« July 2003 | Main | October 2003 »

Sunday, September 28, 2003

>> No DotW today

I’m taking a break from posting a new DotW today since it’s my big bro’s birthday. I’ll return next week with the second part of my DotW on Rinken Band. I’ve also reached my 9,000 visitor today! :D

Saturday, September 27, 2003

>> Uehara Takako to star in NHK’s new asadora

Uehara Takako (SPEED) will play the role of Natsuko in NHK’s latest morning drama serial “Teru Teru Kazoku” (takes the place of “Kokoro”). The story is set in Osaka where the Kishida family runs a bakery. They are blessed with four daughters who are named after the four seasons. The heroine of this asadora is Ishihara Satomi (16) who plays the youngest of the four sisters, Fuyuko. This segment of NHK’s asadora series (the 69th) looks to be a very fun one to watch with the producers of the drama liking it to a musical. Will we see Takako singing and dancing? You betcha! Although it’s a supporting role, she may have a lot of air time as Natsuko’s (her character) dream is to be a top singer in Japan. The show will begin airing in Japan on Monday, September 29th.

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

>> New Uehara Takako Kabegami and Screensaver

Uehara Takako (SPEED), the current image girl for Shiseido’s Proudia line of cosmetics, has a new kabegami (wallpaper) and screensaver. Both kabegami and screensaver are available for Windows PCs or Macs. Happy downloading!

Monday, September 22, 2003

>> A new DotW and my 10,000 visitor

I have a new DotW up for the O-Pop group Rinken Band (yes, finally). Due to the large number of album releases by the group, I will separate them into two parts. Look for Part II to be completed by next weekend.

As you may’ve noticed, I don’t have a public counter that tracks how many unique visitors stop by the blog, and, I normally don’t mention my site stats. But, I’ll be reaching my 10,000th visitor in about a week or two so I just had to mention that, right? Since renewing the site back in March, I’ve had a steady stream of visitors (about a 100 per day) and although this site isn’t swimming with the big fish, for a little weblog on Okinawan pop culture all is not shabby either. Nifee (thanks) to all of you for visiting and I’ll be sure to bring you the same English-language content you’ve grown to love (you do love the stuff don’t you?).

Tege,
Richie Yamashiroya

P.S.
I’ll be doing something special (a CD giveaway, a special article on J-Pop, and lots more!) for the pop blog after I reach visitor number 10,000 so stay tuned!

>> DotW: Rinken Band Part I

Rinken Band
Official URI: www.rinken.gr.jp
Genre: O-Pop
Current member lineup:
Teruya, Rinken: Sanshin & Cheren (1949 ∼ )
Uehara, Tomoko: Vocals, Hêshi, Shimadaiko, Sanba, and Sanshin (1958 ∼ )
Kuwae, Yoshimi: Vocals, Hêshi, and Shimadaiko (1961 ∼ )
Inafuku, Katsunori: Vocals, Hêshi, and Shimadaiko (1969 ∼ )
Enobi, Naoki: Vocals, Hêshi, and Shimadaiko (1980 ∼ )
Uehara, Akira: Bass Guitar (1963 ∼ )
Yamakawa, Kiyohito: Keyboard (1970 ∼ )
Arasaki, Narito: Drums (1964 ∼ )

“Arigatou”
Wave Distribution | WWCP-4003 | Released in 1987
Track Listing:
01 Arigatou
02 Mâkaiga
03 Shinasaki
04 Bêrubêru
05 Nmarijima
06 Nenjûkuduchi
07 Murahajishi
08 Asan Hiru Yurun
09 Nkashigutu
10 Njifuni
11 Kanpai Sabira
12 Chimu ni Kakati

“Nankuru”
Wave Distribution | WWCP-4004 | Released in 1990
Track Listing:
01 Châbirasai
02 Nankuru Bushi
03 Katêmun
04 Kataitaya Katayabira
05 Shichigwachi Eisâ Machikanti
06 Sabani
07 Faikaji
08 Yu nu Akirumadin
09 Chimujurasa Amiagai nu Hana nu Gutu
10 Tuke
11 Kariyushidô
12 Nifêdêbiru

“Karahai”
Sony Records | SRCL-2179 | Released on 09.21.91
Track Listing:
01 Iju no Hana
02 Yui nu Nakabi
03 Ichiban Gwatchî
04 Hama nu Chikuragwa
05 Saraba
06 Hai Hai Hai
07 Yakkêmun
08 Guu
09 Funayare
10 Appîhei
11 Jîtubidôi

