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Kyū
Coloured belts are worn by kyū ranked practitioners in many martial arts, including judo, karate, Kuk Sool Won and taekwondo.
Japanese name
Kanji:	級
Hiragana:	きゅう
Transliterations - Revised Hepburn: kyū

Kyū (級^?)[kjuː] is a Japanese term used in martial arts, the tea ceremony, flower arranging, go, shogi, academic tests and other similar activities to designate various grades, levels or class of proficiency or experience. In China, kyū (級) is called "ji", and it is used for academic tests. In Korea, the term geup (급) is used (also transliterated as gup or kup).

History[link]

In 1882, Kanō Jigorō, the founder of Judo, established the system of Dan ranking to measure the Judo practitioners' ability. This system was referred to the Dan ranking system of Go, the ancient board game. Some organizations of academic tests started using the Kyū ranking system to measure candidates' ability.^[1]

Similarly, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department started a ranking system using Kyū to measure the police officers' ability in Kendo. Grades were from 8th to 1st.^[2]

In the 1890s, the Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society introduced the dan and kyū ranking system to other martial arts in Japan.^[3]

Martial arts usage[link]

The certificate of 8th kyū in karate.

In Japanese martial arts, kyū-level practitioners hold the ranks below dan or black belt. The kyū ranking system varies from art to art and school to school. In some arts, all the kyū-level practitioners wear white belts while in others different coloured belts, tags or stripes are used; in kendo and aikido there are not usually external indicators of grade. Although some aikido schools do use a coloured belt system the norm is for kyū grades to wear a white belt, and for dan grades to wear a black belt.^[4] Kyū-level practitioners are often called mudansha (無段者^?), "ones without dan" and are considered as initiates rather than students. When practitioners have reached the ranking of first degree black belt, they become shodansha (初段者^?). The holder of a black belt of any degree is a yūdansha (有段者^?), "one with dan".

Academic tests usage[link]

The certificate of Pre 2nd kyū Japanese Kanji examination.

The organizations of martial arts are not only issuers, but the organizations of academic tests also issue Kyū grading system and dan ranking system. Some organizations of academic tests started Kyū ranking system to measure the candidates' ability. For instance, the Japanese Kanji Aptitude Test Association issue the gradings from 10th to 1st Kyū, and it also provides Pre-1st and Pre 2nd Kyū.^[5]

List of Kyū ranks[link]

Some martial arts refer to the kyū ranks entirely in Japanese. Kyū ranks progress using a descending order system, so 1st kyū is the highest. For example, the first kyū outranks the 2nd kyū. The Dan ranking system starts after 1st kyū. Essentially, the kyū is the number of steps before reaching mastery whereas the dan gives steps into mastery.

Pre-1st kyū　and pre-2nd kyū are used in examinations of languages, because it is often hard to pass the examinations at 1st and 2nd kyū.

The lowest kyū is sometimes called "Mukyū"(無級) which means "Non-Grade" in English. The lowest kyū depends on organizations. For instance, the United States Judo Federation has 12th kyū as the lowest grade for junior class, and 7th kyū as the lowest for adult class.

In Japan, the difficulty is classified into 3 categories as in the following list.

Kyū ranks in China[link]

The grading system of Kyū is imported to China too. Kyū (級) in China is called "ji" (same character different pronunciation), and 1st kyu is the lowest as same as descending order. For example, the Chinese language test certified HSK uses 6th ji as the highest grade.

Coloured belts[link]

In some styles, students wear white belts until they receive their first dan rank or black belt, while in others a range of colors are used for different kyū grades. The wearing of coloured belts is often associated with kyū ranks, particularly in modern martial arts such as karate and judo (where the practice originated). However, there is no standard association of belt colours with particular ranks and different schools and organizations assign colours independently; see judo for examples of variation within an art. However, white is often the lowest ranked belt and brown is the highest kyū rank, and it is common to see the darker colors associated with the higher ranks, i.e. the closest to black belt.

The system of using different colored belts to mark rank is not universally accepted in the martial arts. Supporters of the belt colors point out their use as a simple visual key for experience, such as in matching opponents for sparring, allowing opponents to somewhat accurately judge each other's skill, and to split them for competitions.^[6] Those who oppose the use of coloured belts are also often concerned that students will worry too much about relative rank, and become arrogant with trivial promotions and differences,^[7]while supporters feel that by providing small signs of success and recognition, students are more confident, and their training is more structured, and that the ranking system encourages higher ranked students to assist lower ranked ones, and lower ranked students to respect their seniors.

