“Sukiyaki,” originally titled “Ue o Muite Arukō,” is a Japanese pop song performed by Kyu Sakamoto that became a global phenomenon in the early 1960s. The song features a gentle, lilting melody paired with a restrained orchestral arrangement, conveying quiet resilience and emotional restraint. Although the Japanese lyrics speak of walking with one’s head held high to keep tears from falling, the English title “Sukiyaki” was chosen by the record label for international release due to its recognizability, despite having no lyrical connection to the song’s meaning. In 1963, “Sukiyaki” reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, making it the first Japanese-language song to top the chart. Its universal emotional tone, melodic simplicity, and understated elegance have made it a timeless classic and a landmark in the global circulation of pop music.