2006
Soap Box Archives
Impressions
of Japan
In the next couple of weeks I will be writing a series of impressions
of the
countries we visited. This is the first.
To even mention Japan and country music in the same breath is
improbable to say the least. But because of a little guy in
a cowboy hat with a passionate love for the music it can not
only be mentioned but draws thousands of people to the Aspecta
Amphitheater in Kumamoto Japan every year for an event known
as Country Gold.
His name is Charlie Nagatani, he stands all of five feet tall,
has a heart
the size of Nashville and every molecule of it is full of love
for country
music.
Charlie has a small club in Kumamoto called Goodtime Charlie's
where him and his band of Japanese cowboys play seven nights
a weekend. Once a year he brings over four American bands to
do the Country Gold concert.
This was our second time at Country Gold and now, a few days
later, I still
have a warm spot in my heart from the outpouring of affection
we received
from the Japanese fans.
The Japanese people are courteous, polite and helpful and wear
their
emotions on their sleeves. More than once I saw them moved to
tears by a
simple act of friendliness and attention.
Japan is a long way from America and without going there we
tend to get our impressions of the people from the stolid persona
of their businessmen or the sound bites we see on TV. But the
heart of Japan's common people is soft and caring and their
hospitality is warm and sincere.
Japan is many things. It is a country of terraced rice fields,
densely
populated cities, a land of heavy industry, quaint villages,
meticulously
tended gardens and tiled roofed houses, green and clean, a unique
blend of
the ancient and the ultra modern.
It is progressive and prosperous, hard working and fast moving,
mystical and beautiful, traditional and cutting edge, mannerly
and well
educated.
It was fascinating watching the crowd arrive for the Country
Gold concert.
They were from all over Japan, many of them in hats, boots and
western
shirts. Some of the locals actually rode horses to the show.
I was standing on stage doing my usual, talking about the songs
we were
going to play and so forth, when it dawned on me that a lot
of the audience
didn't have any idea what I was talking about. They may not
have understood the words but they could understand the music.
They could clap along to it, line dance to it and enjoy it.
The language barrier was not a problem.
I guess you can tell that I was very impressed by my recent
trip to Japan.
I'll long remember its beauty, but most of all I will always
remember its
people.
Here's to you Charlie Nagatani. You're the Japanese King of
Country Music
and I love you.
Pray for our troops
What do you think?
God Bless America
Charlie Daniels
October 30, 2006
