Sakamoto Kyu

Sakamoto Kyu坂(さか)本(もと)九(きゅう)
Profile
Kanji	坂(さか)本(もと)九(きゅう)
Real Name	Oshima Hisashi (大島九)
Stage Name	Sakamoto Kyu (坂本九)
Nicknames	Kyu-chan (九ちゃん)
Former names	Sakamoto Hisashi (坂本九)
Born	December 10, 1941
Birth Place	Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
Died	August 12, 1985 (Aged 43)
Blood Type	A
Zodiac Sign	Sagittarius
Professional Information
Genre	Kayokyoku, J-Pop
Occupation	Singer-songwriter, Guitarist
Years Active	1958-1985
Label	Universal Music Japan Victor Entertainment (1959) Toshiba Records (1960-1984) FUN HOUSE (1985)
Former Band	The Drifters Danny Iida & Paradise King
Join Date	May 1958 (The Drifters) December 1958 (Danny Iida & Paradise King)
Graduated	December 1958 (The Drifters) 1963 (Danny Iida & Paradise King)
Links
Website	Official Website

Oshima Hisashi (大島九), better known as Sakamoto Kyu (坂本九), was a Japanese singer song writer and guitarist.

Prior to his solo debut he was a second vocalist and guitarist of The Drifters, and of Danny Iida & Paradise King.

He joined The Drifters in May 1958, got promoted to a full member in August 1958, and withdrew in December 1958.

He joined Danny Iida & Paradise King in December 1958 and left in 1963.

He passed away in a plane crash on August 12, 1985.

Discography

Albums

1. [1963.05.20] Kyu-chan no Uta (九ちゃんの歌; Kyu-chan Songs)
2. [1964.08.xx] Kyu-chan no Uta Dai 2 Shuu (九ちゃんの唄　第２集)
3. [1967.01.15] Kyu-chan Meiji wo Utau (九ちゃん明治を歌う; Kyu-chan Sings Meiji Era Songs)
4. [1969.07.10] Kyu-chan to Utaou (九ちゃんと歌おう; Let's Sing with Kyu-chan)
5. [1970.05.05] Sakamoto Kyu Hit Parade (坂本九ひっと・ぱれーど)
6. [1972.07.05] Sakamoto Kyu Presley wo Utau (坂本九 プレスリーを唄う; Sakamoto Kyu Sings Presley)
7. [1975.12.01] TURNING POINT (ターニング・ポイント)
8. [1979.06.20] 689

Best Albums

1. [1967.07.06] Kyu-chan no Best Hit Parade (九ちゃんのベスト・ヒット・パレード)
2. [1974.12.21] Sakamoto Kyu Zenkyoku Shuu (坂本九全曲集; Sakamoto Kyu Complete Collection)
3. [1985.10.19] Kyu Memorial (九・メモリアル)
4. [1985.12.21] BEST NOW Sakamoto Kyu Ue wo Muite Arukou (ＢＥＳＴ ＮＯＷ　坂本九　上を向いて歩こう; BEST NOW Sakamoto Kyu I Look Up as I Walk)
5. [1989.07.12] BIG ARTIST best COLLECTION Sakamoto Kyu (BIG ARTIST best COLLECTION 坂本九)
6. [1994.09.07] VERY BEST OF KYU SAKAMOTO
7. [1998.03.28] KYU SAKAMOTO Singles (坂本九・シングルズ)
8. [2002.06.19] Sakamoto Kyu Golden☆Best (坂本九ゴールデン☆ベスト)
9. [2003.08.20] OTOKU Series Sakamoto Kyu Best 30 (音得シリーズ　坂本九 ベスト３０)
10. [2004.08.04] Sakamoto Kyu Memorial Best (坂本九　メモリアル・ベスト)
11. [2005.10.26] CD＆DVD THE BEST ~ Ue wo Muite Arukou (CD＆DVD THE BEST 〜上を向いて歩こう; CD＆DVD THE BEST ~ I Look Up as I Walk)
12. [2007.09.10] BEST 99
13. [2011.10.12] 689 Complete (６８９ コンプリート)
14. [2017.12.06] Sakamoto Kyu Best ~ Kokoro no Hitomi (坂本 九 ベスト～心の瞳; Sakamoto Kyu Best ~ Eyes of the Heart)

