Some famous Japanese guitarists...

During my days here in Japan, where I was born and raised, somewhere in the 70's, the most well-known classical guitarists were Yasumasa Obara and her daughter, Seiko; Yasuo Abe; and Kiyoshi Shomura. But the most popular guitarist those days was the Spanish guitarist Narciso Yepes. His popularity here has a long history. Mr. Obara established an immensely popular correspondence type guitar school called the 'Tokyo Ongaku Academy' I think somewhere in the 60's. He advertised his school on several popular music-related magazines here and sent out free vinyl 33-rpm singles that contained some samples of the performances, as well as actual lessons, of the instructors there. Aside from Yepes, I remember the names Jesus Gonzalez, Maria Luiza Anido(?), Mr. Nakabayashi, Mr. Ito, and Mr. Obara and her daughter Seiko. I remember seeing those sample vinyl records everywhere here in Japan during those days. And in those records, as well as some brochures, Mr. Yasumasa firmly stated that Yepes was The best, and he went on to the extent of saying that, 'no one can deny that.' So nobody indeed questioned that and Mr. Yepes became the most famous guitarist in Japan. Though I questioned that during those days, but after having listened to his 80's recording of all-Rodrigo solo album, I'm a bit inclined to say that he indeed might have been the best...

Below translated poorly by Whooper

私が生まれ育った頃の日本、70年代だったかな、で最も有名なクラッシクのギタリストは小原安聖氏
とお嬢さんの聖子さん、阿部保夫さん、そして荘村清志さんでした。けれども当時最も人気があったの
はスペインのナルシソ・イエペスさんでした。彼の人気には長い歴史があります。小原氏は確か60年
代に非常に人気のあったギター通信教育学校“東京音楽アカデミー”を設立されてます。先生は当時
売れていた音楽雑誌に広告を出すと共に33回転のビニール製サンプル・レコードを配布していました。

イエペスの他に私は、イエズス・ゴンザレス、マリア・ルイサ・アニード、中林、伊藤、小原、そして娘さ
んの聖子の名前を思い出します。私はそのビニール製レコードを日本中で見かけたのを思い出します。
そして解説と共に小原先生はそのレコードで「イエペスが最高である」更には「疑う余地はない」とまで
言い切っていました。

ですから日本では誰もイエペスが最も有名なギタリストである事に疑問を持ちませんでした。当時私は
そうは思っていませんでしたが、その後イエペスが80年代に録音した全ロドリーゴ・アルバムを聞いた
後では「成る程イエペスは当時最高の。。。」と言いたくなります。

Dear Pacfan-san,

Thank you for introducing your history and the then aspect on the Japanese classical guitar world.
Yes, it was amidst 2nd or 3rd guitar boom. Mr. Obara was one of the Founding Fathers in the postwar
guitar world. I rememer the very first TV lesson by Mr. Yasuo Abe, probably, in mid 60'. He started
quietly a theme of Mozart's Magic Flute. I was fascinated and tried hard to master the short marvellous
piece. A complete playing through all variations is still harder for me.

As you say, Yepes was so popular in Japan. Because his "Spanish Romance" or Jeux interdits, theme of
the saddest French movie, ignited the 1st boom in 50'. Though I liked his Catalan and Bach albums,
preferred Julian Bream or Siegfreed Berhrend then.

Keep in touch please
Whooper

Hello Pacfan,

It was very interesting for me to read your recollections about the guitar in Japan. Thank you very much,

I wish you a musical weekend, V

whooper wrote:Dear Pacfan-san,

Thank you for introducing your history and the then aspect on the Japanese classical guitar world.
Yes, it was amidst 2nd or 3rd guitar boom. Mr. Obara was one of the Founding Fathers in the postwar
guitar world. I rememer the very first TV lesson by Mr. Yasuo Abe, probably, in mid 60'. He started
quietly a theme of Mozart's Magic Flute. I was fascinated and tried hard to master the short marvellous
piece. A complete playing through all variations is still harder for me.

