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Our Voices Through Rapper Awich
If you’re a new reader of Karakui, you may think it’s mainly a blog about Awich (and YU-KA) because of how often we post about her. It’s just that this is how BIG she’s become and it’s very much deserved. Being a female rapper in Okinawa and Japan and becoming famous enough to command a…
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Orion Beer’s Shokunin for Overseas Market?
So apparently Orion Beer released a new item for the overseas market called Shokunin with a really cute can design. Has anyone seen it yet? It’s a wheat beer with the wheat coming from Okinawa and it can only be purchased online in Okinawa as it’s not being sold at restaurants and stores in Japan.
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Agena Sisters Announce New Music Group “Unaikanai”
Singer-songwriter Agena Mana announced that she and her sister Halu started a new music duo called Unaikanai. (There’s a third sister who often appears on Mana’s YouTube channel that’s currently not part of this unit.) The name of the duo is a play on Niraikanai with Unai meaning sisters and Kanai make it come true…
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Alicia Ang’s “Echoes from an Island”
A book about Okinawa? We’re all in! Alicia Ang’s “Echoes from an Island” is the author’s self-published book debut featuring poems and short stories with Okinawa as its theme. The book’s introduction mentions that Alicia was working on a YA (young adult) historical fantasy with the protagonist starting off as a refugee in Okinawa —…
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Seven Oops New Single “Yoake” Has a Full Music Video
“Yoake” (released 3/13) is the 3-piece Okinawa pop rock band Seven Oops‘s 14th single and their first release in 3 years! The song is amazing and we’ve had it on repeat since its release. The topping on the cake is that the band recently released a full music video for “Yoake” that has us feeling…
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Amazing Okinawa Minyo Ongaku-mura New Year Concert
Maki from Campus Records recently shared an archive of the Okinawa Minyo Ongaku-mura (in Okinawa City) New Year Concert on YouTube! The concert features the following utasha (musicians): veteran Taba Seishin, Shimabukuro Tatsuya, Matsuda Kazutoshi, Akamaami, and Yui Yui Sisters (Yamakawa Mayumi was unable to attend due to health reasons). Enjoy!
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When Apple Music Trolls You
We were pleasantly surprised to see Apple Music’s recommendation for “Essential Okinawa Albums”. Who knew that they were even keeping track and the recommendations are legit with BEGIN, Yonaha Toru, Nenes, Hajime Chitose, and not pictured: Aragaki Mutsumi, Oshima Yasukatsu, Ara Yukito, Natsukawa Rimi, and Oshiro Misako. It’s a mix of deep cut albums and…
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4-Piece Rock Band Girls Or Boys
(via Twitter) From Okinawa ✔️. Cool band name ✔️. Music widely available ✔️. We’ve seen our share of cool indie rock bands come out of Okinawa (one of our favorites was/is cat bears — but where have you gone⁉️) and one of them (green note coaster had their big break winning the theme song contest…
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Popular Fashion Magazine Mens Non-No’s Latest Model is Nakatsuka Riku
The latest model for popular fashion magazine Mens Non-No (many famous actors started out as models for the magazine) is nineteen year old Nakatsuka Riku of Itoman. The young model/actor also made an appearance on the Okinawa-based (kinda-sorta) TV drama “Chimudodon” and commented that its star Kuroshima Yuina was his inspiration (she’s also from Itoman).…
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Orion Beer Announces Orion The Premium 🍺
First teased on their Twitter account, Orion Beer is releasing a new drink called Orion The Premium on 10/25. Made with a “miracle yeast” from Okinawa, it has a rich taste that’s not bitter like other beer and leaves a clean and smooth aftertaste. (Sounds like the perfect beer for us!). The new beer’s motto…
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