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Hajime Chitose’s New Album “Fune o Matsu” July Release
The 20th anniversary celebration for Hajime Chitose continues with the announcement of her first new original album since 2008’s “Cassini”. Set for a July release, “Fune o Matsu” will be her 5th album and there will be a new single released every month leading up to the release date. The April single is named after…
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Minami Kizuki’s 3rd single set for 7/22 release
Amami Oshima singer Minami Kizuki’s 3rd single release has been set for a July 22, 2009, release. Titled “Shiroi Tsuki,” the single will have a total of three tracks — all originals with no instrumental (karaoke) tracks. Minami, who debuted this year with the single “Aitsumugi,” follows a tradition of shimauta-trained female singers from Amami…
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Veteran Amami utasha Ikue Asazaki
We often focus on the new singers from Amami-Oshima like Rikki Nakano, Chitose Hajime, Kosuke Atari, and Minami Kizuki, leaving out the traditional singers. So, better late than never, no? Ikue Asazaki is a veteran utasha (now in her 70s) who has been singing Amami shimauta since picking it up from her father and regarded…
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ういずあす – the trio formerly known as ‘wiz-us’
Waiting for me in my inbox this morning was an email from Mark about a group from Okinawa named ういずあす. At first I didn’t recognize the group but upon further research (ah, googling how I love thee) I found that the trio formerly went by the name “wiz-us” (which is how the current name is…
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Minami Kizuki’s amazing debut single “Aitsumugi”
We’re always on the lookout for new artists to listen to and we’re happy to announce the debut of 19 year-old Minami Kizuki (城南海—interesting how it’s read, no?) who released her first single, “Aitsumugi,” on January 7, 2009. Upon listening to the single, one will definitely think of Chitose Hajime (oh, forgot to mention that…
Karakui 