Published by Richie February 18th, 2006
in Sports.
Yes, I love baseball. It’s the only sport I follow religiously but there are times when I’ll take a quick peek at other sports like tennis and golf. So I’ve already heard quite a bit about Okinawa’s (and Japan’s) sensational female golfer MIYAZATO Ai (20) but to read about her in a feature from one of our local newspapers was a definite treat. Here’s an excerpt from the Honolulu Advertiser story:
“Ai Miyazato is one of the most charismatic young women,” said Carolyn Bivens, starting her first full year as LPGA commissioner. “She has a smile that absolutely lights up a room. The caliber of golf she plays … she says she’s 5-feet tall and I doubt that, I think she stretches it a little. Yet when she hits the ball it’s unbelievable, and at the same time she is very good interacting with the fans. I think she loves what she’s doing. I think she’s going to be electric.”
Here’s a link to her official website and she’s currently blogging while in Hawaii where she’s competing at the SBS Open.
Published by Richie February 7th, 2006
in Music.
Our (and all of Japan’s) favorite J/O-Pop singer from Okinawa, NATSUKAWA Rimi, will be releasing a brand-spankin’ new album on March 22nd called “RIMITs ∼Best Duet Songs∼” (VICL-61915, ¥3,000). Looking at the tracklist, I’d have to say that if you need to own at least one (hey, she’s released eight of ‘em in a four year span!) of her albums, this should be it (and if you can afford two of her albums, buy “Natsukawa Rimi SINGLE COLLECTION Vol.1″ [VICL-61605, ¥2,800]). Without further ado, the tracklist:
1. “Kanayo Kanayo ∼Komoriuta Version∼” duet with MIYAZAWA Kazufumi (from THE BOOM)
2. “Warabigami ∼Taiyou · Tsuki Version∼” duet with KOJA Misako
3. “Manten no Hoshi no Yoru” duet with KUROZAWA Kaoru (from The Gospellers)
4. “Michishirube ∼Kariyushi Version∼” duet with Kiroro
5. “Irayoi Tsukiyahama ∼Kakeuta (掛唄 jury’s still out on this kanji combo) Version∼” duet with OHSHIMA Yasukatsu
6. “Hohoemi ni shite ∼RiMidori Ver.∼” duet with KARASHIMA Midori
7. “Boku no Mune de Oyasumi” duet with SATO Chikuzen (from SING LIKE TALKING)
8. “Anata no Kaze ∼Omototakemi Version∼” duet with SHIMABUKURO Masaru & UECHI Hitoshi (from BEGIN)
9. “Famureuta (Komoriuta) ∼Pinoanta Version∼” duet with Parsha cluB
10. “Nada Sou Sou ∼Special Live Version∼” NATSUKAWA Rimi with MORIYAMA Ryoko · BEGIN
In case you’re wondering how this eclectic group of artists came together for this duet-fest, most, if not all of the artists duet-ing (okay, I’ll quit with the oyaji gags) it with Rimi are also the composers of the song they’re featured on. Cool, yeah? Oh, and do I need remind everyone about this? Be sure to read my “A Closer Look …” post too. 
