About this Blog’s Author

This is actually the fourth entry in the About Category but it’s the first time that I’m introducing myself with a little more than a link to my personal weblog.

My name is Richie Yamashiroya and I’m from Hawai’i. I love music, Macs, blogging, the Web, and watching movies. I first came into contact with Chitose’s music when I was in Okinawa during March 2002 for a performance (I’m a student of Okinawan folk and classical music) there. Her song “Wadatsumi no Ki” could be heard on every store’s stereo and her Amami minyou CDs were being displayed at the major music stores.

It wasn’t until a month or so after that I truly became a fan of hers after one of my online friends recommended the single to me. It’s a pretty funny story because the song stuck in my head (after arriving home back in Hawai’i) but I couldn’t place it. The recommendation of the “Wadatsumi no Ki” single and my buying it brought me the song I’ve been wanting to listen to for more than a month!

The original site went up in November/December of 2002 and it was quite close to what I have now with the exception of the current site being in a weblog format.

If you’re interested in my other Web projects please visit my site directory: Richie’s Site Directory. I answer all emails and comments so feel free to contact me anytime.

More about this site

Yup, there’s more stuff to bring to your attention about this fanblog.

The little font used for the banner (above) and the graphics on the right hand column is *free* from Kottke.org and is called Silkscreen. He does ask for a donation if you use it a lot. :)

I also use a few MT plugins for this weblog: Validable from Sebastian Delmont, SmartyPants from John Gruber, and Textile from Brad Chaote.

About this site

The layout is a modified default MT template, the background image is *free* from squidfingers.com, the little blog icons are also *free* from webgraphics.com, and this weblog is powered by MovableType.

If you want even more info on this fanblog, please visit the site that hosts it, Internet-Okinawa.com. I also have another blog that focuses on Okinawan pop culture over here.

What? Do I have my own personal weblog? Why, I’m glad you asked. ;)

Once in a hundred years

Chitose Hajime’s voice is described as a voice that comes along once in a hundred years. So is it just a matter of clever advertising or does Chitose really possess such a voice? Definitely. In terms of the Japanese pop (or J-pop) scene, yes, her voice is vastly different from what’s out there. Of course, I’ve heard this catch phrase used before for other J-pop singers within the last 5 years, and the only thing I can say is only time will tell if her music stands the test of time.

Considering that the career of many a J-pop singer is given a set expiration date by the Japanese media, their record label, as well as the J-pop listening public, Chitose’s pop music career is quite difficult to predict. So this fan site will not only cover her pop music career, but also and perhaps more importantly, her career as an utasha (or folk singer) too which is based more on the talent of the individual rather than their mainstream popularity.