Feeling thankful in breathtaking Amami


S.T.K. went to Amami Ooshima Island to participate in a big outdoor party
called “Keimun Monday!” I hadn’t been to Amami in five years and it was
still as gorgeous as ever. The stage was set up on an amazing private beach,
and S.T.K. rocked Amami as part of an unvelievable group of artists that
included the great Ryuichi Sakamoto, Amami folk song expert Ikue Asazaki,
vocalist ROVO, and Yuuji Katsui.

I had a great time playing my violin with a plectrum from the traditional
Amami shamisen [1]. I also really enjoyed jumping into Asazaki’s set and
having the chance to play with Sakamoto for the first time in a good long
while. I was amazed that including me there were three electronic violinists!

I’ve actually been a fan of music from Amami for a long time. It seems
somehow similar in feeling to indigenous music from different Asian areas
like Indonesia or Taiwan. I think it’s important to remember that these
similarities exist. It felt like the music allowed us to tap into the true
source of our Japanese roots, into the spread of race and culture. We were
reminded that everyone, even the Ryuukyuu and Ainu, were once one people. I
often feel this very strongly.

Amami Ooshima is truly a beautiful place. I think it’s one of the very last
untouched paradises left in Japan. Performing in Amami embraced by the ocean
and land, caressed by the sea breeze and the scent of the trees, was one of
the most pleasurable stage experiences I’ve ever had. It’s really too bad
that so many people who wanted to come weren’t able to because of sold out
airplanes and traffic issues. Sorry to everybody who wasn’t able to make it!

I spent days having a blast and drinking tons of beer, swimming, and
snorkeling. But the sad thing is that the coral that was so beautiful five
years ago has turned pure white and is almost completely destroyed. The fish
were as beautiful as ever but the coral was really saddening. The effects of
global warming were there right before our eyes. And not just the ocean but
in the land, mountains, trees, and flowers too. I felt yet again that I don’
t want to see any more precious nature laid to waste. I want to keep doing
everything in my power to help make it protect this Earth.

At any rate, being there and drinking in the sun was a wonderfully healing
experience. I was overwhelmed by gratitude for this planet of ours. Going to
Amami was definitely a rewarding journey.


SUGIZO

Posted by SUGIZO : July 20, 2006 03:45 AM


TRANSLATOR’s NOTES:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamisen