I sure wish I could have seen this video of Hanako Oku’s 2010 concert. I had this video in my YouTube “suggestions” list, but when I opened YouTube, the Record Industry Weasels at PonyCanyon Records have it region blocked (Of course the phrase “Record Industry Weasels at PonyCanyon” might actually be redundant.) As far as I know, the video is only blocked for American users, because of this year’s licensing changes at YouTube.
I know what you are going to ask: “Denny, What if you buy YouTube RED? … then is the video unblocked?” The answer is a big NO. The licensing laws are still not congruent. The videos are still blocked.
I had seen one portion of this concert before. It was an outdoor concert. I think it was “First Love” she performed, but this was years ago. I remember that there was a lot of wind noise, but she still sang it with a lot of emotion, and I loved it. (No one sings unrequited love the way Hanako Oku does.) This was back when I was first out about Hanako Oku’s music, and before I was banned from Facebook. Someone on the Hanko Oku Discussion Group on Facebook had posted a portion of this performance.
I would love to see the entire performance. If you are one of my blog followers outside of the US, could you please check this video out, and tell me what I am missing?
Quote from Star Trek II — Khan was actually quoting from the novel “Moby Dick”.
… although he could have been talking about the greedy, xenophobic little pricks who run the music industry. I think I can relate to Khan here. Maybe I’m as wrong as Khan, however.
I’m thinking that the geniuses who run the legal and marketing departments at PonyCanyon records and AKS Management are the good guys.. somehow. Right? They know what they are doing, right? They are managing the company and bringing in the maximum amount of revenue to shore up their country’s much-needed tax base, right? They recently dealt with their Chinese competitors correctly right?
They are brilliant, and I am wrong — right?
Starlight: The Enterprise was able to warp away right just at the last second. Khan and I were pissed.
I will bet that a lot of you have made “New Year’s Resolutions”. Here we are a couple of weeks into 2016, and I would not be so surprised if many have not already given up their resolutions.
My challenge for this new year? I will try not to speak so negatively about others. (Even if they are employed as managers and directors in the recording industry.) … um … er … Darn, I almost broke my vow already …
Look, I am not very religious…
Comedic director Mel Brooks once quipped “I’m not very religious, but I AM very Jewish.” I feel the same way as Mr. Brooks, except that I will add that I am not Jewish. The best I can do for you is offer up a little “deli wisdom” once in a while.
Today, I want to share this video narrated by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin. He makes some very good points about speaking fairly when talking about about other people. To paraphrase: He says that just because what you have to say about someone is TRUE does not make it morally right to say … especially if it might harm that someone.
Could I go 24-hours without bad-mouthing someone? … and what if someone brings up the topic of record industry weasels and their lawyers?
Well, better I should hold my tongue.
Kosher beef tongue on rye.
Starlight: I wonder if they have tongue at my local deli?
You think I was kidding? Look at what the RECORD INDUSTRY WEASELS have done.
Civil Disobedience, 101!
(Denny imitating Homer Simpson) Now there are SOME people out there who might react to this and say that you shouldpirate as much media as you possibly can, and share as many illegal copies of copyrighted material as is possible. (Returns to normal voice) I cannot condone those actions, however — I truly feel the frustration.There are those, even angrier than I am who may say “never pay for Jpop entertainment ever again — except for bootlegs on eBay and the like.” Once again, I understand the frustration, although I do not support illegal activity. I don’t want the authorities to wrack their brains trying to figure out which laws to enforce, and which to not enforce.
I advise my readers to just don’t feed the weasels anymore.
Typical employee of YouTube, Sony or AKS.
Not in the USA? Think it can’t happen in your country? Don’t worry, the RIW are coming for your country next!
More Info: Read the comments from my friends at AKB Daily blog!
As I wrote in my previous post … I have a special talent I had no idea that I had! When I share a YouTube video on my Pinterest pages or on WordPress, etc. it gets taken down right away by “Record Industry Weasels” — sometimes in less than an hour.
I am a YouTube video sharing jinx!
Yes, I know what you will reply, “Denny, these things are always getting taken down due to copywrong violations”. True they often do. However I have shared videos originally POSTED WAY BACK IN 2007 which as soon as I shared them — GET TAKEN DOWN.
This has been especially true of so many of the Hanako Okuvideos I loved. My YouTube playlist for her is now all grey boxes.