See also[link]

Martial arts portal

• Dan (rank)
• Judo#Rank and grading
• Go ranks and ratings
• Karate#Rank
• List of martial arts

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Martial arts

• Martial arts at the Open Directory Project
• World Martial Arts Community
• Martial art books and resources

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Kyu Sakamoto 坂本 九
Background information
Also known as	Kyu-chan
Born	(1941-11-10)November 10, 1941
Origin	Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
Died	August 12, 1985(1985-08-12) (aged 43)
Genres	Pop, kayōkyoku, rock
Occupations	singer, songwriter, actor, TV personality
Instruments	Guitar, piano, trumpet
Years active	1958–1959 (The Drifters) 1959–1960 (Danny Iida & his paradise kings) 1961–1985 (solo)
Labels	Toshiba Records (Toshiba-EMI)
Associated acts	Danny Iida and the Paradise Kings, Kayoko Moriyama
Website	www.sakamoto-kyu.com

Kyu Sakamoto (坂本 九, Sakamoto Kyū^?, born Hisashi Oshima (大島 九, Ōshima Hisashi^?), 10 November 1941 – 12 August 1985) was a Japanese singer and actor, best known outside of Japan for his international hit song "Sukiyaki", which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963.

Biography[link]

Early years (1941–1949)[link]

Childhood in Kawasaki and Kasama[link]

Kyu Sakamoto with his sister Yachiyo Endo in 1956

Kyu Sakamoto was born on 10 November 1941, in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture to the tender cargo officer Hiroshi Sakamoto and Iku Oshima. He was the youngest among nine siblings—his nickname Kyu, meaning 'nine', is an alternate reading of the kanji (九) for his given name (Hisashi). Iku had two sons from an earlier relationship and Hiroshi three sons and three daughters. Kyu was their third and last child together.

In the summer of 1944 during the air raids over the greater Tokyo area, including Kawasaki, Iku fled with the younger children, including Kyu, and his siblings Teruaki, Yachiyo and Azuma to their grandparents, Seri and Aou Oshima who lived on the countryside in Kasama. In the summer of 1949 the family was reunited and moved back to Kawasaki. Like many other Japanese companies, Hiroshi's office was disbanded by the American occupation forces. Shortly after that, he started a restaurant together with Iku.^[1]

(1956–1958)[link]

Teenage life[link]

In 1956, when Sakamoto was still in junior high school, his parents divorced. It was Hiroshi's heavy drinking and long history of economic problems that made them separate. Iku was given custody over the minor children they had together and they were given the surname "Oshima" while the remaining children kept the family name "Sakamoto". When Sakamoto began high school his interest in music grew and he started playing the trumpet in the school band. He began singing later and became very popular. In 1958 he joined the Japanese pop-band "The Drifters" as a singer.

First recordings (1959–1960)[link]

JVC and Toshiba Records[link]

In May 1958, when Sakamoto was 16 years old he joined the Japanese pop-band The Drifters that had been formed three years earlier. Sakamoto was unhappy about his position in the band as second singer and this often led to fights with the other members. His big breakthrough as a band member came 26 August 1958 when he sang at the annual music festival "Western Carnival" at the Nichigeki hall. After a quarrel that ended in a fight with two of the other members, Sakamoto left the band in November 1958.

For a short period of time, Sakamoto returned to his studies and focused on entering the university. But in December 1958, he joined his classmate's Hisahiko Iida's band called "Danny Iida and Paradise King". He replaced Hiroshi Mizuhara as singer. Sakamoto's career took off, he ended his studies and left school. In June 1959, the band got a record deal at the JVC record company. "Danny Iida and Paradise King" and Sakamoto released their song "Kanashiki rokujyussai" in August 1960, which became a great hit. In the time after they released a number of songs that became very popular. This led to Sakamoto obtaining a record deal at the Toshiba Records company and left "Danny Iida & Paradise King" aiming at a solo career.^[2]

Solo career (1961–1985)[link]

Debut album and international success (1961–1964)[link]

Sakamoto's solo career was inaugurated with the love song "Ue o muite arukō" written by Rokusuke Ei and Hachidai Nakamura. The song was first heard on the NHK entertainment program "Yume de aimashou" on 16 August 1961. It was a great success and was released on a red vinyl on October 15. It remained the highest selling record until January 1962, three months after its release.

His international breakthrough came in 1963 during a visit to Japan by Louis Benjamin, owner of British record company Pye Records. Hearing the song several times, Benjamin decided to bring it back to England. Due to concerns that the title would be too hard for English speakers to pronounce or remember, the song was renamed "Sukiyaki". The new title was intended to sound both catchy and distinctively Japanese, but had no actual connection to the song.

Initially, Pye Records released an instrumental version of the song recorded by Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen. After it went on to become a hit in England, His Master's Voice (HMV) released the original which also sold well, reaching sixth place in HMV's most sold records. Capitol Records released the song in the USA with the alternate title, eventually selling over one million copies and remaining number one on the "Billboard Hot 100 number one single" from June 15 to June 29.

