Ikeshiro... Many reggae artistes go to Japan because of the sound systems that invite them

The worldwide popularity of reggae/dancehall continues to influence the popular cultures of far away places to the extent that Jamaican music has been imitated and duplicated to the point where at times, is hard pressed distinguishing the authentic 'yard' sound from that of foreign imitation.

One such place is Japan where, for example, there are more ska bands than in Jamaica at this time. In addition the number one international reggae sound is from Japan and not so long ago the number one dancehall queen was Japanese.

It shouldn't be surprising therefore that the latest effort to chronicle the history of reggae is being undertaken from the perspective of a Japanese journalist.

"It's more like a magazine with interviews and reports," Minako Ikeshiro said as she told Splash about her work recording the history of Jamaican popular music. Her booked is titled Di Reggae Book.

"It is supposed to come out next spring, I hope," Ikeshiro said with a chuckle. "With 162 coloured - pages and lots of photos in colour, I want my readers to feel like they are in Jamaica," she added.

Explaining the slant the book will take, Ikeshiro who is presently based in New York said: "Not many people recognise the importance of sound systems. People would be surprised to know how many sound systems are in Japan. Many reggae artistes go to Japan because of the sound systems that invite them. As a result, the book is going to take a multi-angle approach, historical as well as contemporary."

A specialist reggae writer for several music publications and periodicals including Riddim Magazine from Germany, she also delves in R&B and a little bit of hip hop.

A journalist for the past 10 years, Minako Ikeshiro who understandably speaks with pride about her command of the English language and the Jamaican dialect, did social studies and mass communication at Seikei University in Tokyo.

"I speak English and I do understand patwah," she chuckles in her unmistakable Japanese accent. "I'm the only person who translates patwah lyrics to Japanese. When Sean Paul or TOK release their albums, for example, I write the whole album out, and then I translate each word to Japanese so that the Japanese reggae fans can understand," Ikeshiro said.

She was the editor for the reggae magazine that used to be published by Ticahian Records, the former promoters of the now defunct Reggae Japansplash. Ticahian Record Company was sold in 1997.

"Since I was in high school student I started to listen ska, the British version, then I reached the Skatalites, the authentic ska and I started to collect Studio One. Then I started to listen to dancehall... its quite big in Japan... but its not like hip hop which is supported by big record companies... so maybe the bigger companies don't realise how popular it is. But it's really underground because it's quite popular in Japan," the staunch lover of music and culture said.

"I go to Sizzla's house for an interview; I interviewed Jah Cure who is in prison over the phone. Two European magazines wanted to buy my story with Sizzla, but I said no. I want it for the book," Minako Ikeshiro said.

The fear factor

Feeding the multitude

DANGEROUS PETS