The Okinawan Music Project
Comments: 11
Richie Yamashiroya has a site called the Okinawan Music Project, a great source of artist and discographic information on (you guessed it) Okinawan music. Okinawa has an incredible musical heritage which I don’t know nearly as much about as I want to, so I’m going to be spending some time at the OMP for sure.
I’m not a big fan of J-Pop at all, but I’ve loved almost everything I’ve heard from Okinawa, especially the older, more traditional styles of music. I’ve been wanting to get to Okinawa for years and years, but never had the chance. A good friend who’s a writer and photographer spent some time there a few years back interviewing musicians and she said she’d live there in a flash. Great people, great food, great place. I can’t wait.
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Posted to Other Places • 2002.11.09 (Sat) • 22:30
Comments
Posted by Shannon 2002.11.09, 22:48
My mom grew up in Okinawa (army brat) and said it was a blast. I should probably ask her about it more often.
Posted by Richie 2002.11.10, 06:25
I wish I could include mp3s on my site but I’m afraid of getting sued and I don’t want to piss off any artists (Okinawan artists don’t make much money as it is). I wonder what the laws are on streaming media?
Posted by jh 2002.11.10, 13:10
Richie — I don’t see anything wrong with posting short samples, but of course some people might differ. Look at it as a way of increasing sales. I’m much more inclined to spend on a CD when I can get a taste of what I’m buying. Obviously posting whole tracks is probably not a good idea.
You’d also be able to introduce more people to some different kinds of music than they might otherwise hear.
Posted by Adam Rice 2002.11.13, 08:53
Excellent. I’ve always enjoyed Okinawan music, which seems to be either eerie or raucous.
Posted by Travis Morgan 2003.05.05, 03:41
Hello all, I have lots of Okinawa Information on my blog, including an Okinawa Jukebox. I think it is ok to have the mp3’s on your site as long as you are not distributing them or sharing them in anyway. My Okinawa Jukebox for example, you can only listen to the full length songs, but you cannot download them. They are for listening pleasure only on my personal blog.
Posted by Anonymous 2003.07.05, 22:43
Actually, I don’t think so. I researched Okinawa rules and you are free to do as you want for your website, so long as you don’t sell it off.
They’re quite happy actually, because it makes their music popular.
Just don’t sell it, and you won’t get sued.
Posted by Brandy 2003.11.25, 11:56
I live in Virginia and am learning to play the samisen, wanted to know if anyone knew someone who teaches in the Virginia Beach, Norfolk area.
Posted by Stephen 2004.11.15, 07:29
just a request. My wife is from Okinawa and we would like to get some internet radio type connection. any ideas?
Posted by annie 2005.09.10, 11:15
i’m in love with okinawan music. sanshin and shima uta.. i heard it first in the movie “the japanese story” as the background and i didn’t even know it was from okinawa. and then i’m at this amazing art show in washington dc and i hear it again. so i bought the cd from the rough guide to the music of okinawa put out by world music network. i listen to it all the time and now dig this: my son who is a scuba diver instructor is now in okinawa. yeepee guess who’s going to go? it’s just gutsy, raw, heartfelt, rhythmic, angular, rhythmic vibe. like a good japanese movie you know shohei imamura…
Posted by kei 2006.06.01, 10:53
rough guide to the music of okinawa. I want this. May I?
Posted by L. T. 2006.06.24, 08:45
My first introduction to Okinawa music was Rinken Band,and I love them very much,now you taught me about OKINAWA MUSIC PROJECT. THANK YOU. PLS. Send me more links of Okinawa music,where to buy and listen on the internet.
lndtoma@yahoo.com
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