Music writer Nakore recently got in touch with me to spread the word about his new audio/video blog, Showa OK! , which is "devoted to archiving rare and forgotten Japanese pop gems of the Shōwa period (1926-1989)." The first entry includes an early music video of what I suppose is still the most famous Japanese song in the United States, "Ue O Muite Arukō" (aka "Sukiyaki"). It is interesting to me that in the four decades since that song's 1961 release, Japan's enormous international cultural influence (Walkman, anime, manga, Nintendo, Speed Racer, fashion, karaoke, etc.) has not extended to mainstream popular music. The closest thing I can come up with of is the work of Ryuichi Sakamoto, but the cultural influence of his genius has been largely subliminal, I think. In any case, check out this strangely existential black-and-white film of Kyū Sakamoto (no relation) performing his pop classic.

Speaking of Ryuichi Sakamoto, Nakore's second music post discusses the life and work of his ex-wife, Akiko Yano, singling out a sweet track from her 1976 debut album. Yano's voice here reminds me of her contemporary, Kate Bush, in its quick, breathy assuredness. The backing band, Nakore tells us, is made up of members of Little Feat, Happy End and Haruomi Hosono--talk about a supergroup!

Informative, musically astute and a pleasure to read, Showa OK! already looks like a must-read blog.