Nenes' Koza Dabasa: Okinawa in the World Music Market

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Koza Dabasa explores Okinawa's island culture and its ghosts of war through the lens of Nenes, a four-woman pop group that draws on the distinctiveness and exoticism of Okinawan musical tradition. Both a tropical island paradise and the site of some of the bloodiest battles of World War II, Okinawa has a unique culture and a contentious history. Its musical traditions are distinct from other parts of Japan, varying in instrumentation, poetic forms, and musical scales. Nenes marks its cultural difference as Okinawan by emphasizing its own exoticism, expressed through its music, fashion, imagery, and performance style. Henry Johnson listens to Koza Dabasa as a representation of Okinawa's relationship with the Japanese music industry and with the broader themes of international warfare and local tourism. 33 1/3 Global, a series related to but independent from 33 1/3, takes the format of the original series of short, music-based books and brings the focus to music throughout the world. With initial volumes focusing on Japanese and Brazilian music, the series will also include volumes on the popular music of Australia/Oceania, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and more.

Reviews

The logical and clear arguments, text development with high-quality English interpretation and accurate orthography of Okinawan and Japanese terms, and useful information referring to plentiful previous research are admirable. This book is accessible and enjoyable for fans of Okinawan popular music. * Okinawan Journal of Island Studies *

Author Bio

Henry Johnson is Professor of Music at the University of Otago, New Zealand. He has published widely in the field of Japanese music, including his books The Koto (2004), The Shamisen (2010), and The Shakuhachi (2014).