Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 14
Bringing in the New Year with a message of hope, Tetseo Sisters have released a cover of the beloved Japanese song "Ue O Muite Arukou" made famous by Kyu Sakumoto in 1961 in Japan and 1963 in US.
Set in the midst of the golden cosmos of Kohima, the bittersweet song captures the mood of the New Year, 2022 - Uncertain but Hopeful.
“Ue o Muite Arukou,” also known as “Sukiyaki,” by Kyu Sakamoto is a moving song that translates across languages and cultures. It’s at once sorrowful and hopeful.
The light melody bubbles at the surface and sparks joy in listeners. Yet the lyrics are more bittersweet and sad. It’s a song about loss, love and alienation and it perfectly captures the mixed emotions of the times we are in now as it does when the song was written.
Although “Ue o Muite Arukou” is a song that appears to be about a young couple falling out of love, the real inspiration for the song’s mournful lyrics by Rokusuke Ei was the political tension and protests in Japan during the late 1950s.
At the time, young people in Japan were protesting against the Japanese government’s security treaty with the United States and the continued military occupation. Thousands of people in Japan protested. Despite their efforts, the two governments agreed to the treaty. The lyricist, like many Japanese youth at the time, felt as though they were powerless. Yet at the same time, they believed they were on the cusp of immense political change.
Ei decided to capture his feelings using phrases that are more universal across cultures. The sadness he feels for the present and the spark of hope he has for the future are emotions that everyone can relate to and is well expressed in the song. This is what makes “Ue o Muite ArukÖ” such a powerful song about loss and hope.
“Ue o muite arukou” (I look up when I walk)
“Namida ga kobore naiyouni” (So the tears won’t fall)
“Omoidasu harunohi” (Remembering those happy spring days)
“Hitoribotchi no yoru.” (But tonight I’m all alone.)
“Shiawase wa kumo no ueni” (Happiness lies beyond the clouds)
“Shiawase wa sora no ueni” (Happiness lies above the sky)
Even though the lyrics were sung entirely in Japanese, Sakamoto’s song was a massive hit in English-speaking countries. And it is still one of the best-selling singles of all time in the United States. The song sold more than 13 million copies worldwide. Tetseo Sisters's lilting version has premiered on their official YouTube channel @tetseosisters.
