U900
September 19, 2009 7:02 PM Subscribe
Usagino U (ukulele, lead vocal) and Kumano 900 (ukulele, pianica, theremin, bongos) play American surf rock in Japan -- Isogabamaware ll Diamond Head ll Crazy G
Fun animation, fine uke strummin'. You know, the ukulele is VERY popular in Japan. Many of the guitar shops here in Tokyo, along music row in Ochanomizu and elsewhere, have enormous numbers of ukes for sale. Lots of shops have whole sections portioned off for ukes alone. Folks here just love 'em.
BTW, Usagino U's closing comment on the first clip, "kanpeki!" means "perfect!"
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:33 PM on September 19, 2009
BTW, Usagino U's closing comment on the first clip, "kanpeki!" means "perfect!"
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:33 PM on September 19, 2009
Fantastic. Totally made my day, until I found out there were only those 3 videos.
posted by fontophilic at 7:49 PM on September 19, 2009
posted by fontophilic at 7:49 PM on September 19, 2009
They have a CD/DVD with more videos and longer versions of the songs (which I'm buying as soon as I find a store with cheaper shipping rates).
posted by clearlydemon at 8:41 PM on September 19, 2009
posted by clearlydemon at 8:41 PM on September 19, 2009
That is interesting flapjax. I wonder why that is? Just the japanese love of all things super-cute?
My dad can play what is known as a banjo uke or banjolele. Sounds like this :) I only saw him play it a handful of times, but I always loved it. made you feel like you were in a Woody Allen movie.
posted by vronsky at 6:50 AM on September 20, 2009
My dad can play what is known as a banjo uke or banjolele. Sounds like this :) I only saw him play it a handful of times, but I always loved it. made you feel like you were in a Woody Allen movie.
posted by vronsky at 6:50 AM on September 20, 2009
I don't want to be the fingernail in everyone's Cobb salad, but that bunny is in blackface. It's more racist than cute.
posted by d1rge at 8:17 AM on September 20, 2009
posted by d1rge at 8:17 AM on September 20, 2009
I don't want to be the fingernail in everyone's Cobb salad, but that bunny is in blackface. It's more racist than cute.
I just took a look at the three videos. It's a black rabbit. They do exist, you know.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 11:46 AM on September 20, 2009
I just took a look at the three videos. It's a black rabbit. They do exist, you know.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 11:46 AM on September 20, 2009
that bunny is in blackface. It's more racist than cute.
You are seeing a racist bogeyman here who only exists in your head. If this were meant to portray Black people in some stereotyping fashion, trust me, it'd be more obvious. You'd KNOW, because the Japanese tend to not be too subtle about these things. The rabbit doesn't sound "Black". At all. Or talk "Black". At all. Black people (unlike, say, Hawaiians) are not associated with the ukulele in particular, in Japan or elsewhere. Nor are they associated, in the popular imagination, with Ventures-style surf rock.
So, um, no, this is simply a black rabbit, not a "Black" rabbit.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:52 PM on September 20, 2009
You are seeing a racist bogeyman here who only exists in your head. If this were meant to portray Black people in some stereotyping fashion, trust me, it'd be more obvious. You'd KNOW, because the Japanese tend to not be too subtle about these things. The rabbit doesn't sound "Black". At all. Or talk "Black". At all. Black people (unlike, say, Hawaiians) are not associated with the ukulele in particular, in Japan or elsewhere. Nor are they associated, in the popular imagination, with Ventures-style surf rock.
So, um, no, this is simply a black rabbit, not a "Black" rabbit.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:52 PM on September 20, 2009
I don't want to be the fingernail in everyone's Cobb salad, but that bunny is in blackface. It's more racist than cute.
I suppose at 1:30 in this video they say they are "Friends, though we are of different races." Though I took it to mean that they were a rabbit and a bear, rather than black and orange skin (yarn?) colors.
Way to over think a plate of cute animals toys.
posted by fontophilic at 9:34 AM on September 21, 2009
I suppose at 1:30 in this video they say they are "Friends, though we are of different races." Though I took it to mean that they were a rabbit and a bear, rather than black and orange skin (yarn?) colors.
Way to over think a plate of cute animals toys.
posted by fontophilic at 9:34 AM on September 21, 2009
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