# Saki Kubota

Sayuri Kume (Japanese: 久米小百合 (Kume Sayuri)), also known as Saki Kubota (Japanese: 久保田早紀 (Kubota Saki)), is a Japanese singer-songwriter whose song Ihojin (1979) (Japanese: 異邦人) sold more than 1.4 million copies and reached number 1 in the Japanese singles chart. The song was used in the "Silk Road" television commercial for Sanyo.
Her album Yumegatari (Japanese: 夢がたり) stayed at number 1 in the Oricon chart for seven consecutive weeks from 31 December 1979 to 11 February 1980. Her album Tenkai (Japanese: 天界) reached number 11 in the Japanese chart in 1980. Her album Saudade (Japanese: サウダーデ) reached number 54 in the Japanese chart. Her album Yoruno Sokowa Yawarakana Maboroshi (1984) has been described as her greatest masterpiece.
Her single Nijūgoji (1980) (Japanese: 25時) reached number 19 in the Japanese chart. Her single Kugatsu No Iro (Japanese: 九月の色) (1980) reached number 51 in the Japanese chart. Her single Orange Airmail Special (Japanese: オレンジ・エアメール・スペシャル) (1981) reached number 62 in the Japanese chart.
She appeared on The Best Ten, Yoru no Hit Studio, and Music Fair.
She sang songs in the new music genre (Japanese: ニューミュージック, nyū myūjikku). She has been described as the standard bearer of that genre.
She was awarded the female newcomer award (Japanese: 女性新人賞) at the 13th Japan record sales awards (Japanese: 日本レコードセールス大賞) in 1980.
In January 2020, a box set was released under the title Saki Kubota Premium to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her debut in 1979.

## Life

She was born on 11 May 1958 in Kunitachi, Tokyo, and moved to Hachioji at the age of thirteen.
She attended a sunday school where hymns were sung. She was aware of the music of Akai Tori, Akiko Yano, The Beatles Shigeru Izumiya, Takuro Yoshida, and Yuming, and listened to music by Garo.
She began to write lyrics and compose music when she was in senior high school (kōtōgakkō, abbreviated to kōkō).
She plays the piano.
She was educated at the Second Kyoritsu Girl's Senior High School (Kyōritsu joshi dai ni kōkō). She graduated from the Department of Literature at Kyoritsu Women's Junior College, and the Department of Theology at the Tokyo Baptist Theological Seminary of the Japan Baptist Convention.
She was baptised in 1981. In 1985, she married Daisaku Kume (Japanese: 久米大作), son of Akira Kume.
Since her marriage, she has used her real married name, Sayuri Kume, for her Christian music, instead of using the stage name "Saki", which she used for her music from 1979 to 1984. She released four albums of Christian music from 1987 to 2017. In 2007, she became a goodwill ambassador for the Japan Bible Society.
In 2004, Saki Kubota was number 65 in the mora annual download rankings for artists. In 2007, Shūkan Shōwa Taimuzu featured her on the back cover as person of the moment (Japanese: 時の人) for 1980. As of 2024, there is nostalgia for Saki Kubota as an artist in the new music genre in the 1980s. According to a survey by the Sankei Shimbun, when votes for folk, rock and pop songs were tallied by artist, she was found to be the 16th most popular artist of the Shōwa era in those genres.
She appeared at the Tōkyō Kirisuto kyōgaku-en school festival in 1989, and at a Christmas event in Yokohama in 2024.
After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, she was a co-founder of "Tōhoku Ōendan Love East" (Japanese: 東北応援団LOVE EAST).
She influenced the music of Tomoyo Harada.

