A spontaneous life update from Okayama, Japan with annotations about incoming child, state of my health, affection for parents and pals, fixing up our little cottage, plans for schools and playing Santa Claus, notes about birthing clinic, Ryoko’s awesomeness, request for notes of recommendation and preview of some forthcoming book projects.
Videos
Mae Maes – Ryoko’s band at Mukunomi Fureai Matsuri
Konnichi-Mae! To complete the trifecta of tunes from Saturday’s Matsuri comes my favourite!
Ryoko’s band Mae Maes played at a community outdoor festival (you can see video some of the other performers elsewhere in this archive) and several of the usual supporters were out on a sunny and surprisingly hot day, including the effervescent Tadanori Suzumura-san – “the Shacho” (boss) is a singer himself and a huge supporter of local music.
Here we are hanging out:
Continue reading Mae Maes – Ryoko’s band at Mukunomi Fureai Matsuri
Trainspotting: Freight Train Pulling Out of Okayama (Japan) Station
Nothing special, just a freight train pulling out of Okayama Station (with announcements in the background). Just an ambient observation for amusement.
Rolling Elsewhere: around Oslo, Norway by boat, train and car
Ambient “space cruise” around generally Oslo area of Norway by boat, trains and car. That’s it. No narration, action, plot, theme or whatever, just dig the views and ride along. Sound is “as-is” aside form Ilgudin Trio (from Russia, recorded live in Ubud, Indonesia) added whilst in the car. Roll on. That’s it.
Thanks to Mathias and Harald Olson for the footage – wasn’t me).
Boocuss (ska punk from Okayama, Japan) at a community festival
Saw a great band Saturday, Nov. 23rd at Mukunomi Fureai Matsuri (where Ryoko’s Mae Maes also performed) called Boocuss , a ska-punk funtime band.
Looking forward to seeing them again in a more suited venue (this was an outdoor community festival which was cool but ya know, not ideal for their style).
Anyhow, here’s a little variety pack video.
Trio: Sax, Drums and Singing at a Japanese Festival
An interesting trio with jamming alto sax, quirky on-in-one drum kit, and trad vocals as seen at Mukunomi Fureai Matsuri (festival) on Okayama, Japan, Nov. 23, 2019.
Rolling Elsewhere: Kanazawa to Toyama (Japan)
Pleasant ambient countryside views from train window rolling from Tsubata (Ishikawa) to Takaoka-Yabunami (Toyama), Japan. Stops at stations, some announcement, a few coughs.
No narration, story, action – just views and sounds. Also a slick spacey streetcar in Toyama City and a few other treats.
3 Pack of Drummers, variety from Russia, Australia and Japan
3 very different styles of drummers from 3 countries:
Beginning with a short clip of Ilugin Trio from Russia performing at Ubud Jazz Festival in Bali, then 3 stitched clips from Australia’s Arcing Wires at the same festival, finally a smooth old gent (name i can’t recall) performing with Keizaburo Yano (on vocals) at Piano Bar in Okayama, Japan.
Taiko drums at a Setouchi (Japan) Community Festival
A small friendly group of taiko drummers have a good time at a community arts and culture festival in Setouchi, Okayama, Japan.
Rolling Elsewhere: Kurobe Gorge Railway, Toyama (Japan)
Ambient meditative scenes of riding the narrow gauge railway up Kurobe Gorge, one of the steepest canyons in Japan with spectacular scenery, choogling open air train and hydro-electric dam with medieval style castle (really).
Not a documentary instead documentation, just as-it-is snippets, stitched loosely to capture the feeling of the trip from Onazuki Onsen station to Keyakidaira (end of the line) station way up in the Japan Alps.