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RBC Special “Ryukyu Athlete MTG 2021” (Okinawa)
RBC aired a 1-hour special today called “Ryukyu Athlete MTG 2021” (琉球アスリートＭＴＧ２０２１). The TV special features several athletes from Okinawa that will be competing in Tokyo 2020 (now in summer 2021 as it was postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic). The athletes (links to their Wikipedia page if available) featured in the special…
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Kiku TV’s 2021 New Year’s Special Programs (Hawaii)
Although many of us were saddened of Kiku TV’s decision in not picking up the 71st NHK Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, they are showing two special dramas that have actresses from Okinawa featured in them. The first airs tonight (Saturday, 1/2) and is called The Last Promise (Saigo no Yakusoku) which aired in Japan on January 9,…
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A Look at Apple Music’s Top Songs of 2020: Japan Playlist
So how did music artists from Okinawa (or Okinawan) fair in Apple Music’s Top Songs of 2020: Japan playlist? Let’s take a look… And, it’s 0 (zero). Yep, pretty sad. Looking at 2019’s playlist, we see Da Pump’s U.S.A. and Mongol800’s Chiisana Koi no Uta (note that this song is originally from their 2001 album…
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71st Kouhaku Uta-Gassen with Nikaido Fumi
Yes, it was a very different NHK Kouhaku Uta-Gassen (the 71st) with the ongoing pandemic performances were done without an audience. But for those that are fans of Okinawan pop culture, we can celebrate that popular actress Nikaido Fumi (Naha, Okinawa) was one of the announcers for the annual song battle. She currently starts in…
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Happy New Year!
Wishing everyone a safe and happy new year! In Okinawa, my family also celebrates the Lunar (Chinese) New Year so we have twice the celebrations.
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Koza Uprising Twitter Thread @toranosukev
If you want to learn more about the Koza Uprising, Travis has an amazing Twitter thread.
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50 Years Since Koza Unrest
Sunday marks 50 years since unrest which occurred after a car driven by US military personnel hit a local resident near a US base in Okinawa. The unrest took place on December 20, 1970, two years before reversion of the southern prefecture from the United States to Japan. Residents of the area expressed anger by…
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Voice Actor Shimabukuro Miyuri in Carole & Tuesday
If you’re looking for an amazing anime to binge on before the year ends, look no further than Carole & Tuesday which is streaming on Netflix (US). It has a great story, great music, and a great message. Voice actor Shimabukuro Miyuri (島袋美由利) from Okinawa voices Carole (singing is done by Nai Br.XX) and although…
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Chuning Candy
Chuning Candy is a 5-member idol girl group that formed in 2013 from the CAT’S EYE talent school in Naha Okinawa. They follow history of idol groups from Okinawa that includes Super Monkey’s, MAX, Da Pump, Speed, D&D, and Folder 5. The members of Chunican are Kotone (琴音), Sophie (ソフィー), Lili (LILI), Yuuri (ゆうり), and…
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Shurayo by Frou Frou (Imogen Heap & Guy Sigsworth)
In addition to being a fan of Okinawan music, I also listen to a lot of other music and have been a fan of Imogen Heap and her band with Guy Sigsworth, Frou Frou. In 2019 they released an EP called Shurayo featuring the tracks Shurayo, Shimauta, and Shurayo (Mika’s Version). So you must be…
Karakui 