君自身の事と当時の日本クラギ界を紹介してくれてありがとう。そうねあの頃は第二・三のギターブームの最中だったんだ。
小原先生は戦後クラギ界の創設メンバーの一人だった。僕はね阿部保夫先生が、確か60年代半ばかな、最初にテレビ
でギター講座をしたのを覚えてる。先生は静かにモーツアルトの魔笛のテーマを弾き始めたよ。僕はうっとりしてそれから
この美しい小品を何とかマスターしようと頑張ったんだ。変奏全部弾くのはいまだに相当手ごわいよ。

As you say, Yepes was so popular in Japan. Because his "Spanish Romance" or Jeux interdits, theme of
the saddest French movie, ignited the 1st boom in 50'. Though I liked his Catalan and Bach albums,
preferred Julian Bream or Siegfreed Berhrend then.

イエペスが日本では凄い人気だったと言ってたよね。どうしてかって言うと”愛のロマンス”禁じられた遊びね。フランスの
すんごく悲しい映画が、50年代に第一次クラギブームに火を付けたからなんだ。僕はイエペスのカタロニアとバッハの曲集
が好きだったけど、当時はジュリアン・ブリームやジークフリート・ベーレントの方が好きだった。

Keep in touch please
Whooper

I forgot to mention Mr. Koga, he used to be more famous than Obara long before but I'm not sure if he ever played in purely classical style. I did have his very popular and classic guitar lesson book. I think he's the one responsible for making the classical guitar a standard instrument as accompaniment for the enka's (traditional Japanese songs). During my uncle's high school days in the 50's up to the 60's, ear-playing Mr. Koga's compositions, particularly the guitar parts was one of the most popular hobbies among the teenagers then, when life was simple and when they didn't have much in post-war Japan. But during the times of my older brothers in the 60's, he was replaced by the Ventures as the most popular and most imitated guitar icon; every teenager then was casually plucking Venture's music on the guitar.

僕は古賀氏に触れるのを忘れていたよ。彼は小原氏なんかよりもずっと前から有名だったんだ。けれど彼が本格的にクラギ
スタイルで引いていたのかには定かでないね。僕は非常に人気のあった彼の「クラギ教本」を持っていた。僕は古賀氏がギター
と言う楽器を演歌の伴奏楽器として代表にした責任があると思ってる。50年代から60年代にかけて叔父さんの高校時代に
古賀の曲を耳で楽しむ、特にギターの箇所は当時の若者の間では最も流行った趣味だったんだ。当時は生活は単調だったし
戦後の事だから物も豊かじゃなかったからね。でもね60年に入り長兄の時代になると古賀はベンチャーズに取って代わられ
ちゃったよ。連中は物凄く流行ったし最も真似された偶像だった。若者は誰でもギターでベンチャーズの曲を掻き鳴らしてたよ。

Yes, Abe was one of the first technically sound, world-class guitarists from Japan. Mozart's variations was very popular then and one of the standard, old-school, classical guitar pieces. I wonder why it's losing its appeal among new generation guitarists. It's one of the best guitar pieces, IMO. It's definitely one of the most difficult, most enjoyable to play, and the most beautiful among the highly technical pieces.

はい、その通り。安部先生は日本で最初に本格的なクラギ奏法で弾く世界的なギタリストだった。モーツアルトの魔笛主題
は当時非常に人気がある古典派の代表曲の一つだった。僕はこれが何故新しい世代のギタリストに受けないのか不思議に
思う。最上の一つなんだけど。もっとも難しくて、それでいて弾いてて楽しく、技巧的な曲の中で最も美しいんだけどな。

Vesuvio wrote:Hello Pacfan,

It was very interesting for me to read your recollections about the guitar in Japan. Thank you very much,

I wish you a musical weekend, V

Thanks, Vesuvio for your appreciation and interest in a bit of informal history of classical guitar in Japan. I was there when classical guitar was starting to gain popularity, and I must admit that I was one of its hapless victims, lol.

Have a nice weekend too, Vesuvio.

Hello Pacfan

I admire your knowledge about Japanese guitarists in the old days.

I remember Yasuo Abe taught how to play guitar on NHK TV program in maybe late '60. He actually came to our city in Hokkaido and I saw him who is a short man with small hands. He liked Sake, and after drinking a lot, he played guitar for us, the sound was very beatiful.

Masao Koga was famous for his composition of songs accompanied by guitar. So called Koga-melody sounds to me nostalgic and elegy like, which is good for listening while drinking Sake.

Dear Pacfan-san,

Thank you so much for your comments. When I translated your words into poor Japanese, I felt as
if myself murmuring.

