-
Ayano Uema posts images on her blog from her Kansai tour
Utasaa Ayano Uema’s blog entry on her recent Kansai tour is filled with both candid and on-stage images. The first of the trio of concerts took place at Live House MAXA in Matsuzaka City, Mie Prefecture (yes, it’s where the famous Matsuzaka beef is from), and was filmed live by the city’s TV station. To…
-
Catching up
Sorry for being MIA for the past couple of weeks. During my time away from Karakui I’ve been collecting stories which you’ll start to see turn up on the blog today. For those who’ve left comments on the blog, sorry for not approving them sooner. Anyhoo, back to posting entries—hope you enjoy them!
-
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…
-
Center for Okinawa Studies Conference 2009
“From Aza, through Sanzan, Loochoo, and Ryukyu, to Okinawa, to Uchinanchu Diaspora—Where is Okinawan Studies Headed?” March 19th – March 21st, 2009 Hawaii Imin International Conference Center, East West Center, Hawaiʻi The first COS Okinawan Studies conference will feature scholars from UH, the US mainland, Okinawa and Japan and will examine ways in which the…
-
“Gokusen” goes to the big screen – Tokyograph
The popular drama series ‘Gokusen’ is getting a movie version this summer. After three highly-rated seasons, the film will be the last time that lead actress Yukie Nakama plays the role of the teacher Yankumi. The third season of ‘Gokusen’ aired last spring and ended with a successful 22.8% average rating. The movie takes place…
-
YUI provides Stereopony’s next single – Tokyograph
Up-and-coming girl band Stereopony has revealed that their third single, ‘I do it,’ is a collaboration with singer-songwriter YUI. This is the first time that YUI has created a song for another artist. The band’s vocalist, AIMI, has been heavily influenced by YUI. The group shares the same producer as her, but they were still…
-
Meisa Kuroki represents Armani – Tokyograph
20-year-old actress Meisa Kuroki has been chosen as the Japanese face of fashion brand Emporio Armani for 2009. She is succeeding actress Aoi Miyazaki, who served the same role last year. This year’s campaign is being photographed by Takaki Kumada. Advertisements will begin running in the April issues of major fashion magazines, along with newspaper…
-
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,…
-
Yanawarabaa to release 10th single on 4/22
For their first single of 2009, girl pop duo Yanawarabaa will be releasing “Takaramono” — their 10th single — on April 22nd. “Takaramono” follows the November 2008 release “Purezento (Present).” (Via bounce.com.)
-
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…
Karakui 