Two seminal figures for bringing Okinawan, Asian and other 'world' musics to a Japanese audience are Makoto Kubota and Haruomi Hosono. Kubota and his band (久保田麻琴と夕焼け楽団), featuring Hosono on drums and as co-producer recorded Shokichi Kina's classic 'Haisai Ojisan' in 1975. Arguably they created the first wave of interest in Okinawan music in Japan, Kina having a hit with his song two years later. Due to a now slightly dodgy original master tape, this version was remixed by Kubota in 1989, and features Sandii on backing vocals. Kubota and Hosono have never swayed from their pioneering spirit. Kubota producing several Indonesian artists including Detty Kurnia and an eclectic assortment of music with Sandii. Hosono, a musical genius, seems to be the spark that ignites everything, from folk and 'group sounds', to technopop and ambient.
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