Arigato

Rinken Band's first album was originally released on their own label in Okinawa in 1987. The title track became a local hit after being used in a TV beer commercial. While Shokichi Kina was all about energy and courting controvery, Rinken Teruya prefered to stay in the background, write some great songs and work in his studio to create the Rinken Band trademark sound. Okinawan flavoured tunes and sanshin are mixed with keyboards and drums in a pop roots style. Vocals are shared between male unision with a comedy edge on the faster paced numbers, and his wife, Tomoko Uehara on the slower, plaintive ballads. Perhaps sounds dated, but there is undoubted quality and beauty here.