Ainu musician brings tradition and global sounds to New York
NEW YORK (Kyodo) -- Ainu musician Oki returned to the city where he first began exploring his identity, bringing with him a sound that blends the trad
New York (Kyodo) -- Oki, a 69-year-old Ainu musician, has returned to the city where he first began exploring his identity, bringing with him a unique fusion of traditional Ainu music and global influences. In early June, Oki performed with his band, the Oki Dub Ainu Band, at a New York concert hall, playing the tonkori, a traditional stringed instrument.
Originally hailing from Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo, Oki did not learn his biological father was Ainu until he was 22. Growing up, he felt like an outsider, neither fully Japanese nor Ainu. At 30, he moved to New York without a plan, eventually studying film production and discovering a deep connection to the tonkori. He blended Ainu melodies with rock, reggae, and African rhythms, earning international acclaim.
Oki now seeks to tell the Ainu story from their own perspective through his music and his recent documentary, "Everyday Ainu."
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