Ue o Muite Arukou by Kyuu Sakamoto †Sukiyaki Song

Ue o Muite Arukou by Kyuu Sakamoto – Sukiyaki Song Listening or singing a song is a great way to learn a language. With a melody, it is easier to mimic words and sing along even you dont understand the meaning. Here is a great song called, Ue o Muite Arukou by Kyuu Sakamoto released in 1961. The title, Ue o Muite Arukou translates into, I look up when I walk. However, it is known as Sukiyaki in the United States. The title Sukiyaki was chosen because it is easier to pronounce for Americans, and it is a word that they associate with Japan. Sukiyaki is a kind of Japanese stew and has nothing to do with the song. The song topped the pop charts for three weeks in 1963. It is the only Japanese language song to hit #1 in the US. It sold over 13 million copies internationally. According to recent news, the British singer, Susan Boyle, will be covering the song as a bonus track for the Japanese version of her third album. Tragically, Sakamoto was killed when Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashed in 1985. He was 43 years old. All 15 crew and 505 out of 509 passengers died, for a total of 520 deaths and only 4 survivors. It remains the worst single airline disaster in history. Japanese Lyrics Ue o muite arukou ä ¸Å Ã£â€šâ€™Ã¥ â€˜Ã£ â€žÃ£  ¦Ã¦ ­ ©Ã£ â€œÃ£ â€ Namida ga koborenai youni æ ¶â„¢Ã£ Å'㠁“㠁 ¼Ã£â€šÅ'㠁 ªÃ£ â€žÃ£â€šË†Ã£ â€ Ã£  «Omoidasu haru no hi æ€ Ã£ â€žÃ¥â€¡ ºÃ£ â„¢ æ˜ ¥Ã£  ®Ã¦â€" ¥Hitoribocchi no yoru ä ¸â‚¬Ã¤ º ºÃ£  ¼Ã£  £Ã£  ¡Ã£  ®Ã¥ ¤Å" Ue o mute aurkou ä ¸Å Ã£â€šâ€™Ã¥ â€˜Ã£ â€žÃ£  ¦Ã¦ ­ ©Ã£ â€œÃ£ â€ Nijinda hoshi o kazoete 㠁 «Ã£ ËœÃ£â€šâ€œÃ£   Ã¦ËœÅ¸Ã£â€šâ€™Ã¦â€¢ °Ã£ Ë†Ã£  ¦Omoidasu natsu no hi æ€ Ã£ â€žÃ¥â€¡ ºÃ£ â„¢ Ã¥ ¤ Ã£  ®Ã¦â€" ¥Hitoribocchi no yoru ä ¸â‚¬Ã¤ º ºÃ£  ¼Ã£  £Ã£  ¡Ã£  ®Ã¥ ¤Å" Shiawase wa kumo no ue ni Ã¥ ¹ ¸Ã£ â€ºÃ£  ¯ é› ²Ã£  ®Ã¤ ¸Å Ã£  «Shiawase wa sora no ue ni Ã¥ ¹ ¸Ã£ â€ºÃ£  ¯ ç © ºÃ£  ®Ã¤ ¸Å Ã£  « Ue o muite arukou ä ¸Å Ã£â€šâ€™Ã¥ â€˜Ã£ â€žÃ£  ¦Ã¦ ­ ©Ã£ â€œÃ£ â€ Namida ga koborenai youni æ ¶â„¢Ã£ Å'㠁“㠁 ¼Ã£â€šÅ'㠁 ªÃ£ â€žÃ£â€šË†Ã£ â€ Ã£  «Nakinagara aruku æ ³ £Ã£  Ã£  ªÃ£ Å'ら æ ­ ©Ã£  Hitoribocchi no yoru ä ¸â‚¬Ã¤ º ºÃ£  ¼Ã£  £Ã£  ¡Ã£  ®Ã¥ ¤Å"(Whistling) Omoidasu aki no hi æ€ Ã£ â€žÃ¥â€¡ ºÃ£ â„¢ ç §â€¹Ã£  ®Ã¦â€" ¥Hitoribocchi no yoru ä ¸â‚¬Ã¤ º ºÃ£  ¼Ã£  £Ã£  ¡Ã£  ®Ã¥ ¤Å" Kanashimi wa hoshi no kage ni æ‚ ²Ã£ â€"㠁 ¿Ã£  ¯Ã¦ËœÅ¸Ã£  ®Ã¥ ½ ±Ã£  «Kanashimi wa tsuki no kage ni æ‚ ²Ã£ â€"㠁 ¿Ã£  ¯Ã¦Å"ˆã  ®Ã¥ ½ ±Ã£  « Ue o muite arukou ä ¸Å Ã£â€šâ€™Ã¥ â€˜Ã£ â€žÃ£  ¦Ã¦ ­ ©Ã£ â€œÃ£ â€ Namida ga koborenai youni æ ¶â„¢Ã£ Å'㠁“㠁 ¼Ã£â€šÅ'㠁 ªÃ£ â€žÃ£â€šË†Ã£ â€ Ã£  «Nakinagara aruku æ ³ £Ã£  Ã£  ªÃ£ Å'ら æ ­ ©Ã£  Hitoribocchi no yoru ä ¸â‚¬Ã¤ º ºÃ£  ¼Ã£  £Ã£  ¡Ã£  ®Ã¥ ¤Å"(Whistling) Here is the translation of the Japanese lyrics. The English version of Sukiyaki recorded by A Taste of Honey doesnt have a literal translation. English Version I look up when I walkSo that the tears wont fallRemembering those spring daysBut I am all alone tonight I look up when I walkCounting the stars with tearful eyesRemembering those summer daysBut I am all alone tonight Happiness lies beyond the cloudsHappiness lies above the sky I look up when I walkSo that the tears wont fallThough the tears well up as I walkFor tonight I am all alone(Whistling) Remembering those autumn daysBut I am all alone tonight Sadness lies in the shadow of the starsSadness lurks in the shadow of the moon I look up as I walkSo that the tears wont fallThough the tears well up as I walkFor tonight I am all alone(Whistling) Grammar Notes Muite is te-form of the verb muku (to face). The te-form is used to connect two or more verbs. In this sentence, the verbs muku and aruku are connected.Arukou is volitional form of the verb, aruku (to walk).Koborenai is the negative form of the verb, koboreru (to fall, to drop) ~ youni. ~ youni means, in order that ~. Nai youni means, in order not to ~. Here are some examples.Gakkou ni okurenai youni hayaku okiru. Ã¥ ­ ¦Ã¦   ¡Ã£  «Ã© â€¦Ã£â€šÅ'㠁 ªÃ£ â€žÃ£â€šË†Ã£ â€ Ã£  «Ã¦â€" ©Ã£  Ã¨ µ ·Ã£  Ã£â€šâ€¹Ã£â‚¬â€š- I get up early so that Im not late for school.Kaze o hikanai youni ki o tsuketeiru. 㠁‹ã Å"を㠁 ²Ã£ â€¹Ã£  ªÃ£ â€žÃ£â€šË†Ã£ â€ Ã£  «Ã¦ °â€"を㠁 ¤Ã£ â€˜Ã£  ¦Ã£ â€žÃ£â€šâ€¹Ã£â‚¬â€š- Im taking care of myself so that I dont catch a cold.Nijinda is informal perfective ending for the verb, nijimu (to blot, to blur). It modifies the noun, hoshi (star). It means with teary eyes the stars looked blurry.~ nagara of nakinagara  indicates that two actions are taking place simultaneously. Here are some examples.Terebi o minagara, asagohan o taberu. ãÆ'†ãÆ' ¬Ã£Æ'“ã‚’è ¦â€¹Ã£  ªÃ£ Å'ら〠Ã¦Å" Ã£ â€Ã£  ¯Ã£â€šâ€œÃ£â€šâ€™Ã© £Å¸Ã£  ¹Ã£â€šâ€¹Ã£â‚¬â€š- I watch television while I eat breakfast.Ongaku o kikinagara, benkyou suru. éŸ ³Ã¦ ¥ ½Ã£â€šâ€™Ã¨ Å¾Ã£  Ã£  ªÃ£ Å'ら〠Ã¥â€¹â€°Ã¥ ¼ ·Ã£ â„¢Ã£â€šâ€¹Ã£â‚¬â€š- I listen to music while I study.