Okinawa in the early 60s!

@marcoscavalcanti25

2y↑1

Kyu sakamoto eu sei que você se foi pra outra dimensão de energia mais a vida não acaba com a morte física 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦

@chantallining984

11y↑1

YEAH! Mr. Quenin.. i remember it exactly like that as a child! fond memories! yeah! must be version of Dick Curless.. Will check it on Youtube... Thx!

@totalflex89

7y↑2

👍👍👏👏👏

@mikek5373

Clearing out late parents stuffs and found some of his old records.

@marcoscavalcanti25

China no yoru china no yoru kyu sakamoto eu amo essas mulheres chinesas eta e nois💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

@marcoscavalcanti25

2y↑1

Oh meu irmão kyu sakamoto sei que você sabe onde kaline kimei nakamura cavalcanti está diga a ela. Sobre o filho yachin 💖💖💖💖💖💖

@ccalccol

11y↑1

entered Cashbox August 17, 1963, the follow up to Sukiyaki

@marcoscavalcanti25

Eu fan incondicional de kyu sakamoto essa música lembra que japoneses chineses são irmãos 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

@haroldschlechtweg8796

10y↑5

I heard this on Okinawa '68-'69 but I think the singer was a woman. I remember an Okinawan girl who sang it for me and told me what it meant but it was on the radio too. I would really like to know what version I was listening to.

@cogit8

Pls see: http://yoshikoyamaguchi.blogspot.com/p/test-page.html

". . . each film had it's blockbuster songs; many of which became 'evergreen' standards of modern Chinese music.
Here is Hamako Watanabe singing Shina no Yoru (has all the lyrics, etc) Hamako Watanabe version.
And here is Yamaguchi singing it in her role as a most beautiful bride in China Nights: Yoshiko Yamaguchi version:

@micheltessier1114

could be Hibari Misora one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyv95-PJ02E
hope you'll get this pot despite the 6 years

@marcoscavalcanti25

Eita kyu sakamoto sukiaky china no yoru a mãe de meu filho era japonesa ela me ensinou a música sukiaky 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

@marcoscavalcanti25

2y↑1

O verdadeiro herói japonês e não hiroito e sua coja nasceu em 1941 em plena 2 guerra 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

@henryquenin6580

11y↑8

No, this was sung in perfect Japanese (first half) and I'm pretty sure it was the same artist and I bought the 45 in about 1963. Could this disc have been released in an earlier, faster more peppy version with a different title (Golden Moon)? I googled this and there was in fact a version with the title Golden Moon by a C&W artist named Rusty Richards but that isn't it. The one I remember was half in Japanese and had a lively instrumental in the middle with an Asian stringed instrument.