{"rewrite":{"id":"r_f5ce42bf98e6dc28b2336ed9","clusterId":"c_c51ef236cbe2f866511df8b1","slug":"hiroko-yakushimaru-hiroshi-abe-join-cast-of-sukiyaki-ue-o-muite-arukou","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Hiroko Yakushimaru, Hiroshi Abe Join Cast of SUKIYAKI: Ue o Muite Arukou","summary":"The upcoming film SUKIYAKI: Ue o Muite Arukou has added six new cast members, including Hiroko Yakushimaru as Kyu Sakamoto's mother and Hiroshi Abe as a record producer. Directed by Takahisa Zeze, the film dramatizes the creation of the global hit song \"Ue o Muite Arukou\" (known internationally as \"Sukiyaki\") by composer Hachidai Nakamura, lyricist Rokusuke Ei, and singer Kyu Sakamoto, collectively called the \"689 Trio.\" Junichi Okada plays Nakamura, Tori Matsuzaka plays Ei, and Taiga Nakano plays Sakamoto. Yakushimaru portrays Iku Oshima, who warmly supports her son's path to stardom. Abe plays Nabeyama, a producer who challenges Nakamura to write popular songs. Junki Totsuka plays a television director working with Ei, and Rikako Yagi plays a female student involved in the Anpo protests. Kai Inowaki plays Nakamura's manager, and Maho Yamada plays a mother whose son loves the song. The film is scheduled for a December 25 release nationwide.","whyItMatters":"The casting of Yakushimaru and Abe, both established stars, signals the film's ambition to attract a broad audience to a period drama about the creation of Japan's most internationally recognized pop song.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eHiroko Yakushimaru, who previously co-starred with Taiga Nakano in the drama \u0026#34;The Man Who Was Picked Up,\u0026#34; said she was \u0026#34;really looking forward to reuniting\u0026#34; with the actor playing Kyu Sakamoto. She described her character, Iku Oshima, as \u0026#34;hardworking and deeply loving toward her children\u0026#34; and said she was \u0026#34;moved by her presence.\u0026#34;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHiroshi Abe, who has worked with director Takahisa Zeze on the films \u0026#34;In the Wake\u0026#34; and \u0026#34;Tombi,\u0026#34; plays the fictional producer Nabeyama. Abe said he based his performance on Susumu Watanabe, \u0026#34;who built the foundation of today\u0026#39;s music industry and entertainment world.\u0026#34; He added that he performed \u0026#34;with deep respect for his tremendous efforts, business ability, and the achievements left by our predecessors.\u0026#34;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJunki Totsuka plays a television director who works alongside lyricist Rokusuke Ei. Totsuka said director Zeze\u0026#39;s set was \u0026#34;fun, with the excitement of the work expanding, such as instantly reflecting words that came to mind during shooting into lines.\u0026#34; Rikako Yagi, cast as a female student involved in the Anpo protests, called it \u0026#34;a truly passionate set where everyone united to create something good.\u0026#34; She said she entrusted herself to \u0026#34;the gentle and soft atmosphere\u0026#34; of co-star Tori Matsuzaka.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKai Inowaki plays Nakamura\u0026#39;s manager, described as his \u0026#34;only musical confidant\u0026#34; as he moves from jazz into popular music. Maho Yamada plays the mother of a boy who loves the song. The screenplay is by Takehiko Minato. The previously announced cast includes Nana Seino, Mone Kamishiraishi, Riko Yoshida, Riisa Naka, and Tao Tsuchiya.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Hiroko Yakushimaru plays Kyu Sakamoto's mother in the film about the creation of 'Ue o Muite Arukou.' She said the character's unconditional love moved her.","twitterPost":"Hiroshi Abe joins SUKIYAKI: Ue o Muite Arukou as a producer who pushes composer Hachidai Nakamura into popular song. The film opens Dec 25.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Six new cast members join the film SUKIYAKI: Ue o Muite Arukou, including Hiroko Yakushimaru as Kyu Sakamoto's mother and Hiroshi Abe as a record producer. The period drama about the creation of the global hit song opens December 25.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Eiga Natalie\",\"url\":\"https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/676411\",\"title\":\"Hiroko Yakushimaru to Play Kyu Sakamoto's Mother in \\\"SUKIYAKI: Ue o Muite Arukou\\\"; Hiroshi Abe, Junki Totsuka, Rikako Yagi and 2 Others Also Join\"},{\"source\":\"Cinema Today\",\"url\":\"https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0155348\",\"title\":\"Hiroko Yakushimaru, Hiroshi Abe, Junki Tozuka, Rikako Yagi among new cast for 'SUKIYAKI Ue wo Muite Arukou'\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":11259,"outputTokens":1308,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1781652118,"createdAt":"2026-06-16T23:15:58.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-06-16T23:19:57.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-06-16T23:19:57.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_c51ef236cbe2f866511df8b1","canonicalTitle":"『SUKIYAKI 上を向いて歩こう』新キャストに薬師丸ひろ子、阿部寛、戸塚純貴、八木莉可子ら","representativeArticleId":"a_e4676db540d197110659771f","sourceCount":2,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"SUKIYAKI 上を向いて歩こう\"],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[\"薬師丸ひろ子\",\"阿部寛\",\"戸塚純貴\",\"八木莉可子\",\"井之脇海\",\"山田真歩\",\"岡田准一\",\"坂本九\"],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"other\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-06-16T20:00:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-06-16T20:00:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-06-16T23:19:57.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Eiga Natalie","url":"https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/676411","title":"薬師丸ひろ子「SUKIYAKI」で坂本九の母役、阿部寛・戸塚純貴・八木莉可子ら5名も参加"},{"source":"Cinema Today","url":"https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0155348","title":"『SUKIYAKI 上を向いて歩こう』新キャストに薬師丸ひろ子、阿部寛、戸塚純貴、八木莉可子ら"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["SUKIYAKI 上を向いて歩こう"],"studios":[],"people":["薬師丸ひろ子","阿部寛","戸塚純貴","八木莉可子","井之脇海","山田真歩","岡田准一","坂本九"],"type":"news","domain":"other","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Hiroko Yakushimaru and Hiroshi Abe are among six new cast members added to the film SUKIYAKI: Ue o Muite Arukou.","Yakushimaru plays Iku Oshima, the mother of singer Kyu Sakamoto, and said she was 'moved by her presence.'","Abe plays fictional producer Nabeyama, basing his performance on music industry figure Susumu Watanabe.","The film dramatizes the creation of the global hit song 'Ue o Muite Arukou' (known as 'Sukiyaki') by the '689 Trio' of composer Hachidai Nakamura, lyricist Rokusuke Ei, and singer Kyu Sakamoto.","SUKIYAKI: Ue o Muite Arukou is directed by Takahisa Zeze and is scheduled for a December 25 release nationwide."]}