For example … There was this one video where she was on a TV talk show early in her career (about 2008). She is wearing her famous Ford Mustang jacket on this show – I do not know what the name was – but the comedic host looked exactly like a Japanese Soupy Sales. She is talking to him, joking and laughing uncontrollably, covering her face the way Japanese women do when they laugh, and completely endearing herself to me. She then plays “Kaette Oide”, which the host also tries to sing along with. There are a lot of great, funny moments. The RIW took it down to their Copywrongs. NOW THIS WONDERFUL MOMENT IS GONE FOREVER!!!
WHO THE HELL WAS THIS VIDEO CLIP HURTING? What, someone will not buy Kaette Oide because they can just watch a little bit of it on the clip? The TV station was getting a good plug as well. Did they just not want it shown because “Dammit we own it“.
Record Industry Weasels want to protect their property of course, but they can go too far. If I could talk to those weasels in the legal department at PonyCanyon Records I might say this:
Look, I found out how much I like Hanako Oku by watching her various video performances on YouTube. I loved her music, so I sent for and bought all of her CDs from Japan! Had I not seen these videos – which have now been taken down – I probably would not have been inspired to purchase all of her CDs. (“…You idiots”, I might add if I were face-to-face with the weasels .)
Ok, if the studio song is removed, that is one thing I understand – but not the unique TV appearances and shopping mall concerts. So, by removing these unique videos – which are basically ads for your product anyway – you may be making LESS money. Weasels, please think again. Maybe someone wants to compile a history of Hanako Oku. These hard to find videos are a unique way to appreciate the artists.
I have now lost so many adorable Hanako Oku videos where she is creating a unique performance, and is just being herself, and …. AAARRRGHHH … I’m an idiot.
I know, you readers are saying — I should have downloaded those videos as soon as they were posted. You are correct, I should have snagged them. My thinking was that since the videos had been there for years that they would be there next week when I have time to do it – then AAARRRGGHH.
Now look, I thought that rock stars (at least from my generation) expected music to be wild and free and to really stick it to big business and “the Man” who keeps us down. Today’s rock stars and their Record Industry Weasels are way too hypocritical. Music companies sell music which glorify independence and revolution, yet get very territorial if the French revolutionaries actually show up at their Bastille.
I will not criticize Miss Oku. I am sure that she does not want her music stolen. However, I have to believe that she would come to understand that these “promotional videos” of her appearances on TV shows and the like, are actually good for driving up sales, because they increase interest in the artist. Even grainy out-of-focus fan cams increase my interest, but these do not replace my CD buying choices.
I do not create illegal videos. Actually that is mostly because I’m a tech idiot. I actually own Hanako Oku DVDs, but I would be too stupid to figure out how to convert a Japan-only disc to a file that would work on my computer, much less uploaded to YouTube.
Full disclosure: I did not coin the term “Record Industry Weasels”. The concept was named by TV talk show host David Letterman. I can remember that one time Dave wanted to get The Go-Gos on his show, but due to music publication legalities, he could only have two of the five members on stage. Letterman also told stories that he talked to a “weasely guy” from the record company about booking musicians on the show.
Starlight: 33 years since Mr. Letterman introduced the concept.
See more Hanako Oku on my Pinterest page linked here.
My Dear Friends: I will have to take a break from WordPress for a few weeks in order to pay more attention to work related activities. You see I process requests for agricultural chemicals. The work is very dull … very dreary. I would often break up the mundane workday by listening to my favorite Jpop singers, many of whom have been recommended by my fellow writers here on WP. Unfortunately, my “in” box at the office and at home is so over-stuffed I will have to stop posting new material for a while.
EDIT: My comments deleted here …
Double unfortunately I will also not be able to read your posts as much as I would like, dear hearts. I may check my messages from time to time, and maybe go in and delete my Spam (… holy Magi-carp … I just now looked … I had no idea how much spam was in there. I hate it … how it is now harder to access your spam folder … what with all the changes to the interface WP has made … Sorry, that I digress… )
I will not be able to make very my usual witty, Oscar Wilde-like comments on your posts. When I can return, I will make sure to review all of my favorite bloggers. My comments on topical issues may be delayed, but never will they be permanently waylaid.
