Lyric

In 1854, Japan opened its doors to the world with the arrival of Commodore Perry and his fleet of black ships.
Following the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Amity between the United States and Japan in Yokohama, the port of Shimoda in Izu was immediately opened.

Two years later, Townsend Harris, the first American Consul General to Japan, landed in Shimoda with his interpreter, Henry Heusken.
They began residing at Gyokusenji Temple, which they used as the American consulate.

Harris would later become widely known through the story of Tojin Okichi.
Although the tale became popular in early Showa-era Japan and was based on a real woman, much of the story is believed to be fictional, reflecting the social atmosphere of that time.

In reality, before Okichi ever arrived at Gyokusenji, local boys from Shimoda were already working as live-in servants, attending to Harris and Heusken in their daily lives.
One of those boys was the protagonist of this song, Sukezō Nishiyama.

Sukezo Blues is an image song inspired by the biographical manga
Serving Harris and Falling in Love with Okichi - The Boy from Shimoda, Sukezo's Story
written by Takeshi Sugimoto and illustrated by Hiroyuki Araki, published by Nagakura Shoten in August 2020.

Set to an upbeat blues rhythm, singer-songwriter Kei Daikouji lightly and vividly sings the dramatic life of Sukezo.

Also available is a 12-episode YouTube series titled Sukezo Sanpo, in which Kei Daikouji guides viewers around the town of Shimoda.
Be sure to check it out as well.