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Turn All Weapons into Instruments
A recent web article on Hub Okinawa features a story on Kina Shoukichi and the peculiar release of his enka song “Fujisan Japan” — his first single in 39 years! The article discusses his new single as well as the single that started it all, “Haisai Ojisan” written when he was 13 years old. The…
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“Ghosts Can’t Dance” Web Drama (YouTube)
Although the 6-episode web drama “Ghosts Can’t Dance (Yūrei wa Odorenai)” was uploaded to YouTube back in March, I finally finished watching it recently and it’s so good (lots of feels)! Anyone with an interest in Ryukyu culture (both pop and traditional) shouldn’t miss this. The web drama is produced by the Kariyushi Geinou Kouen…
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MAX’s Online Concert for July 4th
Speaking of MAX, they’re really on a roll this year with music releases, YouTube, and now an upcoming online concert. “MAX ONLINE LIVE ‘Summer Blast 2021′” will take place on Sunday, July 4th (Japan time) and members of their fan club (J-MAX NEO) have access to an after-talk with an encore song. Unfortunately, there is…
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Miyazato Rira to Graduate from AKB48
Surprised? Yes, there actually is (soon to be was) an AKB48 (a popular idol group in Japan) member from Okinawa, Miyazato Rira. She is part of Team 8 (there are 5 teams in total named A, K, B, 4, and 8) which was formed in 2014 and was formed to represent one of the 47…
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Chuning Candy’s Moving On
Idol group Chuning Candy recently shared a YouTube clip of their new single MOVING ON!! (April 7th digital release) showcasing their amazing dance performance (just a reminder that their dance performance of Dynamic Ryukyu has over 3-million views on YouTube). The title of the new single is interesting (coincidental?) given the April 24th sad news…
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i-Dushi’s YouTube Channel Almost at 40K Subscribers!
As announced on the group’s Twitter, i-Dushi is closing in on 40,000 subscribers on their YouTube channel! At the time of their tweet, they were 500 away and today they’re less than 200 away! As mentioned in one of our earlier posts, they have been uploading amazing new content frequently so now is a great…
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Miyako Folk Singer Kuniyoshi Genji RIP
It was announced on May 5th Okinawa time that the great Miyako folk singer Kuniyoshi Genji has passed away at the age of 90 on May 4th. Born on June 10, 1930 on Miyako Island, during his childhood he was known for his love of music. At 35 he decided to make his living as…
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New Music Releases
New singles and albums released in April 2021 2021.04.16 [Single] Agena Mana – Hohoemi wo Tayasazuni (Links) 2021.04.18 [Single] Asato Mina – Shima nu Kokoro (Links) 2021.04.21 [EP] Miura Daichi – Backwards (Links) 2021.04.21 [Album] MONGOL800 – etc.works3 (Indies) 2021.04.28 [Single] JO1 – CHALLENGER (Links) 2021.04.28 [Mini Album] Kiiyama Shouten – Akasatana (Indies)
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“Hanamizuki Okinawa Hougen Ver.” is the MV of the Year
If you watch one music video on YouTube, this must be it. The MV is an acoustic cover of the very popular J-pop song Hanamizuki by Hitoto Yō (she’s Japanese and Taiwanese) and matches well with Uchinaa-guchi and Ryūkyū instruments, dance and vocals. (Another version to listen to is from Amami Ōshima’s Minami Kizuki.) The…
Karakui 