CHiLi GiRL

都会の森 Urban Forest

ChiLi GiRL チリ・ガール aka Shinobu Kawashima 川嶋志乃舞 is a shamisen player and singer-songwriter’s new music project that started in 2020. Through her group, she is creating a new type of music incorporating the traditional with her own unique modern sounds. It is her developing and refining her musical voice that makes her music captivating. She learned and studied Tsugaru shamisen and min’yo under teacher Mitsugi Sasaki from the age of three. While studying nagauta shamisen at Tokyo University of the Arts, she also taught himself how to effectively compose pop songs, which have been used in TV Tokyo’s “Wafu Sohonke Nidaime” and other media theme songs. Shinobu won various national competitions and has been appointed as a min’yo ambassador (Japan Min’yo Association). Favorite songs of ChiLi GiRL/Shinobu Kawashima are: 1. Nakimushino Hoshi 2. MNNS 3. Love Hit! 4. Horoyoi 5. Mogitta 6. Kowarechau Yokanga Suruno 7. Tulips in the park – improvisation 8. おしゃれなふたり Fashionable Futari 9. 牡丹姫 10. 2018Ver. Peony Princess 11. City Shake 12. 遊廓ディスコ Yuukoro Disco 13. Akita Nikatabushi. Recommended.

https://www.clg-tokyo.com/

Xiexie

Xiexie are an acid-folk band of musicians that came together to create good music. Their name was created by the Chinese word “谢谢” (xiexie). The songs what you see and 13 are examples of their unique airy and dreamlike sound. The origins of Xiexie was when Koda (vo/gt) from NY & Bicycles and Tobita (dr) of All About Paradise asked Meari (vo/gt) and Kai (ba) to join. The band members are: Meari メアリ: vocal & guitar, Yamato Koda 幸田大和: guitar, Teruyuki Hiraki 開輝之(ひらきてるゆき): bass, and Koichi Tobita 飛田興一 : drums. Favorite songs of Xiexie are: 1. da da 2. N.O.U 3. what you see 4. Blue 5. 13. Please support Xiexie.

Tweets by xiexiemusic

instagram.com/xiexiemusic

Please see my Spotify channel for my favorite Japanese songs and musicians. Also see the sidebar of my blog called Favorite Japanese Music & Musicians on Spotify.

https://open.spotify.com/user/u51eejsownkskq60f5fn3ag4w

Toko Furuuchi

Spangle Call Lilli Line

Hitomitoi

Kiki Vivi Lily

Bonnie Pink

Shin Rizumu

Puniden

Miho Tsujibayashi

Sakanaction

Kaede

Kirinji

Qrion

Moeka Giga

Yusuke Shima

Genie High

i-dushi

Asagaya Romantics

Ayane Yamazaki

Connie

Natsu Summer

Mitsume

Uwanosora

Shinobu Kawashima

Miida

Pictured Resort

Superfly

Pizzicato Five

Elsewhere Kikou

Elsewhere Kikou エルスウェア紀行 are a two piece indie pop band that started in September 2020. They were previously called “Hinata and Ashley.” The duo perform a mixture of rock, folk, progressive, soul, and some city pop. Elsewhere-Kikou has evolved and has a mature sound and creates good music. The band members are: Miyu Hinata (Vo.Gt) and Toyoshi (Gt.Dr.Cho). Favorite songs of Elsewhere Kikou are: 1. マイ・ストレンジ・タウン 2. ひとときのさよなら 3. エルスウェア紀行 4. 朝のにおい 5. 普通の毎日. Please listen to and support Elsewhere Kikou.

https://elsewhere-kikou.com

i-dushi new songs

 

i-dushi have grown in popularity and are a skillful Okinawan Ryukyu folk duo from Eidoshi Okinawa. The duo carries on the musical tradition of Ryukyu culture emanating from their rich Okinawan musical history. They are true musical ambassadors who perform Okinawan classical and folk music with only their guitar and tsugaru shamisen instruments. Their songs carry the spirit, pride, warmth, and strength of the Okinawan people. Favorite songs of i-dushi are: 1. Hope 2. キミの島 3. 鳳仙花 4. Okinawan Blue 5. おばぁの涙 Grandma’s Tears 6. エール. The duo consists of songwriter & singer Cana かーなー (tsugaru shamisen 三線) and Nanami なみなみ (guitar). Recommended and i-dushi will help you understand the music and culture of Okinawa.

