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Congrats to DA PUMP’s KEN!
Moving to the same dance beat as fellow ‘Pumper YUKINARI (28), it looks like KEN’s (27) marriage in 2006 to an unnamed female (after nine years together) produced their first baby girl, Kairi. In 2004, YUKINARI married former talent Natsu Nishida (24) and they have a baby girl. [Via nikkansports.com.]
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Happy Sanshin (3/4) Day!
Sorry, I just got home a little while ago so I’m way late in celebrating Sanshin Day with you. Technically though, Okinawa celebrated Sanshin Day yesterday but there’s still a good half hour or so in my part of the world. 😛 As I did last year, I’ll have something special for you to add…
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Soundtrack for the Film ‘Koishikute’
While we wait patiently for the film to start its run in Japan theaters (and pray for it to make it to US theaters), we can check out the “Koishikute” OST (original soundtrack) in the meantime. The 22-track OST (TECI-1154) will hit record store shelves on March 21, 2007 — before the film’s opening in…
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Karakui Giveaway #1
Not sure how this’ll turn out but it’s all in the name of Okinawan pop culture yeah? We’re happy to announce that we have an album from J-Pop band The Boom to give away. If you’ve been into J-Pop in say, the last 10 years or so, then The Boom may’ve been your initiation into…
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‘Cocco Live in Budokan’ to Air on TV Japan in March
Mark you calendars! TV Japan will air J-Pop singer Cocco’s (and need I say that she’s one of my favorites) “Cocco Live in Budokan” concert on Friday, March 16, 2007! I couldn’t find any info on it at the TV Japan website but it’s probably from her August 10, 2006 concert at the Budokan. The…
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Namie Amuro’s 2nd Single for 2007
Namie Amuro’s (aka Japan’s “Queen of Hip-Pop”) first single release of the year, “Baby Don’t Cry” (January 24, 2007), is doing quite well in the Oricon singles chart having peaked at the #3 spot. With a great start for 2007 what’s next for the singer? Marriage? Another child? Maybe. But for now, we know for…
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Okinawan Pop and Japanese Chindon: happyfunsmile
While looking through our blog stats I found that there are a few of you who are finding us with the keywords “okinawan” + “music” or “pop”. So, I decided to google “okinawan pop” and happened upon a chindon band out of New York City called happyfunsmile: happyfunsmile performs an eclectic mix of okinawan pop,…
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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…
Karakui 