Final answer:
Sakamoto Kyu wrote 'Ue o Muite Arukō', also known as 'Sukiyaki', which was the first Japanese pop song to gain international popularity, reaching the top of the U.S. charts in 1963 and becoming a classic that demonstrated the global appeal of Japanese music.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sakamoto Kyu wrote 'Ue o Muite Arukō' ('I Look Up As I Walk'), known in English as 'Sukiyaki', which was the first Japanese pop song to hit international audiences. The song climbed the charts worldwide, including reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in 1963. 'Sukiyaki' marked a significant milestone in the globalization of Japanese music, showing that songs originating from Japan could resonate with people across the globe and be successful with international audiences. While the song's lyrics reflect a sense of melancholy and loss, its catchy tune transcended language barriers, making it an enduring classic that still receives airplay to this day.