Collaboration between Okinawan female quartet Unaigumi and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The track Undercooled, was originally released on Sakamoto's 2004 album, Chasm, in response to 9/11 in New York. Misako Koja, of Unaigumi had wanted to sing it in Okinawan, and it was recently completed after a delay because of Sakamoto's recent cancer diagnosis. This new version is a charity single for the Henoko Fund which opposes the relocation of the US Marine Corp Air Station Futenma to the coastal district of Henoko in Nago, located in the north of the main island of Okinawa. Unaigumi features three of the original four singers of Nenes, including the group's leader Misako Koja. Before Nenes, Koja, was in the Okinawa Chans who recorded with and played live with Sakamoto at the end of the 1980s / beginning of 90s. Artwork is by the Okinawan singer/artist Cocco.

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Third solo album and second since leaving Nenes. Misako Koja is not exactly prolific when it comes to album releases but listening to this new one and reading the credits you can understand why. As always produced by ex-Nenes kebyoard player and co-producer Kazuya Sahara, The Life Comes Round, features 21 backing musicians. These include her former Nenes friends Namiko Miyazato and Yukino Hiyane, Spanish Galician pipe and flute player Carlos Nunes, and Chinese musicians Jiang Xiao Qing on guzheng, and Ma Ping on various Chinese percussion instruments. However, the most important and impressive thing about this album are the superb original songs penned by Sahara, and arrangements and choice of a few traditional tunes, including the Irish trad song, The Mountains of Pomeroi. This album has everything; quality, variety, joy, passion and of course one of the greatest voices in Okinawa. Comes with English translation of the lyrics.

First post Nenes solo album from former leader of the women's quartet was worth waiting for. Traditional and original lullabies and songs that tell the life of Misako Koja. Produced and with textured keyboards by Kasuya Sahara who helped shape the original Nenes sound. Includes fascinating song featuring Koja's voice when aged 9, with present voice aged 48. Not just one of the Okinawan albums this year, but of any year. Simply beautiful.

Former leader of Nenes, first solo album of traditional material. Beautiful vocals and exquisetly performed.