Please enjoy one of my favorite Hanako Oku songs “Kaette Oide” which translates as “Return Home” or “Come Home”. I’m not sure which is the better translation, but I know The Little Great One’s song was used as a commercial jingle for frozen vegetables. No, I’m not making that up, the commercial used to be on YouTube (Record Industry Weasels took it down, but don’t get me blogging about that right now.) During the commercial, a nice lady comes home from work all tired, and she then has to worry about feeding her family. Good thing that she has a pack of (Whatever-Brand) easy-to-prepare food. Vegetable, meat (I think) and sauce all in the same easy-to-heat package. Kaette Oide.
It is sweet, emotional song. Oh, Ms. Oku is my Raison d’être. The reason for this blog in the first place.
If I only had a brain … a heart … and some courage …
I will return in mid-March … I have NOT YET said everything I want to say about Japanese Pop Culture. I will still give your posts a read when I am able. Although I will be able to compose little, I do want your latest Jpop, art and fashion news, the Pokemon events, and exactly what happens on that anime about the Lesbian Bears everyone has been talking about.
Denny Sinnoh
Password: NCC-1710
As if the computer nerd hackers would ever figure that out.
No, no one could ever forget your pretty face, Yuko!
I will continue to toot-my-own-horn here and offer up another “Top Ten” list today! I have made more than 150 posts this year. I will share a selection of my favorites. If you are a recent follower, then you get a chance to see some of my earlier posts!
1. One of my first posts on WP was “Koi Suru Conspiracy Theory”linked here. Looking back, I realized that I made a lot of technical mistakes. Good thing I only had five followers at the time, and three of those were merchants.
2. I enjoyed writing about my favorite musical performer Hanako Oku in “What Happens in Hanako Oku’s Music Video for “Fuyuhanabi”linked here. I wasn’t trying to be funny here. Oddly, it is the only one of my Hanako Oku posts that was not “tweeted” by anyone!
3. I had the most fun writing “My Mouse Is Very Happy Now”linked here. Unfortunately after I posted it, it was like tumbleweeds. I think that this is because the music videos for it are only on Jpopsuki, instead of YouTube. Jpopsuki has very long loading times so I think some readers gave up. Some things I want to share are just not on YouTube.
4. I loved writing about Watarirouka Hasiritai, even though even my friends can’t understand why I adore the squeaky ones so much. I knew that few would take my “straight” review of their DVD seriously, so I tried to make a “mash up” of sorts. What if the late British author Anthony Burgess wrote the review for me? Hence, my post “Anthony Burgess Reviews My Watarirouka Hashiritai Farewell Concert DVD”linked here. I was trying to be like an English major and become all “literate” … using the voice of one of his characters — but my readers probably just thought: Denny you are one weird dude : (
5. I do like a good mash-up. However I am not sure if my younger readers know who Dean Martin was however, and what his celebrity roasts were. Perhaps I am of the wrong generation to make “Roasting Yuko Oshima’s Butt”linked here. This is an example of how I would probably have to explain the jokes to you. I have the cultural references of an aging baby-boomer.
6. My blogs on Pokémon have been fun! For example “Fujin and Raijin and Pokemon”linked here. I know that many readers are not Pokemon players, however I try to make my Pokémon posts interesting enough that you do not have to play Pokémon video games to enjoy the humor. I often digress far off topic on the “Pokemon Nickname” posts.
7. Sometimes I write what I think was a pretty good sardonic article about a music video, then RECORD INDUSTRY WEASELS remove the video! A good example is “My Grandfatherly Advice for the Young Miss Mako Kojima”linked here. My attempt at humor would not make sense if you cannot see what happens in the video. Dang it! I hated to lose that clip. DANG IT! DANG IT!! DANG IT!!!
8. The reason I started this blog was because I wanted to write about the AKB48 song: “Sakura no ki ni narou – I will become a cherry tree (a graduation song)”linked here. I had to start a blog, because whenever I tried to talk about it with my friends, they would always say — GET AWAY FROM ME MAN! Unfortunately, all but the lowest quality video clip was removed (by you-know-who). I encourage you to still watch the low-res version. It seems funny now, but I was choking up when I wrote that article, as I thought the song was so beautiful.
9. My first ever post! I didn’t know what I was doing! … and another one that had the YouTube clip removed by RIWs was “The Little Great One”linked here. I loved that video of the end-credits of “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”. I put related links at the end of the post however. I do not know Hanako Oku from last Tuesday, but there is no one that touches my (musical) heart like her. I could write a Top-Ten just about her videos. She is my raison d’etre.