コメントくれて本当にありがとう。下手な日本語にしていると何だか自分が話してるみたいだった。

I dare to say that Mr. Masao KOGA was my first music teacher. My father liked music and played
harmonica, accordion, and guitar since his youth. He often played Koga's pieces and imitated Django
Reinhalt, a famous European jazz guitarist, in 30'-50'. My father was a poor amateur musician.

僕は古賀政男が僕の最初の音楽の先生だったと言ってしまうね。僕の父は若い頃から音楽が好きでハーモニカ、アコーデイオン、
ギターを良く弾いてたよ。古賀の曲や30年代から50年代にかけて有名だったヨーロッパのジャズギタリスト、ジャンゴ・
ラインハルトを良く真似してた。

When I found myself in life, live music accompanied me. Father taught music when I was seven.
I still keep his hand-me-down small diatonic accordion. Amazingly, this was made in 1935. Recently,
I had it repaird. He sings in a quite archaic tunes.

物心付いたら生の音が身近にあったんだ。父は僕が7つの時に音楽の手ほどきをしてくれたよ。僕はいまだに父の形見で
小型のボタン式アコーデイオンを持ってる。びっくりするがろうがこれは1935年製なんだ。最近修理にだしてね。古風に
鳴るよ。

Father gave me his old steel stringed guitar and a copy of Koga method. As you say, it was the
"classical" style and standard method then. Mostly wet and sick ballads in minor keys.

父は古い金属弦のギターと古賀教本をくれた。君が言ってるように、古賀が当時のクラシックス奏法でお手本だった。
大抵は湿って悲しいバラードだったけどね。

Don't you know that Abe sensei was a chief in the Tokyo Koga Music School? Then he learnt from
Segovia in Italy. He was from northern part of Japan so held a particular dialect. He used to say
"Haya-GU Hi-GU" for "Haya-KU Hi-KU" meaning "Up tempo" or "Play faster". I can't forget this phrase.

安部先生が東京古賀音楽学校の主任だったの知ってる？それから先生はイタリアでセゴビアに習ったんだ。彼は北の方
の出身だから独特な方言があった。先生が”早くひく”と言うところを”早グヒグ”と言ってたよ。僕はこれが忘れられなんだな。

Yes, I caught and followed Ventures fever. I tried to pluck the E 6th down in "Den deke deke deke".
Virtuoso Bob Vogel played so brillantly. I still like "Slaughter on the 10th avenue", "Pipe line", "Walk
Don't Run" and more. Ventures have visited Japan annually and made us excited as usual.

うん、僕もねベンチャーズ熱にかかっちゃった。六弦を”でん、でけ、でけ、でけ”と真似してた。ボブ・ボーグル凄かったよね。
今でも10番街の殺人やパイプライン、ウオークドントランなんて好きだね。ベンチャーズは毎年日本に来て毎度ながら僕達
を興奮させてくれるよ。

Thank you for reminding me of good old days.

古き良き時代を思い起こさせてくれてありがとう。

Cheers or "Matane"
Whooper

Hello, Yasuo-san. Ya, I also liked Abe's playing and his guitar sound. It sounded very sweet on his famous guitar lesson lp recordings, the one that came in 4-5 series and had corresponding music books sold separately... I remember my uncle, now in his 70's, struggling to play Mr. Koga's guitar accompaniment parts or passages on his guitar. Of course, a classical guitarist can easily play those parts. I wish I can play them for my Uncle but I haven't had the chance to return to Japan in a long time. Curiously, sometime in the 80's I caught a Chinese radio station playing the original Koga's recording...

はーい、ヤスオさん。僕も阿部先生の演奏と音色は好きだよ。有名なLP版の講座ではとても甘美に響いてた。講座は4-5巻あって
演奏収録本は別売りになってたよ。僕は70代になった叔父さんを思い出す。叔父さんは古賀のギター伴奏に取っ組んでいたね。
勿論クラッシク演奏家なら易しく弾ける所だよ。僕は古賀を叔父さんの為に弾けたら良いなと思ってる。けどね長いこと日本に帰る
機会が無いんだな。珍しいことに80年代かな、中国のラジオ局が古賀のオリジナルを流してるのを聞いたことがあるよ。