“Rinken Band”
Sony Records | SRCL-2579 | Released on 03.21.93
Track Listing:
01 Arigatou
02 Bêrubêru
03 Kanpai Sabira
04 Kariyushidô
05 Châbirasai
06 Chimu ni Kakati
07 Shinasaki
08 Katêmun
09 Asan Hiru Yurun
10 Sabani
11 Chimujurasa Amiagai nu Hana nu Gutu
12 Churajura (Album Version)
13 Arigatou (Original Karaoke)
14 Bêrubêru (Original Karaoke)
15 Kanpai Sabira (Original Karaoke)

“Banji”
Sony Records | SRCL-2728 | Released on 09.22.93
Track Listing:
01 Chinahichidô
02 Joutou
03 Ugwan
04 Bîchi Pârî [Beach Party]
05 Shichigwachi Demunu
06 Murika Muchibushi
07 Uchinâ Rumuba
08 Fukufuku
09 Ashidinâbira
10 Haibuni
11 Yû Yû Yû ∼You You You∼
12 Shirakumu

Sunday, September 21, 2003

>> An afternoon of fine Ryukyuan music at the 2003 Godo Ensou Kai

Join the Hawaii chapters of Nomura Ryu Ongaku Kyokai and Ryukyu Sokyoku Koyo Kai for an afternoon of fine Ryukyuan music at 2003 Godo Ensou Kai on Sunday, October 12, 2003 at Natsunoya Tea House. The program will open at 3:00 p.m. with a large ensemble performing classical Okinawan music.

Member schools will showcase their students in solo and small ensemble performances. There will be a ceremony recognizing achievement in sanshin and koto performance; including presentation of shihan menkyo jo (senior teacher’s certificate) to Yasuko Arakawa and kyoshi menkyo jo (junior teacher’s certificate) to Sueko Okuma. The event will conclude with a buffet dinner served at 6:30 p.m. followed by Okinawan dance entertainment provided by members and friends. The cost is $30.00; full-time students pay $15.00.

Please email me if you’re interested and I’ll send you the contact information.

>> Namie’s new single “SO CRAZY”

Everybody’s favorite J-pop diva Amuro Namie will release a new single (AVCD-30504) called “SO CRAZY” (coupled with the song “Come”) on Thursday, October 16. The single will be her 25th since going solo and the 3rd single released so far this year (the others are “shine more” [2003.3.5] and “Put ‘Em Up” [2003.7.16]). She will also begin her nationwide tour from November 29th (2003) to March 26th (2004).

Thursday, September 18, 2003

>> Amuro Namie Mandom Lucido-L Kabegami

A new kabegami (wallpaper) for J-pop diva Amuro Namie is available for a limited time. Namie is the image girl for Mandom’s Lucido-L line of toiletry. To be able to download the kabegami (available for Windows or Macs), you must first take a quiz (the answer to the fill-in-the-blank question is shitsukan [質感]) and become a member of their website. The kabegami is a two-month calendar (November & December 2003) type and worth trying for if you can navigate through the Japanese questions.

>> Kuninaka Ryoko and NTT’s CoDen

Kuninaka Ryoko (“Churasan 1 & 2”) is the image girl for NTT’s new CoDen service. The website has a Kuninaka Ryoko screensaver available as a free download for Windows, Mac OS 8.6∼9, and Mac OS X. There’s also a TVCF starring Ryoko (available for viewing with Windows Media Player or Apple’s QuickTime).

Monday, September 15, 2003

>> The DotW is back!

Finally. The DotW (Discography of the Week) feature is back! (Btw, I’m still working on the Rinken Band one having just completed the cover scans.) This week’s featured artist discography is Banda Tontonmi’s brilliant debut album “Saudade de UCHINA”. Enjoy!

>> DotW: Ton Ton Mi

Ton Ton Mi
Official URI: www.tontonmi.com.br
Genre: Minyo
Member lineup:
Denise Tiemi Toma, Cláudia Harumi Toma, and Simone Riyoko Zakabi

Saudade de UCHINA
Marufuku Records | FCD-104 | Released ???
Track Listing:
1. Nâkunî∼Introduction∼
2. Chichinagami Sanba
3. Sunsâmî∼Erabu Sunsâmî
4. Mîtubuni
5. Chôdêgwâ Bushi
6. Saudade de Uchinâ
7. Motobu Nâkunî∼Kaisârê
8. Futari ga Naka
9. Satu ya Yusujima ni
10. Bai [Bye] Bai [Bye] Okinawa
11. Tinsagu nu Hana

Sunday, September 14, 2003

>> Yonaha Toru’s upcoming album

As you may have heard of this very talented utasâ many times on this website, Yonaha Tôru will be releasing a new album — his second — on September 18th. The album is entitled “Shami Chiriti” (MYCD-35004) from Kafoo Entertainment and contains 11 tracks with five of them being written by him. I’m sure he’ll be playing most of the instruments on it as he did with his debut album “Yozare Bushi” which should make for a very fun listening experience. I’ll have a full report on the album as well as a DotW of it in the coming weeks. Can’t get enough of Tôru? Check out his super cool CM (commercial) for Zuisen Awamori’s “Hakuryu”. (When at their site, click the “English Here” button and when you’re done with that, check the links on the bottom of the frame and click on the “ZUISEN TV” button [Tôru’s CM should still be the last one on the page].)