10. You would not believe how many views my post “Kodoku na Hoshizora” by AKB48: Is it “art” … or do I just have a dirty mind?” has gotten. Again, the music video is on Jpopsuki, not YouTube. You should see the disgusting Google “search terms” I see on my Stats page for this post — linked here. It is a great kimono video, well worth the load time. It has always been one of my favorite AKB48 music videos. Why do perverts want to see this so much?
I guess that is TEN … but you are correct. I did not include a KIMONO post! I have been encouraged by all the “Likes” that my “Kimonos on Monday” series of posts have received this year. Thank you readers! I hope to keep the kimonos coming in 2015. So to leave off, here is the lovely Yuko Oshima in one of her own kimono designs. Sorry about the “derp” face photo above … but you know that I love you Yuko : )
My strong, yearning, desperate, feelings are captured in this maze.
“Sayonara no Kioku” (Memory of Goodbye) music and lyrics by Hanako Oku.
(I’m just using this YouTube post to share the song. All other posts of the song were taken away by Record Industry Weasels. The YouTube link here has Vietnamese subs, but don’t let that bother you. Thank you to YouTube user Le Vy for posting the song even if he has a different use. )
Why did I let go of your hand that was joined with mine
I could only concentrate on walking the path to dusk
Will I someday forget your tears of that time
I am hearing the accumulated voices of time somewhere
I was unable to say that I like you
That day we were crying
One by one, memories are added
This is the last memory—the memory of our goodbye
What should have been projected on the sky we found
I feel like now I can understand what I didn’t realize then
Was I searching for you in the box called happiness?
In my heart, pain is still wandering
I was unable to say that I like you
Even though we’ve hugged so many times
One by one, memories are added
This is the last memory—the memory of our goodbye
Still unable to move, I can only point to the two vanishing paths
I was unable to say that I like you
That day we were crying
One by one, memories are added
This is the last memory
The memory of our goodbye
— Thank you to WordPress blogger Yoroshiku. Son,“we hardly knew ye”. I hope you return, and translate more great songs into English.
Also see the Romaji lyrics dedicated here.
Notice to PonyCanyon’s Record Industry Weasels — I said “dedicated” — not “reproduced”. So there.
Romanji lyrics
Tsunaideita kimi no te wo boku wa naze hanashiteshimatta
Yuuhi ga ochiteyuku michi tada hitasura ni aruiteita
Ano toki no kimi no namida wo itsuka wasureteyuku no kana
Kasaneteita jikan no koe ga doko ka de kikoeteiru
Kimi ga suki da to iezu ni ita
Ano hi no bokura wa naiteita
Mata hitotsu zutsu omoide ga fueteku
Kore ga saigo no kioku bokutachi no sayonara no kioku
Futari de mitsuketa sora ni nani wo utsuseba yokatta no ka
Ima nara wakaru ki ga suru ano toki wa kizukenakatta
Shiawase to iu hako no naka ni kimi wo sagashiteita no kana?
Boku wa mada kokoro no oku ni itami ga samayotteru
Kimi ga suki da to iezu ni ita
Nando mo dakishimeteita no ni
Mata hitotsu zutsu omoide ga fueteku
Kore ga saigo no kioku bokutachi no sayonara no kioku
Toozakaru futatsu no michi tada yubisashite boku wa ugokenai mama
Kimi ga suki da to iezu ni ita
Ano hi no bokura wa naiteita
Mata hitotsu zutsu omoide ga fueteku
Kore ga saigo no kioku
Bokutachi no sayonara no kioku
———————————————————————-
Starlight: It took seven years for this starlight to reach my world. The light illuminated a scarred and barren planetary surface. Diffused and scattered, the light exposed an eroded, but dry, ancient river course … Is this a way out?
Likes: Pop Culture, Humor, Japanese Culture, Iwasa Misaki, Hanako Oku, AKB48 History, Kurosawa films, Kimonos, Anime, Lolita fashion, Buddhist philosophy, and finding the perfect nicknames for my Pokemon.
A fansite; for old and new fans of AKB48 and all their domestic and international sister groups: (SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, NGT48, STU48, JKT48, BNK48, MNL48, AKB48 Team SH, SGO48, AKB48 Team TP, and CGM48)
Denny Sinnoh 
Written
on August 17, 2014