Hello, Whooper-san. I always had a strong impression that you were a 'gaijin' but with your knowledge of Mr. Koga and his music, and your having caught the Venture fever just like any ordinary young Japanese in the 60's, makes you a full-fledged Japanese. Your father had a quite interesting music 'career.' I know Japanese then had curiosity for all types of musics and musical instruments. I heard a story of famous American raised Japanese, Hawaiian steel guitar player on NHK radio; the little story of your father reminded me of him. I didn't know Mr. Abe worked for Mr. Koga, but it's not surprising because I think for the older generation, it was Mr. Koga who had a stronger influence than Mr. Obara, both of who are considered to be the father of Japanese guitar. Ya, I particularly remember the 'Pipeline' where many Japanese youth were trying to imitate that famous 12th fret, 6th string tremolo style intro, using their hitosashi-yubi as their picks, lol.

はーい、ウーパーさん。僕はいつも君が外人だろうって強い印象を持ってたが、古賀に関する見解や60年代に他に日本の若者
と同じようにベンチャーズ熱にはまってるんで君は立派な日本人だよ。お父さんはとても面白い音楽のキャリアを持ってるんだね。
僕は当時の日本人があらゆる種類の音楽と楽器に好奇心を持ってたのを知ってるよ。僕は日本育ちのアメリカ人でハワイアン・
ギターの奏者をNHKのラジオで知ったよ。君の父上に関する小話が思い出させてくれた。僕は安部先生が古賀先生の所で修行
していたとは知らなかったね。けれど驚くにはあたらないよね。だって古い世代には古賀先生が小原先生よりも影響力はあったけ
ど、どっちも日本ギター界の父と思われてるからね。はい、そうだ。僕も特にパイプラインを思い出す。沢山の若人が有名な12フ
レットの六弦上で人差し指を使ったイントロを真似してたよ。

Edit: I forgot to mention, as 'Ai no Romance' was the most popular guitar tune for our generation, it was Mr. Koga's 'Tsuki no Sabaku' for the older generations. All in all, it was either the Koga melodies, the 'Kinjirareta Asobi' Romance, and/or the Ventures' tunes that most influenced that Japanese youths of our generation to play the guitar...

訂正；僕は「愛のロマンス」を忘れてた。古賀の月の砂漠は古い世代にと同様、僕達の世代には最も有名なギター曲だった。
いずれにせよ、古賀メロデイーか禁じられた遊びのどっちかだったんだね。そしてか或いはギターを弾く我々世代に最も影響
を与えたのはベンチャーズ・サウンドだったんだ。

Hello Pacfan-san,

I am honored to be assumed a foreigner. I don't particularly think so but my wife and daughter assert
"You were and are a foreigner." Why? Probably becase I had left Japanese society long before and
have worked in a bi-lingual office with many foreigners for nearly 3 decades. I sometime feel it easier
to pace with foreigners. Though I live in Japan, as if, commute to a foreign country. One thing
for sure, I had never learnt nor worked abroad.

外国人と思われているとは光栄です。 自分では特に気にかけてはいないけど妻や娘は「おとーさんは過去は外国人で今も
外国人です。」と面と向かって言うのね。どうしてかって？多分大分前に日本の社会から離れて二ヶ国語の職場で沢山の外
人と30年近く働いて来たからでしょう。私は時々外国人とやって行くほうが楽だと思うことがあるよ。日本に住んではいるが
毎日外国に通勤してるみたいだね。これだけは言っておくが海外留学も就労経験もありません。

Being a xenomania in calling, I and my family are observing a domestic and traditional life style.
We pray every morning for ancestors to a Buddhist altar. It is a great joy to celebrate seasonal
festivals. We cook and enjoy delicacies. I value my cultural ties and background in my country.

仕事じゃ外国かぶれだけど僕と家族は伝統的な生活様式を守ってる。毎朝ご先祖様を祀ってる仏壇に拝むよ。四季折々の
行事を祝うのは大きな喜びだね。 美味いもの作っては楽しんでる。僕は自分の母国への文化的な絆と背景は尊重してる。

My father was a quite happy-go-lucky type. He was drafted in the prewar days and sent to the
chilliest Manchuria for the border guard. There, he developed a heavy lung tuberculosis and sent
back to a domestic sanatorium. How carefree he was! He brought with a full set of his music
instruments, a large Italian-made accordion, guitar, and harmonica to the death house.

