My First Lonely Night

“My First Lonely Night” (aka “Sukiyaki,” originally “Ue o Muite Arukō”), written by Hachidai Nakamura with new English lyrics by Buzz Cason and Tommy Garrett, recorded by Boots Clements, 1986. Jay Dee Maness on pedal steel. The original recording of the song, with Japanese lyrics by Rokusuke Ei, was a global hit for singer Kyu Sakamoto in the 1960s.

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‘Ue o Muite Arukō’ (Sukiyaki)

In June 1963 a Japanese-language record spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard charts. Few Americans knew what pop idol Kyû Sakamoto was singing about or the real name of the song, but the wistful tune was catchy, and the emotion evident. The song, written by Hachidai Nakamura with lyrics by Rokusuke Ei, was “Ue o Muite Arukō” (“I Shall Walk Looking Up”) but in the USA it was called “Sukiyaki” since that was a Japanese word Americans knew.