Sakura Zaka Explained

Sakura Zaka
Cover:	FukuyamaMasaharu-SakuraZaka.png
Border:	yes
Type:	single
Artist:	Masaharu Fukuyama
Album:	f
B-Side:	"Drive-In Theater de Kuchizuke o" "Shunkashūtō"
Genre:	J-pop
Label:	Universal J
Producer:	Masaharu Fukuyama
Prev Title:	Heaven/Squall
Prev Year:	1999
Next Title:	Hey!
Next Year:	2000

is a song by Japanese entertainer Masaharu Fukuyama from his eighth studio album, f (2001). It was released on April 26, 2000 through Universal J as the second single from the album. The song was written and produced by Fukuyama, while Motohiro Tomita handled the arrangement. The single topped the Oricon Singles Chart for three consecutive weeks and has sold over two million copies.^{[1] [2] [3]} It was certified two-times million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).^[4]

Cover versions

Debbie Gibson recorded an English-language cover of the song in her 2010 Japan-only release Ms. Vocalist.

Credits and personnel

"Sakura Zaka"

• Keyboards: Motohiro Tomita
• Programming: Nobuo Moriyasu
• Guitars: Hirokazu Ogura
• Backing vocals: May Yamane, Yuiko Tsubokura, Misa Nakayama

"Drive-In Theater de Kuchizuke o"

• Keyboards: Motohiro Tomita
• Programming: Nobuo Moriyasu
• Drums: Toshiya Matsunaga
• Bass: Chiharu Mikuzuki
• Guitars: Motohiro Tomita, Hirokazu Ogura, George Kamata, Masaharu Fukuyama
• Backing vocals: Mai Yamane, Naoki Takao, Masaharu Fukuyama

"Shunkashūto"

• Keyboards and programming: Akira Inoue
• Guitars: Chūei Yoshikawa, Masaharu Fukuyama
• Strings: Kinbara Strings

"Sakura Zaka" (Nayuta Version/Instrumental)

• Keyboards and programming: Hiroshi Shinkawa
• Acoustic guitar: Chūei Yoshikawa
• Bass: Hideki Matsubara
• Harmonica: Nobuo Yagi

"Drive-In Theater de Kuchizuke o" (Nomozaki Version/Instrumental)

• Keyboards and programming: Hiroshi Shinkawa
• Acoustic guitar: Chūei Yoshikawa
• Marimba: Motoya Hamaguchi

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2000)	Peak position
Oricon Weekly Singles Chart	1
Oricon Yearly Singles Chart	2
Chart (2011)	Peak position
Billboard Japan Hot 100^[5]	21

Certifications

Notes and References

1. Web site: http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/247661/products/160826/1/. ja:「桜坂」 福山雅治. "Sakura Zaka" Masaharu Fukuyama. Oricon. Japanese. November 15, 2014.
2. Web site: 過去のTOP 1: 2000. Count Down TV. Tokyo Broadcasting System. https://web.archive.org/web/20080923212221/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/cddb/list2000.html. September 23, 2008. November 15, 2014. Japanese.
3. Web site: オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」. Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree'. Oricon. subscription . November 14, 2014.
4. GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2000年9月度 . Gold Albums, and other certified works. September 2000 Edition. The Record . Bulletin . Japanese . Chūō, Tokyo . Recording Industry Association of Japan. https://web.archive.org/web/20140122032609/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/2000/200009.pdf. January 22, 2014. September 12, 2014.
5. Billboard Japan Hot 100 . . Hankyu Hanshin Holdings. Japanese . April 11, 2011. September 11, 2014.