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Okinawan music collections on iTunes (it’s growing, slowly)
It was quite awhile ago when we found the wonderful Okinawan music colletion “Respect Records Presents Okinawa Best Song Collection” on iTunes and since then we’ve found two more. Titled “Okinawa Traditional,” (iTunes link) the 16-track collection from the High Wave label features top utasaa (Okinawan folk singer) like Seijin Noborikawa, Sadao China, Tetsuhiro Daiku,…
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King Records to release a 6-CD box set of Sadao China’s recordings
I heard about this upcoming release about a month or so ago but haven’t seen any big promotions of it—which is quite sad indeed. So we here at Karakui.com will do our part by promoting the King Records release of a 6-disc box set featuring music by utasaa (Okinawan folk singer) legend Sadao China. Titled…
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Wallpaper: Stereopony for “Smilife”
To commemorate the release of Stereopony’s latest song, “Smilife,” Sony Records has released a wallpaper featuring the single’s cover art. Download it here. (Via 壁紙fan!)
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Yasukatsu Oshima’s albums available on iTunes!
I’ve long, long, been a fan of utasaa (minyou singer) Yasukatsu Oshima and although I already own most of the albums in his discography, having his music readily available for other future fans on iTunes is simply awesome. I have to give a lot of props to whoever is in charge of promoting the singer…
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Introducing Ayako Miyara
If you’re looking into something on the mellower side than HandMC’s music, you may want to check out J-pop singer Ayako Miyara. The 26-year-old singer moved to Tokyo at the age of 20 to pursue her dream of making it as a singer and formed the unit ‘ciso’ which disbanded in 2002. Since going solo…
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HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR’s “good bye”
Let the comparisons between former HandMC vocalist Mākii and new vocalist Halca commence! I believe this is the second song (and first PV) to feature Halca (21) with the band and it’s a rocker. The debut single with Halca, titled “XYZ,” was released on July 7, 2009, and is currently on sale on iTunes (link…
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Meisa Kuroki’s “SHOCK -Unmei-” PV
I can’t help but compare every singer who comes out of Okinawa to Namie Amuro (who set the bar for female and male artists IMHO) and Meisa comes the closest in style and sound. The only question for me now is whether Meisa can pull it off live or not.
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Meisa Kuroki “SHOCK” Desktop
Of the actresses from Okinawa, Manami Higa is my favorite, well current fave, and coming at a close second is Meisa Kuroki. Nago-born Meisa is currently juggling two careers—actress and singer—and doing quite well I might add. Her current drama, “Ninkyo Helper,” in which she plays a yakuza subordinate boss is airing on Fuji TV.…
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Ryukyu Underground’s “Umaku Kamade”
From Ryukyu Underground’s YouTube channel: Official Video. Ryukyu Underground “Umaku Kamade” from their 4th studio album “Umui”. Out in Japan on Respect Record Ltd and worldwide through iTunes. The Okinawan title translates as “Rascal Kamade” (Kamade is a boy’s name) Filmed on location in Motobu Town and Chinen Village, Okinawa in June 2009. Director :…
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alan sings for Kusanagi’s “Ballad” – Tokyograph
Singer alan (21) will be providing the theme song for Takashi Yamazaki’s upcoming movie, ‘Ballad: Namonaki Koi no Uta’ (opening September 5). Although she sang the theme songs for the two ‘Red Cliff’ movies, this is her first time doing one for a Japanese film. The movie, which started shooting last year, is an adaptation…
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