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What Do These Three Have in Common?
Konishiki – a retired sumo wrestler and popular celeb Rimi Natsukawa – one of Japan’s top vocalists Jake Shimabukuro – ukulele player extraordinaire The answer? An hour-long music special called “Melody Club” that I still hear people raving about although it aired on Hawaii’s KIKU-TV station on January 7, 2007. (The lowdown on the show:…
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Currently at the Top of My Playlist
The PV for melody.’s latest single, “Finding My Road” (released on February 14), is pretty cool but it’s the song that I’m totally grooving too. If you’re not familiar with melody.’s music, seek out the English-language version of “Close Your Eyes” and “Our Journey” — also in English — which was coupled with her November…
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Nomura-Ryu Ongaku Kyo Kai Hawaii Shibu’s 40th Anniversary Celebration
Who: Nomura-Ryu Ongaku Kyo Kai Hawaii Shibu What: 40th Anniversary Celebration & to honor Harry Seisho Nakasone Sensei When & Where: April 22, 2007 (Sunday) at 2:00 PM at the Hawaii Okinawa Center (Waipahu, Hawaii) If you’re interested in purchasing tickets for the event please leave a comment or email me at karakuipress[at]gmail[dot]com. (Sorry for…
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Meisa Kuroki Desktop for Collagen Water
Some of our Hawaii readers may recognize Meisa Kuroki as the heroine in the J-drama “Aru Ai no Uta (Song of Love)” which was featured as a KIKU-TV 2007 New Year special. The 18 year-old hapa (her father is American, mother is Japanese, and Meisa Kuroki is her stage name) model/actress is steadily gaining popularity…
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Vote for Keith Nakaganeku and Calabash!
Keith Nakaganeku and Calabash’s debut album, “Hawaiian Jazz Done Asian Style”, is up for New Artist of the Year for the 10th Annual Hawaii Music Awards. We can vote for him/his band online and they also have a sample (one minute long) of “Blue Darlin’” up on the site too. Vote for him over here…
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Isshin – Of One Heart
Okay, I blogged about this joint (dance and taiko) concert a while back ago at Internet-Okinawa.com and also at the ol’ Karakui.com before I “accidentally” killed it (don’t ask). This’ll be the first for this blog tho’. ISSHIN – Of One Heart A concert featuring classical, contemporary and avant garde Okinawan dance and taiko Leeward…
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Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Hawaii’s 10th Anniversary Recital
Dang, that’s a long post title. I’m back from an unplanned break (small part of it due to a lack of news, the rest because I was blogging elsewhere—sorry) from blogging here to bring you information on a recital of Okinawan taiko by Hawaii’s very own branch of the Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko (RMD). More info…
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Scoop: Jake Shimabukuro to Perform in Kouhaku!
Okay, so it may not really be a scoop for Karakui but it’s good news nonetheless. As reported on nikkansports.com and on Jake’s Japanese-language website KLUB (it’s not on his English-language site yet), the Hawaii-born ukulele virtuoso will be performing as a special guest with Rimi Natsukawa at this year’s Kouhaku Uta-gassen. Rimi and Jake…
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Jake Shimabukuro’s Change of Pace
Known for his amazing technique on the ukulele, Jake Shimabukuro (30), recently took part in this year’s Honolulu Marathon – the first for the Hawaii-born musician. According to an article on the Honolulu Star-Bulletin the marathon was one of the hardest things he’s ever done – changing his lifestyle which has in turn, affected his…
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