Net Worth →
Artists

Kyū Sakamoto: Biography, Facts and Career

Who is Kyū Sakamoto? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.

By the Pop Culture Files editorial team4 min read✓ Fact-checked
Kyū Sakamoto
Kyu9 via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Hisashi "Kyu" Sakamoto (Japanese: 坂本 九, Hepburn: Sakamoto Hisashi or Sakamoto Kyū; 10 December 1941 – 12 August 1985), legally registered as Hisashi Ōshima (大島 九, Ōshima Hisashi) since 1956, was a Japanese singer and actor. He was best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Arukō" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. He was also the first Japanese artist to have a number one single on the Australian singles chart. Sakamoto died on 12 August 1985 in the crash of Japan Air Lines Flight 123.

Quick facts about Kyū Sakamoto

  • Full name: Kyū Sakamoto
  • Born: 1941-12-10
  • Nationality: Japan
  • Known as: Musician
  • Wikidata ID: Q313081

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Kyū Sakamoto?

Hisashi "Kyu" Sakamoto (Japanese: 坂本 九, Hepburn: Sakamoto Hisashi or Sakamoto Kyū; 10 December 1941 – 12 August 1985), legally registered as Hisashi Ōshima (大島 九, Ōshima Hisashi) since 1956, was a Japanese singer and actor. He was best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Arukō" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies.

What nationality is Kyū Sakamoto?

Kyū Sakamoto is Japan.

When was Kyū Sakamoto born?

Kyū Sakamoto was born on 1941-12-10.

Sources

More in Music