My Take
Rokusuke Ei is one of those rare people who slipped quietly into the ears of the entire world without most of the world ever knowing his name. He wrote the lyrics to "Ue wo Muite Aruko" — that bittersweet, head-tilted-upward walk through loneliness — and when it crossed the Pacific and hit number one in America in 1963 under the bewildering title "Sukiyaki," it became the only Japanese-language song ever to top the U.S. Billboard chart. What I find quietly remarkable is how much of his genius was in the simplicity: a few words, a mood, a posture. Beyond that one global moment he spent decades as a broadcaster and radio host who talked to Japan like a wise, slightly mischievous neighbor. He earned the Kikuchi Kan Prize in 2000 and wore the recognition lightly. A man who made the whole world look up — that's a legacy worth remembering.
Overview
Rokusuke Ei (1933–2016) was a Japanese lyricist, television host, and broadcasting writer born in Tokyo. He is best known for writing the lyrics to "Ue wo Muite Aruko," which became an international hit under the title "Sukiyaki" in the United States. He was a multifaceted figure who worked across television, radio, and the entertainment industry from its early years in Japan. In 2000, he received the Kikuchi Kan Prize in recognition of his contributions to Japanese culture and media.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Rokusuke Ei
- Name (Japanese)
- 永六輔
- Reading
- えい ろくすけ
- Born
- April 10, 1933 – July 7, 2016
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Rooster (酉)
- Origin
- Tokyo, Japan
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Active years
- Unknown
- Occupation
- Television Host / Lyricist / Entertainer / Broadcasting Writer
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Waseda University
- Debut
- Unknown
Awards & achievements
- Kikuchi Kan Prize (2000)
- Golden Arrow Award (year unknown)
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B0%B8%E5%85%AD%E8%BC%94
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.