## Concerts

Her appearance at the Nakano Sun Plaza Hall was relayed by NHK-FM on 3 March 1980. She participated in a concert broadcast live on FM Tokyo on 27 April 1980.
Her farewell concert was on 26 November 1984. A video recording of the concert was released under the title Saki Kubota Farewell Concert (Japanese: 久保田早紀 フェアウェルコンサート) on VHS and Betamax in 1985, and on DVD in 2011. A live album was released on CD. The concert was held at Kudan Kaikan in Tokyo.
Her 40th anniversary concert was held in 2021, having been postponed. It was broadcast on Tokyo MX in 2022.
She participated in a gospel concert held at Yomiuri Land in 1992. She participated in a Christmas concert held at Himeji Shimin Kaikan (Japanese: 姫路市民会館) in Himeji on 10 December 2000. She participated in a charity concert in 2010. She participated in a Christmas concert in the Omi Gakudo hall (Japanese: 近江楽堂) on the third floor of the Tokyo Opera City Tower (Japanese: 東京オペラシティビル) in 2014. She did a charity concert at The Nippon Club in New York in 2015. She did a christmas concert at Blues Alley Japan (Japanese: ブルースアレイジャパン) in Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo in 2017. In 2024, she sang at an event in Kitami, and did a concert in the Former Kunitachi Station.
She has done concerts in Christian schools and churches.

## Television

In 1981, she appeared in Saki Kubota no Love is Art Shinanoji no Tabi (Japanese: 久保田早紀の Love is Art 信濃路の旅) on Channel 8. She appeared on NHK Tanka on 16 February 2014. She appeared on Non Stop! on 5 February 2019. She appeared on Takeda Tetsuya no Shōwa wa kagayaiteita on 16 August 2024. She appeared on The Time in September 2024.

## Radio

She was the presenter of Viva! Sukaiu~otchingu (Japanese: Viva! スカイウォッチング) on Radio Tampa. She starred in Do You Love Me (Japanese: ドウ・ユ・ラブ・ミー) in Futari no Heya (Japanese: ふたりの部屋) on NHK-FM in 1984. In 1980, she was the subject of special episodes of Ryuun Nagai Disc Jockey Program and Your Sunday on FM Tokyo, and she appeared on Saki Kubota Live Special on FM Osaka. In the 1980s, she was featured in radio programmes such as New Music Now, Music Salon, Fresh Time Box and Sound Companions on FM Osaka, New Music Republic on FM Tokyo, and Music Lounge on both FM Tokyo and FM Osaka. In the 2020s, her songs were broadcast by radio stations such as TBS Radio, Radio Nikkei, STV Radio, ABC Radio, Radio Nippon and Radio Osaka.

## Discography

She released eleven studio albums and ten singles from 1979 to 2017. She released seven studio albums, and nine singles, on the CBS/Sony record label from 1979 to 1984. She released another single on the Fun House record label in 1988.

### Singles

The following singles were released by CBS/Sony:
* Ihojin: Shiruku Rōdo No Tēma (Japanese: 異邦人 -シルクロードのテーマ-) (1979)
* Nijūgoji (Japanese: 25時) (1980). Released 21 April 1980.
* Kugatsu No Iro (Japanese: 九月の色) (1980). Released 1 September 1980.
* Orange Airmail Special (Japanese: オレンジ・エアメール・スペシャル) (1981). Released 21 April 1981. This song was used in a television commercial for the orange drink called Kirin Orange (Japanese: キリンオレンジ).
* Lens Eye (Japanese: レンズ・アイ) (1981). Released 26 August 1981.
* Negai (Japanese: ねがい) (1982). Released 21 May 1982. This song was used in the closing credits, and the song "Chikyu Wa Concert Hall" (Japanese: 地球はコンサート・ホール) on the B side was used in the opening title sequence, of the television programme Shizen Wandafuru (Japanese: 自然ワンダフル).
* Ai No Jidai (Japanese: 愛の時代) (1983)
* Otomodachi (Japanese: お友達) (1984) Released 23 March 1984.
* Pianissimo De... (Japanese: ピアニッシモで...) (1984) Released 1 October 1984.
The following single was released by Fun House (Japanese: ファンハウス):
* Hyakuman Hon No Bara (Japanese: 百万本のバラ) (1988)