 

https://i-dushi.jimdosite.com/

https://wordpress.com/post/japanmusiccorner.wordpress.com/2013

The Minyo Crusaders

 

 

 

 

 

The Minyo Crusaders 民謡クルセイダーズ are a creative minyo folk band formed almost ten years ago and had roots in Fussa near Yokosuka Naval Base. The Minyo Crusaders incorporate Japanese folk songs infused with Latin, African, Caribbean, and Asian sounds. The Minyo Crusaders were greatly influenced by past singers such as Hibari Misora, Chiema Eri, and Tokyo Cuban Boys who integrated minyo and Latin rhythms in their music and helped them find their musical identity. The Minyo Crusaders create music that is fun, exciting, and memorable. Band members and audience equally have fun during the performances. One of their highlights was when Frente Cumbiero and Miyo Crusaders performed a 2019 musical collaboration in Columbia. Their song collaboration of “Cumbia del Monte Fuji” and “Mambonegro Daisakusen” are pieces of artistic excellence. The band members of Minyo Crusaders are: Fredy Tsukamoto (vocals), leader Katsumi Tanaka (guitar), Meg (vocals), Moe (effects & keyboard), Mutsumi Kobayashi (bongos, drum machine), Shoji Ishiguro (bass), Irochi (congas), and Koichiro Osawa (Saxophone). Recommended.

 

 

https://bacana.live/artist/minyo-crusaders/

 

i-dushi

 

 

 

i-dushi are an increasingly popular and skillful Okinawan Ryukyu folk duo from Okinawa. The duo carries on the musical tradition of Ryukyu culture. They are true musicians who perform Okinawan classical and folk music with only their guitar and tsugaru shamisen instruments with amplified sound. Their initial cover song “The Voice of the Sea” garnered over 2.5 million You Tube views. The duo consists of songwriter & singer Cana かーなー (tsugaru shamisen 三線) and Nanami なみなみ (guitar). I-dushi perform lives, school festivals both local and nationally and occasionally internationally. Recommended.

 

 

https://i-dushi.jimdosite.com/

Shinobu Kawashima

Shinobu Kawashima 川嶋志乃舞 is a highly skilled Tsugaru shamisen player utilizing both modern and classical styles in her music. She also taught herself music composition and her music seems geared towards popularizing shamisen music. It is nice to see musicians such as Shinobu have the opportunity to perform music promoting Japanese arts and culture. She learned the Tsugaru shamisen at the age of five and graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Shinobu won the Tsugaru Shamisen national tournament four times. Discography: 花とネオン 価格　2017-10-9 ： 1. キツネ倶楽部 2. 津軽よされ節 3. 秋田大黒舞 4. 花千鳥 (フジテレビ「大相撲 ODAIBA 場所」テーマ曲). Recommended.

https://www.clg-tokyo.com/

Check out her latest music

https://www.shinobu-kawashima.com/

Miz

Miz or Miziraz are a new acoustic group. Listening to Miziraz will transport you to their dream world. You will never tire of Miziraz’s music because  they play with their heart and for the love of music.

https://miziraz.tumblr.com/

Kurofune 黒船

Kurofune 黒船 are a group of musicians who came together to combine traditional Shimauta music of Amani Islands and Kagoshima Prefecture fused with pop and jazz. Kurofune are a handful of groups that have successfully merged the traditional and the modern styles of music to create an enjoyable new type of sound. The members of Kurofune are: Sekiya Yuki bassist from TRI4TH, Anna Sato a shimauta singer and shimisen player from Amani Islands, talented Hikari Shirafuji of group Ki & Ki Tsugaru Shamisen, Daisuke Takeuchi pianist also from TRI4TH, and Toshiyuki Sasaki drummer from the group Nautilus. Recommended.

http://www.peaceofcake.net/

http://kiki-teruteru.jimdo.com/about-%E8%BC%9D-%E8%BC%9D/

Music of Ki & Ki and Hikari Shirafuji
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe3tg2eHtF4yzG9upKn6skg

http://www.tri4th.com/

Tinörks ティノークス

Tinörks are three member group who have own identity and unique sound and style unlike any other group. You are transported into Tinörks own dreamlike world through their music by their electronica, acoustic, and ambient sounds. The group was formed in 2007 and incorporate the Irish and Native American flute, harp, keyboard, and harmonica and other instruments. The group performs at unique venues such as Japanese temples, live houses, factories, housing exhibitions, kagura halls, and department stores. Discography: 1. Nayuta 3-2008 2. Musicaroof 10-2009 3. Homing 7-2010 4. Gyrocompass 1-2011 5. Oto No Ma 1-2012 6. Odomyunica (best album) The members of Tinörks are: Shizuku Kawahara川原　雫 : flutes, metallophon, melodion, vocal, and lap harp, Yusuke Shimono 霜野 佑介: guitar and electronics, and Hosei Tatemizu 建水 歩星: keyboards, electronics, and programming. Recommended.
Listen and purchase their music
https://namimum.bandcamp.com/

http://www.tinorks.com/