Hi Rick,

I recall 'Sukiyaki' from a bluegrass group in the 1980s - Spectrum (Bela Fleck, Jimmy Gaudreau, Glenn Lawson, Jimmy Mattingly and Mark Schatz. It was included on their album 'Live in Japan' which was recorded in Tokyo in 1981 and issued by Rounder in 1983 (it is still available as a cassette). On the record label it is credited to Hachidai Makamuru. As you say, it was a big hit earlier as a pop song. But, who knows, these people may have heard Spectrum live - bluegrass was big in Japan.