The Wish Within “The Sunny Side of the Street”: Common Ground Between the Lyrics of the Morning Drama “Come Come Everybody” and SUNNY SIDE UP

“Grab your coat and get your hat, leave your worries on the doorstep, just direct your feet to the sunny side of the street.”

These are lines from the lyrics of Louis Armstrong’s masterpiece, “On the Sunny Side of the Street.”

The song serves as a central theme in NHK’s serial TV novel “Come Come Everybody” (second half of fiscal year 2021). While there had been signs of a gradual revival, it became a major topic and trended on social media after Masanori Sera, playing the role of coffee shop owner Teiichi, delivered a breathtaking performance in last week’s episode.

The heroine, Yasuko (played by Mone Kamishiraishi), first heard this song played by Teiichi at a coffee shop she visited during a time of peace with her beloved husband, Minoru (played by Hokuto Matsumura), who later died in the war.

Minoru had pushed through the opposition of those around them, expressing his desire to “walk the sunny side of the street together.” The song supported their romance, and it was Minoru’s wish embedded in this music that led them to name their daughter “Rui” (Louis).

Yasuko happens to witness a performance of this song—which holds such deep meaning for the couple—at an Occupation Forces club.

It was truly magnificent. It made me feel like giving my best for the rest of the day. I found myself nodding at home in agreement with the excitement of Announcer Suzuki on “Asaichi,” a show well-known for its commentary on the morning dramas.

Incidentally, I pride myself on being the biggest morning drama fan in the company. I became obsessed with “Amachan,” and since then, I wake up every day just to watch the morning drama. Recently, “Okaeri Mone” was excellent, and the final scene between Chiyo (Hana Sugisaki) and Ippei (Ryo Narita) in “Ochoyan” was deeply moving. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.

There are actually several theories regarding the origin of the name SUNNY SIDE UP (though why there are multiple theories when the founding members Tsugihara and Matsumoto, who were there at the time, are still working together is a mystery). One of those stories is that it was derived from “On the Sunny Side of the Street.”

I decided to ask Matsumoto about it.

“When it was suggested as a candidate, I didn’t know the song at all. However, I remember hearing that it was a song that brightened and encouraged the hearts of people who were in despair during the Great Depression, and I thought it was amazing that words and music could achieve such a thing.”

“But what I felt most strongly was that by choosing this company name, no matter what the company became in the future, I wanted us to always work with dignity and in a way that we wouldn’t be ashamed of before the sun. To me, that is the image of ‘the sunny side of the street.'”

Both the heroine Yasuko and our own Matsumoto are walking their respective sunny sides of the street.

I, too, hope that the path I am currently walking is a sunny one, and I intend to leave my worries at the doorstep before heading into the office.