Uchinanchu yaibin

[Machine Translation] The debut album by Kenji Igei, a third-generation Japanese American living in Peru with Okinawan roots, has been well received by the global Nikkei community, with "Uchinanchu Yaibin" being the theme song for the "World Ginozanchu Gathering" held in Ginoza Village in 2016, "Thank You, Uncle, Grandma" being the theme song for the "Youth Uchinanchu Convention" held in Peru in 2018, and "Paper Boat" being the theme song for a South American Okinawan exchange tour. In addition, "Paper Boat" became the theme song for an exchange tour for Okinawans in South America, and has received enthusiastic support from the Nikkei community around the world. He is also a designer and designed the logo for the "Japan-Peru Year of Exchange," celebrating the 120th anniversary of Japanese immigration. In 2019, his original song "Uchinanchu Yaibin" was performed in "Igei Ginyo Monogatari", a play about his grandfather's life as an immigrant in Peru, in Okinawa. The song "Uchinanchu Yaibin" was performed as the song of the play. The song is sung in Spanish, Japanese, and English, and is about Kenji's identity as a Nikkei, but it is sure to bring back memories of his roots for each listener.

沖縄をルーツとするペルー在住の日系3世Kenji Igeiのデビューアルバム。2016年宜野座村で開催された"世界のギノザンチュの集い"では「ウチナーンチュヤイビン」、2018年ペルーでの"若者ウチナーンチュ大会"では「ありがとう おじぃ、おばぁ」がテーマソングに、また「紙の舟」が南米沖縄県系人の交流ツアーテーマソングになるなど、世界の日系コミュニティで熱い支持を受けている。また彼はデザイナーとしても活躍し日本人移住120周年"日本ペルー交流年"のロゴデザインを担当。本作にはそのロゴにインスピレーションを与えることとなった自身のオリジナル曲「Somos nikkei」も収録。2019年には移民としてペルーへ渡った祖父の半生を舞台にした『伊芸銀勇物語』が沖縄で上演、劇中歌としてオリジナル曲「ウチナーンチュヤイビン」が演奏された。本作はスペイン語・日本語・英語を使い、Kenjiの日系人としてのアイデンティティが歌われているが、聞く人それぞれがそのルーツに思いを馳せることができるはず。