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Japanese video rough translation (Picture of Shigeki Nasu, a musician from Japan)
He went to Naminoue when he was young. He remembered one song that hit his heart when he heard it at a restaurant. He heard the restaurant will close shortly so he made a call to the restaurant. He knew the juke box had been broken for a long time but he wanted to hear the song once more so he took his portable record player. He went to a photographer’s store to see if they had any photos of his old memories of Okinawa. He went to the same hotel that he stayed at when he was young.
(Background music playing was Nasu’s song “Road to Naminoue " which was in memory of his first visit to Okinawa and the first time he heard the American song “Road to Naminoue”.)
I am at Naminoue, Naha. Someone told me the State Side restaurant will close in June. This restaurant has been in business a long time. Before this restaurant closes, I wanted to listen to one particular song badly. So I made a phone call to the owner of the restaurant to see if he would let me hear the song...
(Sign on the wall of the restaurant)
To all our customers: I am sorry to announcement that I have decided to close this business in June. Thank you so much for giving us your business for many years. By owner
(Phone call)
I understand your juke box is out of order but about 20 years ago, I heard a song named "Road to Naminoue” which influenced me very much. I wrote my own song using the same title. My bands name is "Yamuchin" and my name is Nasu. I am very sorry to bother you, but I would like to hear that song once more. Is it possible? Also I will bring a portable record player with me. Do you mind when I get there, may I listen to it?
(1982 He went to Naminoue, Okinawa which was the first trip to Okinawa for him.) (1996 "Yamuchin" first publication of his song “Road to Naminoue”) (A song about Nasu's memories of Naminoue)
(Song playing)
That was long time ago before you born (picture showing State Side restaurant) I just found out the other day probably, the State Side restaurant was on the ocean. There was a juke box, but it is out of order now...Effected by ocean breezes.
(Picture five story brown building) (White letters on blue sign board says Hotel Castle NOZAKI)
This hotel is where Nasu stayed when he came to Naminoue the first time. (picture at the Hotel, clerk, and guitar on his back) He starts telling stories talking about when he came to Naminoue the first time. More than ten High school students were also at the Hotel for exams and the students were from Nasu’s home, Miyazaki prefecture. That was the night before examinations.
I was playing a game machine and the students were talking about the examinations.
Sometime later on, Nasu met a girl who was a student. She was attending the same class and taking the same subject of study with him. He talked about memories of Okinawa. She said Wow, was that you? I remembered someone playing a game machine. He said, yes! That was me.
(Picture changed to Photo shop)
He visited the photographer Minoru Yamada I understand some businesses existed on the ocean. (Picture photographer holding in his hand) Yamada says this one is the oldest one; it used to be Naminoue beach Ocean salt water swimming pool 1960. Photo by Minoru Yamada There were a few buildings along with the swimming pool. Some businesses were an amusement arcade.
Do you know this gentle man? (Photographer asked) His name is Tosyo Teruaki. This one was taken in 1969, when he came to Okinawa the first time. At that time no one was allowed to come to Okinawa without a guarantor. So I signed for him. (Says Photographer) Teruaki was then able to get his passport
(Picture changed back to the restaurant)
He is talking to the owner of the restaurant and asking if he could possibly listen to the record. Kouji Nagata is the owner of the State Side restaurant.
(Restaurant owner talking)
He said a young GI band wrote this song. They might have worked in the cabarets. The band went back to US and they remembered Okinawa, drinking sake and having a good time so they wrote the song.
(Picture opening up old juke box)
For Americans, it is hard to say "Naminoue" so they said "Naminui" such as ZUIKEIRAN ---> they said”Scran" and FUTENMA they said “FUTEEMA "
(Removing record from jukebox and playing it on the portable record player)
(Narration over music) I listened again to the song “Road to Naminoue " I wonder who wrote this one. I don't even know the name of the band. But I feel like I want to see them.
The song was written and recorded by Ronnie Fray, who is Canadian and currently lives in Ontario, Canada. Below is an excerpt from an email I received from him in July 2008. Ronnie’s responses are in RED.
Hi Ronnie HEY DONN Couple of things you mentioned below that I wanted to ask you about. SHOOT!!!
You said you recorded the CD (copy from the album) in Detroit, would that mean that "Road" on the CD would be a rerecording of the original song?
YES, THAT IS CORRECT...THERE NEVER WAS A SINGLE 45 RPM. IT'S JUST ONE SONG ON AN OLD ALBUM OF MINE CALLED ''WHY NOT'' AND IT'S NOT VERY GOOD.
Did you record the original song in the Far East,
NO, BUT SOME ONE GOT HOLD OF MY ALBUM AND PRESSED A FEW THOUSAND COP- IES OF 'ROAD'...WITH 'HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN' BY THE ANIMALS ON THE FLIP SIDE (ON THE LOVE OR HEART RECORD LABEL) AND MADE A FEW BUCKS (I WOULD IMAGINE) ...
where was the record made?
MINE (ALBUM)...IN DETROIT...THE COPY (45 rpm)....IN OKINAWA (I GUESS)
Do you have a copy of the original record?
I DO HAVE THE ALBUM (ONE ONLY). I USUALLY BURN A C.D. OF IT IF SOMEONE WANTS/ORDERS IT.. BECAUSE I HAVE IT LOADED INTO MY COMPUTER...ALONG WITH FOUR OTHER C.D.'S OF MINE. (ONE IS LIVE AT THE BAVARIAN INN ...IN G.R.)
What inspired you to write the song?
HA HA...WHA'DYA TINK? MY FIRST TRIP TO NAHA IN '67/8..WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME.... I CAME BACK TO GRAND RAPIDS ...WROTE AND RECORDED THE SONG.. IN 1968/9 WENT BACK TO OKI THE THIRD TIME AND HEARD IT ON THE RADIO... I ALMOST SH#@... I WAS BOTH P#@%$ OFF AND HAPPY AT THE SAME TIME... I HAD A HIT RECORD IN OKINAWA AND I DIDN'T MAKE A DAMN DIME!!!
thanks Sam
