This is a collection of newly released recordings made in Okinawa some years ago by the band Rokuningumi. The CD contains nine tracks of 1985 studio recordings followed by seven live songs from the following year. The band’s leader and drummer Kojun wrote all the songs. The other band members were Miyuki (vocals), Kenji Yano (guitar), Hiroki Kinjo (bass) and Satomi Tamaki (keyboards).
What makes this significant is that the band took part in the NHK Young Music Festival of 1985 and were winners of the competition. However, plans for the release of a debut album to be produced by Bill Laswell never materialised and for whatever mysterious reasons Rokuningumi subsequently disappeared without trace…until now.
Their music has been described as blending rock and fusion with the melodies and rhythms of Okinawa, China, and Southeast Asia. In that respect they have some affinity with the likes of Rinken Band and Shang Shang Typhoon. (In fact, bassist Kinjo was once a member of Rinken Band). There are also similarities with both Shoukichi Kina and Sadao China who were experimenting with new kinds of Okinawan music several years before this.
Guitarist Kenji Yano, originally from Osaka, has gone on to create several new music projects including Surf Champlers and Sanshin Café Orchestra. He continues to be active in Okinawa as a record producer as well as a musician.
These recordings are fascinating to listen to again and in general still have the power to engage. The studio recordings were originally produced as high-quality demos. Mastering for this release was done by that well-known curator of many things Okinawan, Makoto Kubota.
Rokuningumi 1984-1988 is released by Disc Union.
Here is a video of the band at the NHK Young Music Festival in 1985:
Power of Okinawa 