Mini Albums

1. [1962.02.xx] Hitori Pocchi no Kyu-chan (ひとりぽっちの九ちゃん; Lonely Kyu-chan)
2. [1962.07.xx] Kyu-chan no Hanasaku Machikado (九ちゃんの花咲く街角; Kyu-chan's Flowering Street Corner)
3. [1963.01.17] Kyu-chan Ooi ni Utau (九ちゃん大いに歌う; Kyu-chan Sings a Lot)
4. [1964.06.xx] Ue wo Muite Arukou Compact 7 (上を向いて歩こう　コンパクト７; I Look Up as I Walk Compact 7)
5. [1964.10.xx] Sayonara Tokyo Compact 7 (サヨナラ東京　コンパクト７; Goodbye Tokyo Compact 7)
6. [1965.11.xx] Miike to Maraike Compact 7 (ミーケとマライケ　コンパクト７; Miike and Maraike Compact 7)
7. [1966.12.xx] Minna de Warai Masho Compact 7 (皆んなで笑いましょ　コンパクト７; Let's All Laugh Together Compact 7)
8. [1967.09.xx] Sekai no Kuni Kara Konnichiwa Compact 7 (世界の国からこんにちは　コンパクト７; Hello From All Over the World Compact 7)
9. [1967.09.xx] Ue wo Muite Arukou Compact 7
10. [1968.03.xx] Love Love Love Compact 7 (ラブ・ラブ・ラブ　コンパクト７)

Live Albums

1. [1966.10.05] Sakamoto Kyu Recital (坂本九リサイタル)
2. [1968.05.01] Sakamoto Kyu on Stage (坂本九オン・ステージ)

Singles

1. [1961.10.15] Ue wo Muite Arukou (上を向いて歩こう; I Look Up as I Walk)
2. [1962.02.01] Senjou ni You wa Ochite (戦場に陽は落ちて; The Sun Sets on the Battlefield)
3. [1962.05.01] Mou Hitori no Boku (もう一人のボク; Another Me)
4. [1962.07.01] Boku no Hoshi (ボクの星; My Star)
5. [1962.09.01] Let's Go Monogatari (レッツ・ゴー物語; Let's Go Story)
6. [1962.11.01] Hitoribotchi no Futari (一人ぼっちの二人; Two People Alone)
7. [1963.02.28] Kyu-chan no Tsun Tsun Bushi (九ちゃんのツンツン節; Kyu-chan Tsun Tsun Section)
8. [1963.05.01] Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi wo (見上げてごらん夜の星を; Look Up at the Stars at Night)
9. [1963.09.01] Kaeritai Boku (帰りたい僕; I Want to Go Home)
10. [1963.12.01] Ashita ga Arusa (明日があるさ; There's Always Tomorrow)
11. [1963.12.15] Komacchau yo (困っちゃうよ; I'm in Trouble)
12. [1964.05.15] Shiawase Nara te wo Tatakou (幸せなら手をたたこう; If You're Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands)
13. [1964.07.15] Sayonara Tokyo (サヨナラ東京; Goodbye Tokyo)
14. [1964.10.05] Yoake no Uta (夜明けの唄; Song of Dawn)
15. [1965.03.05] Tomodachi (ともだち; Friend)
16. [1965.05.15] Namida-kun Sayonara (涙くんさよなら; Goodbye Mr. Tears)
17. [1965.12.05] Boku ga Kimi Nara (僕が君なら; If I Were You)
18. [1966.02.05] Ashita Tenki ni Naare (あした天気になーれ; Tomorrow Will Be a Beautiful Day)
19. [1966.03.05] Kuchibue Dake ga (口笛だけが; Only Whistling)
20. [1966.07.05] Kekkouda ne Ondo (結構だね音頭)
21. [1966.08.05] Kanashimi no Bypass (哀しみのバイパス; Bypass of Sorrow)
22. [1966.09.15] Minna de Warai Masho (皆んなで笑いましょ; Let's All Laugh Together)
23. [1966.11.05] Ma Aruku Natta (まあるくなった; Rounded)
24. [1967.01.15] Yume wa Doko ni Aru (夢はどこにある; Where's the Dream)
25. [1967.03.01] Sekai no Kuni Kara Konnichiwa (世界の国からこんにちは; Hello From All Over the World)
26. [1967.05.15] Sayonara Sayonara (さよならさよなら; Goodbye Goodbye)
27. [1967.06.15] Enpitsu ga Ippon (エンピツが一本; One Pencil)
28. [1967.10.05] Shoujo (少女; Girl)
29. [1967.12.25] Love Love Love (ラブ・ラブ・ラブ)
30. [1968.03.05] Mado wo Ake wa Nashite Miyou (窓を開けはなしてみよう; Let's Open the Window)
31. [1968.05.05] Taiyo wa San San (太陽はさんさん; The Sun is Bright)
32. [1968.06.21] Wakamono Tachi (若者たち; Young People)
33. [1968.09.10] Congratulations (コングラチュレーションズ)
34. [1969.04.01] Onegai Desu (おねがいです; Please)
35. [1969.06.01] Chouchou (蝶々; Butterfly)
36. [1969.09.10] Tooi Mukashi no Haha no Mune ni (遠い昔の母の胸に; In My Mother's Chest Long Ago)
37. [1969.12.20] Dare ka to Dare ka ga (誰かと誰かが; Someone with Someone Else)
38. [1970.07.05] Minna de Tsukurou (みんなでつくろう; Let's Make it Together)
39. [1970.12.21] Wakaru Darou (わかるだろう; You Know)
40. [1971.05.05] Konoyo no Aru Kagiri (この世のある限り; As Long as This World Exists)
41. [1971.09.25] Ginza no Yoru (銀座の夜; Ginza Night)
42. [1972.02.05] Taiyou to Tsuchi to Mizu wo (太陽と土と水を; Sun, Earth, and Water)
43. [1972.06.05] Boku ni Makasete Okure (ぼくにまかせておくれ; Leave It to Me)
44. [1972.12.01] Clap Your Hands (クラップ・ユア・ハンド)
45. [1973.05.05] Yoru mo Hiru mo (夜も昼も; Night and Day)
46. [1973.12.01] Yuuyake no Sora (夕やけの空; Sunset Sky)
47. [1975.04.20] Nakitaku Nattara Sora wo Miyou (泣きたくなったら空を見よう; When You Feel Like Crying, Look to the Sky)
48. [1975.12.01] WHY
49. [1976.01.20] Uchi no Otousan (うちのお父さん; My Father)
50. [1976.10.xx] Nanikaii Koto Ari Sou na (何かいいことありそうな; Sounds Like Something Good)
51. [1978.06.05] Jiyuu e no Tabidachi (自由への旅立ち; Journey to Freedom)
52. [1979.06.20] Ano Toki no Yakusoku (あの時の約束; The Promise of That Time)
53. [1980.04.05] Kekkon Tsuuchi (結婚通知; Marriage Notice)
54. [1980.11.21] My Town My Heart (マイタウン・マイハート)
55. [1982.02.21] Oyaji (親父; Father)
56. [1985.05.22] Natsukashiki love-song (懐しきlove-song; Nostalgic love-song)

