With a Japanese mother and Ainu father, the appearance of Oki on "The Rough Guide to the Music of Japan" with his Oki Dub Ainu Band presents a rare glimpse of the multiracial underbelly that Japan seems reluctant to own up to. Despite being indigenous to Hokkaido, or Ezo as it is known to them, the Ainu suffered centuries of oppression and forced assimilation into Japan. Until June this year, the Diet had refused to officially recognize the Ainu as indigenous.
Based in a suburban town in Hokkaido that he describes as being like something out of the celebrated children's animation "My Neighbor Totoro," Oki totes his mixed heritage with a pride that is sometimes laid-back and occasionally fierce. But more importantly, his love for reggae and dub music and his time spent living in New York City from 1987 to 1992 have given his music a worldly seasoning. Playing the tonkori, a traditional Ainu instrument that resembles a stick-thin guitar, he laces sparse melodies with roomy reverb, backed by the dub bass lines of his band; or coaxes emotive rhythms from the instrument when playing alone.
I caught up with this thoughtful chap after one such solo performance to find out how music, culture and art come together in his unique world. The Ainu believe that their instruments have a soul. Do you believe that of your tonkori?
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