梅田 航
OKI PROFILE
OKI was born to a Japanese mother and an Ainu father. After graduating in crafts at the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music, he moved to New York in 1987, where he worked as special effects artist on film productions. He returned to Japan in 1992, and was presented with his first tonkori - the traditional stringed instrument of the Karafuto Ainu. Originating from the Sakhalin Island, the instrument inspired him to relocate to Hokkaido, where he taught himself to play and craft the tonkori.
OK is currently the most prominent performer of this instrument in the world. His contemporary approach, which fuses Reggae and Blues with Ainu riddims, has won praise not only in Japan, but also worldwide.
Through his active participation in the United Nations' Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP), OKI has developed a network with other indigenous artists. He has collaborated so far with the well-known Native American Flutist, R. Carlos Nakai, the Australian Aboriginal band, Waak Waak Jungi, the Taiwanese singer-songwriter, Pau-Dull (Chien-Nien), as well as Abe Barreto Soares, the East Timorese poet, and the Siberian vocalist, Olga Letykai Csonka. Many of these collaborations are featured on his album, No-One's Land, released in 2002.
OKI is accredited as producer for the widely acclaimed CD's Ihunke (2001) and Upopo Sanke (2003), both featuring Umeko Ando, the one of the best Ainu performer of the mukkuri (Jew's harp) and upopo (traditional chanting).
In 2004, OKI toured throughout the US, as well as performing at WOMAD in Australia, with his band OKI & the Far East Band. In 2005 OKI Dub Ainu Band were one of the sensations of the WOMAD festival in the UK, where they also appeared with the highly regarded British broadcaster Charlie Gillett live on BBC London.
In 2006 OKi Dub Ainu Band were the closing act at the City of London Festival and the group toured in Norway and Spain. In 07, they jointed at WOMAD (Singapore), and made a world tour, visiting countries in Europe, such as German, Portugal and Spain. In 2008, they also performed at Kennedy Center in Washington DC and joined many summer festivals all over Japan
OKI DUB SAND is the most remarkable, grobe-trotting artist, which is beyond the past, present and future and keeps its evolution with its
unique Ainu DUB sound.
Oki recorded with Irish group Kila on the album Oki and Kila, receiving rave reviews by fRoots (playlist) and Songlines (Top of the World). Tracks from Oki's Dub Ainu CD have been selected for Charlie Gillett's Sound of the World compilation 2006 (Rhino/Warner Bros.) and the Very Best of World Music (Nascente). Discography- Kamuy Kor Nurpurpe (1996), Hankapuy feat. Umeko Ando (1999) No One's Land (2002) Dub Ainu (2004) Tonkori (2005) Dub Ainu Deluxe (2006) OKI Dub Ainu Band (2007) Producer works: Umeko Ando, Ihunke (2001), Umeko Ando, Upopo Sanke (2003)
