-
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.
-
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 :…
-
Veteran Amami utasha Ikue Asazaki
We often focus on the new singers from Amami-Oshima like Rikki Nakano, Chitose Hajime, Kosuke Atari, and Minami Kizuki, leaving out the traditional singers. So, better late than never, no? Ikue Asazaki is a veteran utasha (now in her 70s) who has been singing Amami shimauta since picking it up from her father and regarded…
-
PV for BENI’s upcoming single “Kiss Kiss Kiss”
BENI’s new single—and her 2nd since going solely by her first name—won’t be released until April 8, 2009, but luckily, her record label has released the PV of the single on their official YouTube page. The new single, titled “Kiss Kiss Kiss,” sports BENI in a short bob-style hairdo (which I really like, BTW) and…
-
Amuro does animated music video – Tokyograph
Namie Amuro’s new song ‘Dr.’ will be made into an anime music video. This is the first time that one of her music videos will be a fully animated work. In addition, Amuro will appear in it as an animated character. A group of more than forty of Japan’s leading creators, deemed the ‘strongest’ in…
-
Emi Tawata collaborates with apparel brand SOULSMANIA
Singer Emi Tawata’s latest mini album, “Sweet Soul Love,” was just released on the 18th and it features a collaboration with popular apparel brand SOULSMANIA. The combined effort produced a lineup of t-shirts that perfectly compliment both sides as the apparel from SOULSMANIA are influenced by black culture and Emi’s style of music is a…
-
Monpachi’s albums hit the iTunes Store! Buy now!
If there’s one album you should own that represents the indie punk scene in Okinawa, it’s Mongol800’s (or affectionately known as Monpachi) 2001 album “MESSAGE.” The album contains a couple of their most popular songs: “Chiisana Koi no Uta” and “Ryukyu Aika,” but the album in its entirety is absolutely awesome. If you’re into rock,…
-
Meisa Kuroki’s got sexy
With her debut album “hellcat” set for release on April 8th, Meisa Kuroki is *ahem* heating things up with her latest PV for the song “Bad Girl.” Personally, I think the image fits her and it doesn’t seem like she’s forcing it upon herself. Now, say, if this were to have been Gakky’s image for…
-
Simple Sanshin Source shares video of Sanshin playing robot
Simple Sanshin Source shares a video of University of the Ryukyus‘s (Ryudai) sanshin-playing robot. Has to be seen to be believed. The clip above shows the robot playing “Toushin Doi.” Not perfect, but pretty amazing.
-
Website: Simple Sanshin Source
Simple Sanshin Source is “an English-based guide to the Okinawan sanshin” that features kunkunshi (sheet music), lyrics, and tips by Kenji, a self-taught sanshin enthusiast. Given that I haven’t been very good at updating Three Strings, Simple Sanshin Source looks to be the online place to learn about the sanshin. There’s also a YouTube channel…
Karakui 