Saturday, September 13, 2003

>> OLIVIA’s “Comatose Bunny Butcher”

With the September 12th release of OLIVIA’s (ex-D&D) latest CD-single “Comatose Bunny Butcher” (CTC1-14271) — her 2nd J-indies single release — we find her slowly solidifying the transition from pop star to underground artist. Her last gig with D&D as a peppy J-pop star compared to her new image as a grungy J-indies star is quite a big leap but one that fits her as well as the song titles included with the current single: 1) Celestial Delinquent, 2) 026unconscious333, 3) 57Sto R M03(*R wa Hanten), 4) Devil’s in me, 5) Bliss Forest. The first single, “Merry & Hell Go Round” (CTC1-14270) — don’t you love these titles — was released on June 27, 2003 and that was preceded by a brilliant English version self-cover album called “Internal Bleeding Strawberry” (VECD-89141) released back in February of this year.

OLIVIA is without a doubt, one of the more interesting artists to watch because she’s doing something totally against the norm which has been and remains J-pop music. Whether by personal choice or by management decision, I think OLIVIA’s finally found her true calling, and the evidence can be heard through her emotionally filled singing. Interestingly, it seems as if her J-indies releases are only being sold through Tower Records Japan who have been supporting Japanese indies artists for quite some time now.

Here’s hoping that she’ll remain underground yet find a fan base that keeps her (as well as her management company) happily headed in this direction.

>> Miruku Yu Nu Nauri (Blossoming Petals of Peace)

The Tamagusuku Ryu Senju Kai Frances Nakachi Ryubu Dojo will be holding a dance recital on Sunday, November 2, 3:00 pm at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center’s Concert Hall. The cost of admission is US $20 and a limited amount of tickets are being sold through this website. If interested, I’m accepting payment by check or via PayPal and early takers will be given a discount of US $2 off the admission price. [Email for more info]

[Update: Thanks to one of Nakachi Sensei’s students (nifee ft!) who pointed out my misspelling of her sensei’s name as Francis instead of the correct Frances. Oops!]

Wednesday, September 03, 2003

>> SPEED’s Be My Love

The members of SPEED are back together again for another charity event — yet this time they have an official website open as well as a brand-spankin’ new single called “Be My Love”.


The single was released on August 27th from the Avex record label and is coupled with the song “Shuka”. “Be My Love” is the image song for the charity project the group is involved with called Save the Children. When at the group’s new website, the 30 second PV clips for the song are worth checking out.

>> LOVE SCREW

The latest CD-single from MAX is called “LOVE SCREW”. The single was released on August 6th and contains four tracks:

1) LOVE SCREW
2) Don’t Call Me
3) LOVE SCREW (Instrumental)
4) Don’t Call Me (Instrumental)

Tuesday, September 02, 2003

>> I’m Back! [Updated]

I’m back from my August vacation and I (think I) have a lot of news to catch up on. First off will be to announce some of last month’s new music/video releases and second I’ll finish (or start on) the projects I had mentioned before taking one of my yearly breaks from these pages.

I want to thank those of you (nice to finally meet you Wes, Ray!) who introduced yourselves to me as a fan of this website at the festival. That’s what makes this all worthwhile and fuels the flame to keep this site going as long as I can. As you know, this website is a labor of love and about 75% of the music mentioned on the site is purchased through my half empty pockets. Having Okinawan music fans email me, introduce themselves to me, or snail mail me, makes me one very happy blogger. A big heartfelt nifee (thanks) to you all!

O.M.G. (Okinawan Music Geeks) is still alive and it’s one of the projects I hope to complete before I take my next yearly vacation from the pop pages in mid-December/early-January. I’ll have some information up on the club before the month is over or please get on my case about it — nifee!

[Updated on Saturday, September 12, at 10:51 pm HST.]

Quick Links

Contact Us

Internet-Okinawa.com
i-O Yuntaku
Chitose Hajime Fan Blog
Cocco Fan Blog coming soon
Parsha cluB Fan Blog