June 24, 20223 yr If anyone can think of a Japanese act, other than Yoko Ono, to have a top ten hit, perhaps they could let me know. Maybe I’ve forgotten someone obvious. There was a Japanese artist that had a top 10 hit back in 1963, and even more surprising for the time is that it was sung in Japanese. Kyu Sakamoto had a #5 hit with "Sukiyaki". What isn't surprising for the time is that "Sukiyaki" wasn't the original name of the song - it is "Ue o Muite Arukō", a song about looking up as you walk so you won't cry. It was changed to "Sukiyaki" as it was a Japanese food that Westeners were familiar with at the time, and is not mentioned in the lyrics, and has no bearing on the song. A few other Japanese artists have had top 40 singles before - Yellow Magic Orchestra had a #17 hit with the great instrumental "Computer Game" in 1980, and Ryuchi Sakamoto had a Top 20 hit in 1983 with "Forbidden Colours", taken from the soundtrack of the David Bowie film "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence" (and later formed the basis of Watergate's 2000 hit "Heart of Asia"). *edit* noticed the popcharkfreak mentioned the same songs in the article itself.
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