Longing For The
Southland
"Longing For The Southland" is the name
of our bluegrass band here in Kochi, Japan.
Kochi is located on the Pacific ocean, in Shikoku island, which
is in the southwest part of Japan.
It is 400 miles away from Tokyo, but it faces to the Pacific
ocean, and to the United States.
There is a stone monument on the shore in Kochi, on which you can
find the words:
"These waves washing this shore also wash California's
shore"
Bluegrass music has its roots in the southland of America but has
come to be a true world music,
which has captured many souls of the people all over the world.
The name of our band,"Longing For The Southland",
comes from the song that "The Virginia Squires" would
perform.
We feel it expresses exactly our love to the music ,to the land
where the music grew and to the people who loves the music.
The band consists of five men of bluegrass,
whose playing combines elements of traditional and contemporary
music to form one unique sound.
Daisuke Akizawa
- Banjo,Vocals
Yutaka Sakakura - Bass, Vocals
Kazuhito Ohkubo - Guitar, Vocals
Yoshinari Ono - Resophonic
guitar
Hironobu Oda - Mandolin,
Vocals
We are born and grew up in the far east, but we have been
influenced by American cultures, especially by music, any kind of
music.
We can remember that we would watch the TV program " Beverly
Hillbillies" on Sunday Mornings in our youth,
'though it was all in Japanese!, but the Flatt and Scruggs music
was real.
The three members of the band, Daisuke, Yutaka and Kazuhito,
first met in 1982 at the college and formed the band called
"Sugar Hill Ramblers".
They have continued playing bluegrass music together ever since.
Daisuke leads the band,with his tireless energy
and outgoing personality.
He is the driving force behind popularity and longevity of "
Longing For The Southland".
His unique and smooth banjo style anchors the band sound.
Yutaka's solid timing and tasteful runs add the
finishing touches to pull together the band sound.
His soaring lead and tenor vocals are trademark sounds of the
band .
Kazuhito's solid rhythm and exciting lead guitar
compliments his soulful lead and harmony vocals.
Yoshinari is a youngest and newest member for
the band. He supplies the band very tastes and characters.
It is a mellow, smoothing and hot dobro style. Yoshinari's solid
dobro style is with a soul and voice, a great deal of feeling.
Hironobu Oda plays mandolin and sings lead and
baritone vocals.
He is the last but not least,his contributes to the bluegrass
music is not only playing but also promoting the bluegrass in
Japan.
He has ever promoted some festivals and many concerts and at last
he brought "The Virginia Squires" to Japan in 1990,
they toured all over Japan.
Hiro has visited Virginia several times and grown the
friendships, some of you would see him playing the mandolin with
his friends in Fredericksburg area.
In June of 2000, we toured to the United States to perform our
style of bluegrass music.
We had a great time for playing the music in Frederickusburg,Virginia,
at a club called 'MADAM'S MORGAN'
in Washingon D.C.,
and at the Graves' Mountain, "The Festival of The Music"
in Syria, Virginia.
Go to U.S. tour,2000!!!
The commment from MARK NEWTON about our playing at GRAVE'S MOUNTAIN, FESTIVAL Of MUSIC
I had the good fortune to meet
Hiro Oda back in the mid eighties when I was a member of the
Virginia Squires.
We continued to stay in touch as the years went by.
I realized shortly after that time that Hiro was not only a fan
of our band but truly had a passion for Bluegrass Music. As time
went by he became a close friend to me and my family.
Of course back then I was single and later married my wife Tami
and we now have a daughter Carly.
Well, as time went by Hiro married Chiyo and has a beautiful
daughter Yukiye.
So both he and I have not only grown as friends but are blessed
to have our families, in which we are close.
In 1990 the Virginia Squires were honored to be able to tour
Japan for two weeks.
It's arguably one of the best experiences that I've had in my
musical career thus far.
I feel certain that trip would not have become a reality if it
wasn't for Hiro's hard work in getting us over there.
It truly was a highlight to be able to meet the many Japanese
fans and see there passion for Bluegrass Music.
Hiro was our tour coordinator in addition to our translator
throughout the two weeks.
We couldn't have had a better person to advise us over the
two weeks.
I hope to be able to come back to Japan one day with my band
(Mark Newton Band) and share that same experience with my group
and play my music for the Japanese fans. I'm crossing my fingers
for that day to come.
When I became involved with the Graves' Mountain Festival Of
Music, Hiro has attending our festival I believe, 5 out of 8
years.
Hiro had been telling me about his band (Longing For The
Southland) for several years.
I asked him if he thought that his band would be interested in
performing at this years festival, which he replied yes. Well, we
continued to e-mail back and forth and work it out.
I live in Fredericksbug, Va. and his band came to visit me at my
office on Tuesday,May 31st.
I held a pickin party which Ben Eldridge and others came by and
we had a great time pickin and singing.
Hiro's band played and we jammed.
A good time had by all. On June 1st (Thursday) Longing For The
Southland played at Graves'
Mountain.
All the fans at the festival really enjoyed the band and they
truly had a wonderful reception.
I felt that it was a special moment for Bluegrass music and truly
felt proud to be able to bring to fans the true passion Japan has
for Bluegrass Music.
Japan should feel proud to have Longing For The Southland
representing international relations through Bluegrass Music, but
more importantly I'm proud to say he's my friend.
Sincerely Yours, Mark Newton
MAIL to HIRO ODA(bgdroda@virginia.co.jp)