Saori Yuki, born Akiko Yasuda on November 13, 1948, in Kiryū, Gunma, Japan, is a distinguished singer and actress renowned for her contributions to Japanese pop and jazz music. She began her career in 1965 with the single "Hitchhike Musume" under her birth name. Her breakthrough came in 1969 with "Yoake no Scat," which sold 1.5 million copies and topped the charts for 10 weeks. Yuki's versatile artistry spans children's songs, pop, and jazz, leading to collaborations with her sister, Sachiko Yasuda, and international acts like Pink Martini on the acclaimed album "1969." Her enduring influence is marked by numerous awards, including the Order of the Rising Sun in 2019. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saori_Yuki?utm_source=openai))