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The OGsband “Chibariyo”
“Chibariyo” from The OGsband (from their YouTube channel) is really catchy. Here’s a short biography of the band via their MySpace Music page: We are 3 Americans that decided to make Okinawa our home. After playing in various cover bands here, we decided to join forces and start an original acoustic band. So far, so…
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Event: Live Yuimaru – Benefit Concert for Chantel Ikehara
Live Yuimaru: Benefit Concert for Chantel Ikehara on Saturday, April 3, 2010, at Jikoen Hongwanji (Hawaii) from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. In 2009, Chantel Ikehara won the 29th KZOO karaoke competition and now has the chance to compete in the “26th Annual NAK (Nippon Amateur Kayo Sai) Grand Prix Taikai” in Tokyo, Japan in…
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Sanshin + Ukulele = Sanlele and the Amazing Kouei Tsuha
Elisa over at oki yo! blogged about the sanlele about a week ago and I’ve been meaning to reblog about here at Karakui.com. The funny thing is that Norman-sensei and I was talking about Kouei Tsuha (son of minyou singer Koutoku Tsuha) several weeks ago and it was a nice coincidence that he was the…
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Web: The Power of Okinawa
I’m happy to share John Potter’s wonderful website, The Power of Okinawa. John is the author of the book The Power of Okinawa: Roots Music from the Ryukyus, which I purchased 9 years ago (released in October 2001) and I’m happy to hear that he’s released a 2nd edition which has been “extensively revised, expanded…
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Event: Obuchi Forum -Okinawa Now- (Hawaii)
Obuchi Forum -Okinawa Now- Sunday, March 21, 2010, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM University of Hawaii Manoa’s Koi Room, Imin Conference Center (Jefferson Hall), East-West Center Free admission and free parking! From the blog: It is our great pleasure to invite all of you to come to learn and discuss contemporary issues in Okinawa…
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One-of-a-kind gold sanshin (yes, it’s real)
Are you a sanshin collector with ¥1,260,000 (about US $14,000) lying around? Then, you’re in luck! Buy a one-of-a-kind gold sanshin. Yes, I kid you not and if you do buy it, make sure not to skimp on shipping. Me? Put an Apple sticker on a sanshin and I’m a happy camper. 😛 (Via @kyankyankyan.)
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Event: Tobe! Uta Sanshin 2010 in Hawaii
Tobe! Uta Sanshin 2010 in Hawaii charity concert for Hawaii Okinawa Center’s 20th anniversary. Concert takes place on Monday, March 29th at 7:00 PM. From the HUOA website: We are pleased to announce that Terukina Sensei has chosen the Hawaii Okinawa Center to be the site of his 2010 Tobe Uta-sanshin in Hawaii! We are…
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Orange Range’s Hiroki marries – Tokyograph
ORANGE RANGE vocalist HIROKI (26) has been married since last month, it was learned on Saturday. The band announced the news on their official website. HIROKI registered his marriage in February. His wife is not in show business, and he chose not to reveal any personal details such as her age or the length of…
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March 4th means Happy Sanshin Day!
And whaddaya know, there’s even a website for Sanshin Day too. Well, the bad part is that the special day has already passed in Okinawa but we can still celebrate in our neck of the woods. Now let’s get our sanshin tuned and get playing!
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SPEED’s Takako Uehara finds new love – Tokyograph
Takako Uehara (27), a member of the female pop group SPEED, is reportedly in a new relationship. This week’s issue of Josei Seven contains pictures of Uehara with AKIHIRO (27), a dancer and a designer for a hip-hop fashion brand. AKIHIRO was seen late last month spending the night at Uehara’s home. He was also…
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