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.