僕の父は極めて能天気なタイプだった。戦前に兵隊に取られて極寒の満州へ国境警備に送られたんだ。そこで重度の結核
をこじらせて内地の療養所送りとなった。呆れるほど能天気だったね。死の家に楽器一式携えて行ったんだ。

In a first interview with a grim chief medical officer, he was scolded "This is not a place for amusements."
for his hobbies. Nevertheless, he was allowed to play music in exchange for consoling his ailing buddies.
He willingly accepted this role and formed a trio first with music friends.

最初に厳格な主任軍医との面接で「ここは遊びに来るところではない！」と一喝されたんだけど病んで苦しんでる仲間を慰める
のならと許されたんだ。父は喜んでこの役を引き受けて最初にトリオを結成したよ。

In the old military service,　every one had to start from the lowest rank. So there were real various
professionals among them. Father enlarged his trio to a troup finally staging various entertainments,
comic show with then popular music, chorus, or traditional music. Thus, he overcame his fatal disease.

昔の日本軍じゃ誰もが一番下っ端から始めなければならなかったから中には色んなプロもいた。父はトリオを拡大発展させて
色んな娯楽、歌謡ショーやコーラス、伝統音楽等を提供する一座を作っちゃった。こうして死に病を乗り越えたね。

Without music, definitely, he must have died in the sanatorium or in a small tropical island during World
War II. Quite unfortunately, his vaunty beautiful Italian accordion was lost in rounds of massive Tokyo
air raids by U.S. Air Force.

もし音楽が無ければ父はその療養所か第二次大戦中に南洋の小島で絶対死んでただろうに。残念ながら自慢のイタリア製ア
コーデイオンは米空軍の東京空襲で焼かれちゃった。

His comrads used to say "he was a bit funny but nicest guy."

”あいつはどっか抜けてるが最高に良い奴だったよ。”と苦楽を友にした父の仲間が言ってました。オシマイ

Thank you for your patience

Whooper

Whooper-San

I also thought, at first, you are an American or European.

Thank for sharing your good story about your father.
It reminds me of a Japanese movie or TV drama in which Japanese soldiers formed a small orchestra.
But I don't remember anything further.

Thank you Whooper-san.

Your narration of your father's life was very short but somehow it gave us a good glimpse
of his character. I was really touched by it. I had an aunt in the Philippines, whom I never
had a chance to meet (I wasn't born yet), who lost the batte against tb. They said she
missed the 1st breakthrough drug for it, the Streptomycin, by a year or so.

君の父上に関する話はとても短いけど父上の人柄を良く伝えているよ。僕は本当に感激した。僕はフイリッピンに
叔母がいた、会った事はないけど（生まれてなかったからね。）、結核で亡くなってしまった。叔母さんは僅か一年
程度の差で最初の特効薬ストレプトマイシンが手に入らなかったと聞いている。

I also had an uncle on the Japanese side, whom I've never met either, the eldest of the
family, who was sent to WWII battleground somewhere in the Pacific and never came back.

日本側に叔父さんもいた。この人とも会ってないが大叔父で第二次大戦中に太平洋の小島に送られて戻って来な
かった。

My grandma never accepted any benefits from the government due her for her son's sacrifice,
refusing to acknowledge that her 1st son was gone; she never accepted it until the end.

僕のお婆ちゃんは息子の戦死に対する国からの報償は受け取らなかった。長男が亡くなったなんて事は絶対に受け
入れられなかった。死ぬまで何も受け取らなかったね。

It must have been very painful for a mother to lose her 1st child in a battleground. As for
my father, he was a part-time violinist who help establish an orchestra somewhere in Japan
under the auspices of the occupying US government during the 50's and was its first concert
master.

母親にとって長男を戦争で失ったのはとても辛かったに違いない。僕の父は50年代米軍占領下の日本で最初にオー
ケストラを作るのに手を貸した兼業バイオリニストで最初のコンサート・マスターだった。

I'm not sure if this is true but they say they had a chance to play with Mr. Leonard Bernstein
once.