### Studio albums

The following studio albums were released by CBS/Sony:
* Yumegatari (1979). Released 21 December 1979. The song "Guitar Hiki O Mimasenka" (Japanese: ギター弾きを見ませんか) was covered by Isako Washio in 1991 and Midori Karashima in 2017.
* Tenkai (1980)
* Saudade (1980). Released 21 November 1980. This album includes music influenced by fado.
* Airmail Special (Japanese: エアメール・スペシャル) (1981). Released 21 May 1981. This album includes songs that have, in the 21st century, been described as city pop and included in compilations of city pop.
* Mishiranu Hito Denaku (Japanese: 見知らぬ人でなく) (1982)
* Nefertiti (Japanese: ネフェルティティ) (1983)
* Yoruno Sokowa Yawarakana Maboroshi (Japanese: 夜の底は柔らかな幻) (1984). Released 1 October 1984. The 2013 novel of the same name, by Riku Onda, is named after this album.
The following studio album was released by Michtam Records (Japanese: ミクタムレコード):
* Tehillim 33 (Japanese: テヒリーム33) (1987)
The following studio album was released by MMP, a division of Maki Music Production:
* Hajime no hi (Japanese: はじめの日) (1996). Reissued 2000.
The following studio album was released by MIDI inc (Japanese:株式会社ミディ):
* Tenshi No Pan Kume Sayuri Sanbika Shu (Japanese: 天使のパン くめさゆり・さんびか集) (2009)
The following studio album was released by Life Creation (Japanese: ライフ・クリエイション):
* 7carats+1 (2017). This album is a collaboration with two other singers.

### Compilation albums

The following compilation albums were released by CBS/Sony:
* Saki Kubota (Japanese: 久保田早紀) (1981)
* The Best '83: Saki Kubota (Japanese: THE BEST '83 久保田早紀) (1982)
* Saki Kubota Best Selection (1984)
* Saki Kubota Best Collection: Kubota Saki Besuto Korekushon (Japanese: Saki Kubota Best Collection: 久保田早紀 ベスト・コレクション) (1985 and 1986)
The following compilation albums were released Sony Records:
* Saki Kubota Best of Best: Kubota Saki Besuto obu Besuto (Japanese: Saki Kubota Best of Best: 久保田早紀 ベスト・オブ・ベスト). Released 21 November 1992.
* Saki Kubota Best Collection: Kubota Saki Besuto Korekushon (Japanese: Saki Kubota Best Collection: 久保田早紀 ベスト・コレクション) (1995) This was a The CD Club CD.
The following compilation album was released by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc:
* Golden J-Pop/The Best Saki Kubota (Japanese: GOLDEN J-POP/THE BEST 久保田早紀). Released 21 November 1997. Part of the "Golden J-Pop/The Best" series.
The following compilation albums were released by Sony Music House:
* Dream Price 1000 Saki Kubota Ihojin (Japanese: DREAM PRICE 1000 久保田早紀 異邦人). Released 11 October 2001. Part of the "Dream Price" series.
* Golden Best Saki Kubota (Japanese: GOLDEN☆BEST 久保田早紀). Released 20 November 2002.
The following compilation albums were released by Sony Music Direct:
* CD & DVD The Best Saki Kubota Singles (Japanese: CD & DVD THE BEST 久保田早紀 シングルズ) (2005) is a greatest hits album (Wasei-eigo: best album) that includes all the songs from her singles, and the DVD of her farewell concert.
* 999 Best Saki Kubota (Japanese: 999 Best 久保田早紀). Released on 18 October 2006.
* Golden Best Saki Kubota Singles (Japanese: GOLDEN☆BEST 久保田早紀 シングルズ). Released 19 August 2009.

## Songwriting credits
### Lyricist and composer

Saki Kubota was the lyricist and composer of the following:
* "Luna" and "Azies", both sung by Yu Hayami. Included in the album Colorful Box.

### Composer

Saki Kubota was the composer of the following:
* "Gondora Mūn" (Japanese: ゴンドラ・ムーン) (English: Gondola Moon), sung by Yu Hayami. Included in the album And I Love You.
* "Garasu No Machikado" (Japanese: ガラスの街角), sung by Yu Hayami. B-side of the single Love Light, released on 21 July 1982, which reached number 38 on the Oricon chart.
* "Lady Of The Wind", sung by Agnes Chan. Single released in 1983.

## Books

She published the book Kaisōroku: gogo no pēji kara (Japanese: 回想録-午後の頁から...) in 1993. She published her autobiography, Futari No Iho Jin (Japanese: ふたりの異邦人), in 2019.