After the international success of "Sukiyaki", Sakamoto went on a world tour that lasted from summer of 1963 to the beginning of 1964. Among the countries he visited were the United States (including Hawaii), Germany, and Sweden. During his time in the U.S., he was invited to appear in several television shows. On 13 August 1963, he landed at Los Angeles International Airport and was a guest of "The Steve Allen Show"^[3] that evening. He was supposed to be a guest on "The Ed Sullivan Show" as well, but this appearance was canceled due to a scheduling conflict with the production of his upcoming movie, Kyu-chan katana o nu ite.^[4]

Kyu Sakamoto had only one other song reach the U.S. charts, "China Nights (Shina no Yoru)" (Capitol 5016), which peaked at number 58 in 1963. His only American album, Sukiyaki and Other Japanese Hits (Capitol 10349), peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart (now known as the Billboard 200) in 1963 and remained on the Pop Albums chart for 17 weeks.

He received his sole foreign Gold Record of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) by Capitol Records on 15 May 1964 in Hotel Okura, Tokyo.

Later appearances[link]

During the 1964 Summer Olympics, he was featured on the famous Swedish TV-program "Hylands Hörna" broadcast live from Tokyo.^[5]

In 1968, Sakamoto and Hachidai Nakamura participated in the international singing contest "Festival Internacional da Canção" in Rio de Janeiro with the song "Sayounara, sayounara".^[6]

Marriage and family[link]

In 1971, Sakamoto married Japanese actress Yukiko Kashiwagi. The couple had two daughters, Hanako and Maiko.

Death[link]

On August 12, 1985, Kyu Sakamoto died in the crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123, the deadliest single-aircraft accident in Japan's history, and the third deadliest plane crash in history in terms of fatalities behind the September 11, 2001, attacks and the Tenerife airport disaster.

He is interred at Chōkoku-ji Temple in Minato, Tokyo.^[7]

Legacy[link]

His most popular song, "Ue o muite arukō" ("I look up when I walk") remains the only Japanese song to reach number one on the Billboard pop charts in the United States, a position it maintained for three weeks in 1963. It was also the first ever Japanese language song to enter the UK charts, though it only climbed to number 6 with no further chart entries.

"Sukiyaki" has been covered multiple times over the years, beginning with the instrumental by Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen. Well-known English-language cover versions include a 1981 cover by A Taste of Honey and a 1995 cover by 4 P.M., both of which made the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. In 1989, Selena's self-titled album contained a Spanish translation of the Taste of Honey cover which was released as a single in 1990. The English lyrics have also appeared in whole or in part in songs by performers including Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh (1985's "La Di Da Di"),^[8] Salt-n-Pepa (1985's "The Show Stopper"), Snoop Dogg (1988's "Lodi Dodi", a "La Di Da Di" cover), Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (1995's "Bless Da 40 Oz."), Raphael Saadiq (1995's "Ask of You", another to make the Hot 100), Mary J. Blige (1997's "Everything") and Will Smith (1999's "So Fresh", featuring Slick Rick).

An American version by Jewel Akens with different American lyrics written for it. Titled 'My First Lonely Night (Sukiyaki)' in 1966, the song reached #82 on the Billboard Hot 100.

On 16 March 1999, Japan Post issued a stamp commemorating Kyu Sakamoto and "Sukiyaki".^[9] The stamp is listed in the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue as Japan number 2666 with a face value of 50 yen.

Wii Music includes "Sukiyaki" in the "handbell harmony" section.^[10]

Discography[link]

• Sukiyaki And Other Japanese Hits (1963)
• Kyu Sakamoto Memorial Best (2005)
• Kyu Sakamoto CD & DVD The best (2005)

Filmography[link]

• Takekurabe (たけくらべ, 1955)
• Everything Goes Wrong (すべてが狂ってる Subete ga kurutteru, 1960)
• Kigeki: ekimae danchi (1961)
• Ushichi jini aimasho (1963)
• Clap your hands when you are happy (幸せなら手をたたこう Shiawase nara te o tatakō, 1964)
• Gulliver's Travels Beyond the Moon (Garibā no Uchū Ryokō, 1965)
• Kyu-chan's Big Dream (Kyu-chan no Dekkai Yume, 1967)
• Tokkan (1975)

Documentaries[link]

• Ue o Muite Arukō: Sakamoto Kyu Monogatari (2005)

Legacy[link]

• Kyu Sakamoto Memorial Hall
• The asteroid 6980 Kyusakamoto is named after Kyu Sakamoto.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Kyu Sakamoto's official website (Japanese)
• Kyu Sakamoto at the Internet Movie Database