これが事実かどうだか分からないがこの楽団はレナード・バーンスタインと競演した事もあると言われているよ。

Hello Pacfan-san,

Since you are so knowledgeable about Japanese guitarists, you may remember the guitarist by the name of Norihiko Watanabe.
He was the same age as Kiyoshi Shomura (and me). Unfortunately, Norihiko Watanabe passed away a few years ago.
Norihiko Watanabe is the first Japanese who won Paris Competition.

About 40 years ago, I was a teenager and studying guitar for nearly two years. Accidentaly, I had a chance to listen to the record of Watanabe and was so shocked by his technic and musicality. Because of such a too much difference between his ability and mine, I immediately lost interest in playing guitar.

Good or bad, I could make a decision because of his recording.

Dear Pacfan-san,

Thank you for some profiles on your family members. Elder generations have really passed through
desperate and austere days, indeed. It is quite sad to hear of your family history. My grand-mother
had died of TB too. Finally, tubercle bacillus affected her brain. It is said that she had almost gone
mad in the last stage. My mother was only 6 then. She was not allowed to be close to her　mother
for fear of contamination. In a cycle of ups and downs, mother has somehow become 80.　She lives
alone in a good shape near the lake Biwa.

君のご家族のちょっとした横顔ありがとう。上の世代は本当に救いようのない厳しい時代を生き抜いて来たのだね。君のご家
族の事聞いてとても悲しいよ。僕のお祖母ちゃんも結核で死んじゃった。最後には結核菌が脳を冒して半狂乱で亡くなったと聞
いている。当時母は六歳だった。病気が移るのを恐れて母親の傍にも近寄らせてもらえなかった。色々浮き沈みはあれど母は
八十になり元気で琵琶湖の畔で一人暮らしをしているよ。

I didn’t notice at all but had also suffered TB in my infant days. Probably, I received this unwanted
heritage from my father. He had not recovered through and remained as a potential bacillus carrier.
Unlike your poor aunt, I was quite fortunately rewarded under the remarkable effect of “the 1st break-
through drug for it, the Streptomycin” in my childhood. I put up with regular painful injections and heavy
doses. Little feeble Whooper had to stay home so my father taught me music and instruments with
his deep affection. Nevertheless, keep off, TB carrying veteran!

自分でも分からなかったんだが僕も小さい頃結核に罹っていた。多分この貰いたくもない家宝を父から受け継いだんだね。
父は完治した訳でなく結核の保菌者だった。君の可哀想な叔母さんと違い僕は子供の頃結核の特効薬ストレプトマイシン
の絶大な恩恵を預かることが出来たんだ。僕はお決まりの痛い注射と大量の投薬に耐えた。小さくて虚弱なウーパーは
ずっと家に閉じこもっていなければならなかったので父が愛情を込めて音楽と楽器を教えてくれたんだ。でもね。結核持ちの
退役軍人なんて近寄らないでくれだ。

Your father was one of founders of Japanese full orchestra. It is so great! We owe much to your
father in our musical orientation. I thank you and your father sincerely. Leonard Bernstein was
a great conductor. Not only classical music, he wrote a contemporary suite for a blockbuster hit
movie of “West side story”. It was a quite interesting reel I remember.

君のお父上は日本の管弦楽団を作ってくれた恩人の一人なんだね。それは凄いことだ。僕達日本人は音楽の面でお父上
に凄くお世話になってる。君と父上に心から御礼を言うよ。レナード・バーンスタインは偉大な指揮者だったね。古典だけじゃ
なく大当たりした映画、ウエストサイドストーリ、の組曲も書いていた。凄く面白い映画だったのを思い出すよ。

Good night
Whooper

Yasuo san:

Yes I remember Mr. Watanabe and it's sad to hear what happened to him. He used to teach on the NHK TV guitar lesson program after Shomura, I think somewhere around 1975. I remember his style of playing, which was close to Segovia's style, and he had a preference for baroque compositions. Of course an excellent guitarist and I understand how you felt about quitting after listening to him. I remember when I heard a 13-year old Xuefei Yang playing the Gran Jota like Mr. Yepes, I thought that if I heard that when I was still a 13-year old, I would have bid my guitar goodbye too, lol...


Whooper san:

Being prone to lung diseases and slightly ashmatic during my childhood, I also contracted TB when I was a child. But by my time, it was just 2 tablets of medicine a day for about 5 months and that was it... The orchestra my father help organize was just a small community orchestra in Okinawa. It was just a hobby for him, and he also used to teach the violin to University students at home during the 50's, and appeared on local radio and television up to the early 60's. His family was a family of musicians with his father, my ojii-san, serving the US Navy band all his career. My father said my ojii-san's unit in the US Navy went to Japan right after the Kanto dai shinsai for humanitarian mission...

