# The “Sukiyaki” Phenomenon: The Song Behind the Tokyo Film Festival’s Opening Movie

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-sukiyaki-phenomenon-the-song-behind-the-tokyo-film-festivals-opening-movie/
- Published: 2026-10-27T05:38:20+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-27T07:20:39+00:00
- Original publisher: The Hollywood Reporter
- Original article: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-features/sukiyaki-movie-explainer-1236738909/
- Topics: Americas, Art, Asia, Culture, Entertainment, Film, Music, World

## Key points

- The 2026 Tokyo film festival opens with a drama about “Sukiyaki”.
- Sakamoto’s recording led the U.S. chart for three weeks in 1963.
- The song sold more than 13 million copies worldwide.

## Summary

The 2026 Tokyo International Film Festival opens with *Sukiyaki*, a drama about the creation of the song that became an international hit. The film follows composer Hachidai Nakamura, lyricist Rokusuke Ei and singer Kyu Sakamoto; the song’s success also became a source of pride for Japan as it recovered from postwar defeat and occupation.

Nakamura and Ei wrote “Ue o Muite Aruko” in 1961, drawing on jazz, Japanese musical scales and American pop, while Ei’s lyrics reflected sadness over the failed Anpo protests. Sakamoto performed it with little preparation, and the song sold 300,000 copies in Japan before British bandleader Kenny Ball helped introduce it overseas under the title “Sukiyaki”. Sakamoto’s original recording topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in 1963, making him the only Japanese artist to reach No. 1 there; the single eventually sold more than 13 million copies worldwide.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.