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Singing “Sukiyaki” in difficult times – By GEORGE BRAINE All round the world, at the height of covid, people paid tribute to frontline medical workers in various ways. In Japan, where I live, thousands across generations – from schoolchildren to grandparents –  sang a 60-year old song, “Ue O Muite Aruko” (“I look up as I walk”). Known to the rest of the world as “Sukiyaki”, the song became an instant hit in 1961 and went onto become one of the world’s best-selling singles of all time. This song has a special resonance for me. I first heard “Sukiyaki” on Radio Ceylon being sung by The Blue Diamonds, two brothers of Indonesian/Dutch origin. The lyrics went “The charms of Sukiyaki The arms of Sukiyaki Are all I long for since I left Nagasaki Why did I roam Far away from home I hope that she will wait for me …” ...