Hello Pacfan-san,

I see you from time to time in the Delcamp English forum. I also try to comment on inquires on Japan or Japanese-made guitar.

I am a bit surprised to know that we have something in common even in a negative part. You suffered TB too! It was so rampant a half-century ago. We were lucky, indeed.

It is fun to know more family histories of yours. Two years ago, my family lived near the Atsuki U.S. Naval Air base. A wing of the U.S. 7th Fleet stations with that of Japan Sea Self-defense Force. Every morning and late afternoon, we see an anti-submarine patrol aircraft take off and land on.

Dwellers near the base have been annoyed by roaring jet fighters that spewed in a notorious landing practice, NLP: Night Landing Practice, to simulate a dangeros acrobatic landing on a narrow and short runway of an aircraft carrier vessel. Currently, most of the mission have moved to the Ioh-jima base. I have never been to the base on Open Base day or Base Bon Festival. We lived with U.S. servicemen and their family members peacefully in the local community.

Regards
Whooper

Whooper-san,

Although, I lived on an Okinawan neighborhood, I spent much of my life there in the bases and went to school in there until high school. So bases were important part of my young life, and of course I still cherish the memories of my childhood there. So it kind of aches my heart to know that one day there will be no more bases in Okinawa; it's just like having a great part of my childhood taken off. The elementary school where I spent the longest was converted to Okinawa Convention Center. And of course, others are on their way out. But what really shocked me was the biggest battle site there, the Sugar Loaf Hill, which is only about the size of a football field and where thousands of Japaneses and Americans lost their lives, was turned over to Okinawans and they built a shopping mall right on top of it! But at any rate, being half Okinawan, I understand their feelings.

I also lived near a small marine air base, and our house was directly under the flight-path of the planes and helicopters there. We could see the the belly of airplanes real close when they flew right over us, accompanied by thundering roar. The neighborhood folks complained about the noise so the US government provided each nearby houses with free sound-proofing and air-conditioning system! Fortunately, despite almost daily flights, there were no cases of airplane crash there. By the way, talking of Iwo jima, I watched two Clint Eastwood movies about the battle there. Like all war movies, they were really touching.

Hi Pacfan-san,

You've already set in X-mas holidays? As you know, Japanese chiefly celebrate new year holidays. X-mas is a sort of "Omatsuri" or festival in our calendar. Some streets in Tokyo and Yokohama are illuminated brillante at night.

Well, well, well, you grew up in a base of Okinana. For you base is something like a town or village, isn't it? Once I worked with U.S. military for not combat but peaceful missions. I was a liaison for their music band. Air Force, Yokota and Army Camp Zama, hold their music band. On their way to Sasebo, U.S. Naval base, for regular visits, I used to help organize a couple of shows in the Kansai area. Especially, I liked crazy Air Force jazzmen.

I have been to Okinawa twice on temporary duty. It is not Japan, not U.S., that is Okinawa, you say? Early morning and late afternoon, so many service personnel drive home and office. "Kokusai tori" or international boulevard is a bit letdown for eyes that have seen Ginza or Akihabara. It was a great fun to step into a local traditional market and to find local products, for instance, pig's face or rare colorful edible fish.

I haven't seen "Iwo Jima" movies but read the original scenario. It is quite painful to experience atrocities even virtually that had waited for both Japanese and American soldiers there. I remember an old movie, "Sands of Iwo Jima" casted by an American national hero, John Wayne. Strangely to you, then enemy nationals, Japanese old generations like my father who had really served in military loved John Wayne as Sgt. John M. Stryker.

Wishing you for very best X-mas season
Whooper

Ya, Okinawa is unique. It has influences from ancient China - the culture, kanji, karate; Japan - of course they've been there since the 16th(?) century and it's one of the prefecture; and America - the rooooock bands, burgers, and large US bases and soldiers everywhere. Not particularly cosmopolitan but not too inakapoi either, except those sparsely populated countrysides...

Merii Kurisumasu, Whooper-san. May this site be a huge success in the coming year!