“It drives me a little nuts that they changed the name of this song to Sukiyaki because it was one of the few Japanese words English speakers knew at the time (a critic said it was like renaming Moon River "Beef Stew.") The real title translates as "I look up when I walk" which he does so his tears won't fall. Or, you know, a random foodstuff. Same emotion. The Wikipedia article is worth a read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukiyaki_(song)”
It drives me a little nuts that they changed the name of this song to Sukiyaki because it was one of the few Japanese words English speakers knew at the time (a critic said it was like renaming Moon River "Beef Stew.") The real title translates as "I look up when I walk" which he does so his tears won't fall. Or, you know, a random foodstuff. Same emotion. The Wikipedia article is worth a read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukiyaki_(song)