Minyo Crusaders rework historic Japanese folk songs (min'y) with Latin, African, Caribbean and Asian rhythms for their debut album Echoes of Japan. Releases from Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruomi Hosono and Midori Takada have re-ignited global interest in Japanese music and Echoes of Japan marks the arrival of a big band like no other.
Originally sung by fishermen (Kushimoto Bushi; Mamurogawa Ondo), coal miners (Tanko Bushi) and sumo wrestlers (Sumo Jinku), these songs deal with topics such as the returning spirits of ancestors (Hohai Bushi), Japans smallest bird (Toichin Bushi) and a brides love for her husbands pockmarked face (Otemoyan). Includes Japanese lyrics and English translations
