Sukiyaki Song Meaning: What “Ue o Muite Arukō” Really Means
The song known in English as “Sukiyaki” is really called 上を向いて歩こう (Ue o Muite Arukō), which means “I’ll walk looking up” — or, as it is often translated, “let’s walk with our heads held high”.
Breaking down the title
| 上 (ue) | up, above |
| を (o) | particle marking what you face or act on |
| 向いて (muite) | facing, turned toward — from 向く (muku), to face |
| 歩こう (arukō) | let’s walk / I’ll walk — from 歩く (aruku), to walk |
The -ō ending of arukō is the volitional form. It can mean “let’s” or “I will”, which is why the title is translated both ways.
What the song is about
Someone walks along looking up at the sky so their tears won’t fall, holding on to hope through sadness. It was written by lyricist Rokusuke Ei and composer Hachidai Nakamura, sung by Kyu Sakamoto, and released in Japan in 1961.
Why it’s called “Sukiyaki”
For the British and American releases, the record company decided listeners would struggle with the Japanese title and renamed it after sukiyaki, a beef hot-pot dish that has nothing to do with the song. Under that name it reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963 and held the top spot for three weeks — the first Japanese-language song to do so. Sakamoto died in the Japan Airlines Flight 123 crash in 1985.
Translate your own Japanese with the Japanese translator.