Oki Dub Ainu Band - Sakhalin Rock

Historical expanse of Ainu (Courtesy of ArnoldPlaton)

The Ainu, the indigenous people in northern Japan (Hokkaido Island) and Russian Far East (Sakhalin and Kuril Islands), has distinctive yet eroding traditions. They are numerically overwhelmed by the dominant Yamato people even in Hokkaido. Their music is no exception.

However, a tonkori (a traditional string instrument of the Ainu) player named Oki stood up to change the trend. His Oki Dub Ainu Band mixes the traditional Ainu music with dub, raggae, rock, afrobeat and so on to create a new kind of Ainu music that appeals to the contemporary audience.

"Sakhalin Rock" (2010)


Sakhalin Rock is available at iTunes Store and Amazon.

Biwa ✕ Cello

Experimental cellist Gasper Claus meets satsuma biwa player Nishihara Kakushin (西原鶴真). Purchase from the iTunes Store and eMusic is available.

2 years...

It has been 2 years since the earthquake. We still have a long way to go.

This is "Nunca" by Venezuelan harp player Yoshizawa Yoko (吉澤陽子), whose concert I attended yesterday.

▲s - Mastika

Balkan-inspired band ▲s (Pyramidos) play "Mastika". Extremely addictive.

November Steps

November Steps, one of the finest works of the renowned composer Takemitsu Toru (武満徹), remains a favorite of mine. The biwa player is Tsuruta Kinshi (鶴田錦史); the shakuhachi player is Yokoyama Katsuya (横山勝也).

Sakamoto Ryuichi - Participation Mystique

Sakamoto Ryuichi (坂本龍一)'s 2nd solo album B-2 Unit (1980) is a favorite of mine. Far better than the renowned 1st album Thousand Knives (1978), in my opinion.

Nakajima Miyuki - Sejo

Nakajima Miyuki (中島みゆき)'s "Sejo" (世情 trans. The World) is from her 1978 masterpiece Aishiteiru to Ittekure (愛していると云ってくれ trans. Tell Me You Love Me).