On Japan Category (104)
Tito Time in Tokyo Featured
Tito Time in Tokyo
Legendary Jackson Brother on The Jacksons’ 50 Years in Entertainment and his Solo Album Debut in Japan
The legacy of the Jackson family is phenomenal. The Jackson 5 was the first group to debut with four consecutive number-one hits on the Hot 100, where they also had 16 Top 40 singles. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. Two of their recordings — “ABC” and “I Want You Back” — are among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. They had their own family variety and animated TV series in the 1970s and returned to TV in 2009 for a reality show called The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty. Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Michael and Marlon Jackson began performing as The Jackson 5 in Gary, Indiana in 1965. Their father, Joe Jackson, booked his sons in talent contests, high school functions and then larger venues until they won the Amateur Night competition in August 1967 at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. In 1975, the brothers renamed themselves The Jacksons, which later included the youngest brother, Randy. Their sisters Janet and Latoya also had sensational solo careers of their own. In 1984, Michael Jackson left The Jacksons at the end of their Victory tour. Dubbed the King of Pop, Michael was the best-selling music artist of all time when he died in 2009. He was the first artist in history to have a top 10 single in the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades and was the most-awarded recording artist of all time. Guinness World Records recognized Michael as the most successful entertainer of all time and for supporting more charities than any other entertainer. It may be surprising to learn that it took the second eldest Jackson brother, Tito, 50 years to release his first solo album, Tito Time, initially in Japan in December 2016, and then with a global debut in 2017. Tokyo Journal Executive Editor Anthony Al-Jamie talked to Tito while he was in Tokyo about being in the entertainment business for half-a-century, Michael and his brothers, his new album and his love for Japan.
Dance Music King: Steve Aoki Featured
International Electronic Dance Music King: Steve Aoki
From the All Night Party to One of the World’s Highest-Paid DJs
Steve Aoki is a Japanese American electro-house producer and musician whose global earnings must be music to his ears. Forbes listed him as the world’s fourth highest-paid DJ in 2018, with his concert schedule of over 200 shows around the world, in addition to his Las Vegas residency earning him $29.5 million. Forbes estimates that he also earned four million dollars in endorsements for Japan’s largest airline, ANA, and French wine Luc Belaire. Then there’s his men’s luxury streetwear line, Dim Mak Collection, and his videogame gambling machine that debuted in casinos in 2017, Steve Aoki’s Neon Dream. He became a musical millionaire with little radio support — and without the financial support of his famous father, Rocky Aoki, the former wrestler who created the Benihana restaurant empire. Born in 1977 in Miami, Florida and raised in Newport Beach, California, Steve Aoki graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with bachelor’s degrees in sociology and feminist studies. In 1996, he founded his own record label, Dim Mak. His performances on tour, including throwing cake and spraying champagne bottles at fans, acrobatic crowd surfing and riding rafts on the dance floor, have earned Aoki huge college support. He has collaborated with producers and vocalists, such as Snoop Dogg, will.i.am, LMFAO and Linkin Park. Aoki and his Billboard-charting studio albums have won numerous industry awards and nominations. The Steve Aoki Foundation supports organizations focusing on regenerative medicine and brain preservation, as well as animal rights and disaster relief. In September 2017, he donated $30,000 to Hurricane Harvey relief and challenged other musicians to match his contribution. The heart-thumping and heart-wrenching documentary on Aoki, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, was released in 2016 and is available on Netflix. Tokyo Journal Executive Editor Anthony Al-Jamie spoke with Steve Aoki about his multifaceted career.
Soulrocker: Michael Franti Featured
Soulrocker: Michael Franti
On a Musical Mission for Health, Happiness and Equality
Michael Franti is a musician, rapper, poet, spoken word artist, singer-songwriter, filmmaker and hotelier who has been a pioneering force in the music industry for three decades. His lyrical activism is a positive force for social justice and peace. His group, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, opened for U2 during their 1992-93 Zoo TV Tour. His latest band is Michael Franti & Spearhead, which blends hip hop with funk, reggae, jazz, folk and rock. Its single, “Say Hey (I Love You),” is multi-platinum. From a diverse household with a multiethnic background, Franti has dedicated his life to spreading the joy of music and positivity to millions of people. His audiences have been as diverse as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, prison inmates, the U.S. military and locals on the streets of Middle East war zones — and he’s done the last 18 years of this without wearing shoes. Tokyo Journal Executive Editor Anthony Al-Jamie spoke with Michael Franti about his quest for equality through melody.
Figs and Ham Tart Featured
Figs and Ham Tart
For making last-minute meals, I always try to have a few key ingredients at home. I keep a few rolls of frozen puff pastry in the freezer, and in the fridge I make sure there are fresh eggs, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, vegetables, good ham and milk in the fridge. With these ingredients, I can whip something up to eat in no time. I did this a few weekends ago. I left my house at 5:45 a.m. to go to my triathlon training session. When I got back at 9:30 a.m., I knew I needed something special for lunch. I took a roll of frozen puff pastry out of the freezer and let it defrost for a couple of hours on my kitchen counter. In the meantime, I showered and rested before preparing the rest of the ingredients to make this SUPER tasty tart. For ham, I recommend Mr. Meat’s Spanish Serrano ham. Here’s the recipe:
Yosakoi Festival
Yosakoi Festival
Tokyo Yosakoi (dance festival) is the second half of the Fukuro Festival, which has been an annual tradition in west Ikebukuro since 1968. The festival begins with a mikoshi (portable shrine) procession in September, and then Tokyo Yosakoi in October. Yosakoi is a dynamic Japanese dance competition uniting more than 100 teams from throughout Japan, who come together to show off their best moves using wooden clappers called naruko. Performers often combine the standard yosakoi melody with folk songs or modern rock music. The colorfully costumed dancers put on one high-powered performance after another, complete with fervent shouting.
Model Jessica Minh Anh Visits Japan
Supermodel Jessica Minh Anh Visits Japan
Supermodel Jessica Minh Anh visited Tokyo, Kyoto and Fukushima to explore potential catwalk venues. The Vietnamese model has made history by producing fashion shows atop famous architectural wonders, including the Eiffel Tower, One World Trade Center, London’s Tower Bridge, PETRONAS Twin Towers’ Skybridge and the Grand Canyon Skywalk.
Garrity's Japan
Garrity's Japan
From Tokyo to Soka
"Each day is a journey, and the journey itself is home."
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