Collaboration Singles

1. [1961.11.01] Itsumo I Love You (いつもアイ・ラヴ・ユー; Always I Love You) (w/ Moriyama Kayoko)
2. [1963.12.01] Shouri no Hata (勝利の旗; Victory Flag) (w/ Shibata Isao)
3. [1965.09.15] Miike to Maraike (ミーケとマライケ; Miike and Maraike) (w/ Kai Nagisa)
4. [1965.11.05] Shiawase no Uta (幸せのうた; Happy Song) (w/ Kokonoe Yumiko)
5. [1978.xx.xx] Fuchu Ondo (府中音頭) (w/ Kaya Mayuri)
6. [1983.08.21] Yume Miru ko Neko (夢みる小ねこ; Dreamy Little Cat) (w/ Duke Aces)
7. [1983.11.21] Bucchigiri NO Monku (ぶっちぎりNO文句; Absolutely NO Complaints) (w/ XQS)

Other Singles

1. [1965.04.15] Kyu-chan Ondo / Kyu-chan no Tsun Tsun Bushi
2. [1969.07.01] Tomodachi / Namida-kun Sayonara
3. [1969.10.01] Jidousha ko Boo Boo Boo / Red Kiss
4. [1976.10.20] Ue wo Muite Arukou / Shiawase Nara te wo Tatakou

Box Sets

1. [1994.09.07] Sakamoto Kyu Memorial Box 1941-1985 (坂本九 メモリアル・ボックス１９４１−１９８５)
2. [2004.07.22] Sakamoto Kyu Single Zenshuu (坂本九シングル全集; Kyu Sakamoto Single Complete Works)

Video Releases

1. [1995.08.09] 7 Ji ni Aima Show (７時にあいまショー; Aima Show at 7)
2. [2013.04.24] 1963 Ue wo Muite Arukou (１９６３上を向いて歩こう)

Trivia

• He was the youngest of 9 kids (He had 2 full siblings and 6 half siblings)
• In 1956, Hisashi's mother got custody over her 3 children, and Hisashi was the only child changing his surname from Sakamoto to Oshima
• He was married to actress Kashiwagi Yukiko (柏木由紀子)
  • They had two daughters together. The oldest is Oshima Hanako (大島花子) and the youngest is Oshima Maiko (大島舞子)

External Links

• Official Website