Sayuri Kume (久米小百合) is a Japanese singer and church musician born in 1958 in Kunitachi, near Tokyo. Under the name Saki Kubota (久保田早紀), she had a huge hit in 1979 with the single 異邦人, which sold more than 1.4 million copies, before devoting herself after her conversion to Christian music in Japanese churches.
Born on May 11, 1958 in Kunitachi, near Tokyo, Sayuri Kume made her debut in 1979 under the name Saki Kubota with the single 異邦人 (Ihōjin), released on October 1 by CBS/Sony and conceived as a Silk Road theme. The song stayed at number one for three weeks in a row on the TV music show ザ・ベストテン and sold more than 1.4 million copies. She released seven albums, then left the commercial stage with a farewell concert on November 26, 1984 at the Kudankaikan hall in Tokyo.
Baptized in 1981, she went on to study theology at Tokyo Baptist Theological Seminary and became a music missionary serving local churches. Under the name Sayuri Kume, she sings in churches and Christian schools, started her ministry Mission Fortes (ミッション・フォートス) in 1993, which has included monthly gatherings in Tokyo called Bible Cafés (バイブル・カフェ), and served as a goodwill ambassador for the Japan Bible Society from 2007 to 2010.
- Origin
- Kunitachi, Tokyo, Japan
- Style
- Japanese pop (1979 to 1984), then church songs and hymns
- Active since
- 1979 (under the name Saki Kubota)
- Good to know
- 異邦人 (1979) sold more than 1.4 million copies; the official YouTube channel listed is an auto-generated "Topic" channel
How did Sayuri Kume get started?
She made her debut in 1979 under the name Saki Kubota. Her first single, 異邦人, was originally written for a home appliance maker's commercial under the title 白い朝, before being renamed at her producer's suggestion. It came out on October 1, 1979, followed by her first album 夢がたり on December 8.
After six more albums, including 夜の底は柔らかな幻 in 1984, she ended her commercial career in November 1984. She had started attending a Protestant church in 1980 and was baptized in 1981. Her farewell concert was later released as a live album in 2010.
What makes Sayuri Kume unique?
Sayuri Kume left the pop stage at the height of her fame to put her voice at the service of the church. She sings traditional hymns and original songs in chapel concerts that combine music, spoken word, and painting, leads Bible gatherings, gave support concerts in the Tohoku region after the 2011 earthquake, and published her autobiography, ふたりの異邦人, in February 2019.
Where should you start with Sayuri Kume?
Start with 異邦人, the song that made her famous, then listen to the hymn 地よ声高く from the album テヒリーム33, and 恵みの雨, posted by the channel of her label Michtam Records. For an overview of her church years, the album 天使のパン (2009) gathers 15 tracks of traditional hymns and original songs.
songs
異邦人
An animated video posted by Sony Music Labels' MUSIC Liverary channel for her debut single, released on October 1, 1979.
恵みの雨
Sung by Sayuri Kume and posted by the official channel of Michtam Records, a Christian music label; according to its description, the lyrics were inspired by the tears of an African mother suffering from hunger.
地よ声高く
Hymn no. 154 of the Protestant hymnal 讃美歌, taken from the album テヒリーム33 released by Michtam Records.
Discography
- 2009天使のパン (Tenshi no Pan)· A 15 track collection of traditional hymns and original songs
- 1996はじめの日 (Hajime no Hi)
- 1987テヒリーム33 (Tehilim 33)· Traditional hymns, Michtam Records label
- 1984夜の底は柔らかな幻 (Yoru no Soko wa Yawarakana Maboroshi)· Last album under the name Saki Kubota
- 1982見知らぬ人でなく (Mishiranu Hito de Naku)
- 1980天界 (Tenkai)
- 1979夢がたり (Yume Gatari)· First album, under the name Saki Kubota
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Sayuri Kume?
Sayuri Kume (久米小百合) is a Japanese singer and church musician born in 1958 in Kunitachi. First known as Saki Kubota, she had pop success in 1979 before devoting herself to Christian music in churches.
What is Sayuri Kume's best known song?
It is 異邦人, released on October 1, 1979 under the name Saki Kubota: according to Sony Music, the single sold more than 1.4 million copies.
Are Sayuri Kume and Saki Kubota the same person?
Yes. She released her pop albums from 1979 to 1984 under the name Saki Kubota (久保田早紀), then her hymn and Christian albums under the name Sayuri Kume.
Is Sayuri Kume a Christian?
Yes. She was baptized in 1981, studied at Tokyo Baptist Theological Seminary, and has since worked as a music missionary in Japanese churches.
What is Sayuri Kume doing today?
She continues her ministry as a singer in churches and Christian schools, with chapel concerts and Bible gatherings, as part of her ministry Mission Fortes.
Where can you listen to Sayuri Kume?
Her songs are available on streaming platforms and on YouTube, notably through the "Topic" channel of her Sony catalog and the official channel of Michtam Records for her church songs.