getting ready for Japan!

This weekwenesday Im leaving for Japan! Im super excited!!

人生咲き花 歌詞

人生咲き花 

歌: 光山虎夫

作詞: 佐野京子 & 光山虎夫

編曲: 清水クレイグ

人はかよわい 同じ花

綺麗だけど 人生短い

芝居は幸せ でも胸は寒い

なぜかあなたに春はもう来ない

人生は幸せ咲き花

これから幸せになれ

幸せになれ

今日は雨の日 苦労の頃よ

濡れて命があきらめわ

大空見えてった大きな夢が

決めた道なら この道を

人生は幸せ咲き花

これから光りになれ

光りになれ

桜 まうまう 迷いまう散る

この道 迷いしないよ

力。風に立って出せば

大きな川が流れるように

人生は幸せ咲き花

ひとり道なら 命道

華になれ

Jinsei Saki Bana Lyrics (Jinsei wa Shiawase Saki Bana)

Jinsei Saki Bana

song: Hikariyama Torao

Lyrics: Kyoko Sano & Hikariyama Torao

Arrangement: Craig Shimizu

Hito wa Kayowai Onaji Bana

Kirei Dakedo Jinsei Mijikai

Shibai wa shiawase demo Mune wa samui

Nazeka anata ni haru wa mo konai

Jinsei wa Shiawase Saki Bana

Korekara Shiawase ni Nare

Shiawase ni Nare

Kyo wa Ame no Hi Kurou no Koro yo

Nurete Inochi ga akirame wa

Ozora mietatte Okina yume ga

Kimeta michi nara kono michi wo

Jinsei wa Shiawase Saki Bana

Korekara Hikari ni Nare

Hikari ni Nare

Sakura Mau Mau Mayoi mau chiru

Kono Michi Mayoi shinai yo

Chikara. Kaze ni Tatedaseba

Ookina Kawa ga nagareru youni

Jinsei wa Shiawase Saki Bana

Hitori michi nara Inochi michi

Hana ni Nare

後悔の海 歌詞

後悔の海

歌: 光山虎夫

作詞: 佐野京子 & 光山虎夫

編曲: 清水クレイグ

辛い別れの 後で北の

岬を俺は淋しいく 一人歩く

お前になげた あの言葉

寒い海で心が泣くって

許して欲しい 最後の女(ひと)よ

俺が泣いてる 後悔の海よ

ヤーレンホー

潮風の音 お前の声が

俺を呼ぶ甘い声 熱い言葉

鴎はすすり泣きつかれ 

俺の心も夜で泣きつかれ

許して欲しい 最後の女(ひと)よ

俺が泣いてる 後悔の海よ

ヤーレンホー

別れは二度目の冬でした

思いは今日も波立てる

熱えろ思いは今も交らず

ずっと、この愛忘れない ずっと

許して欲しい 最後の女(ひと)よ

俺が泣いてる 後悔の海よ

ヤーレンホー

Koukai no Umi Lyrics

Koukai no Umi

song: Hikariyama Torao

Lyrics: Kyoko Sano & Hikariyama Torao

Arranged: Craig Shimizu

 

Tsurai wakare no Ato de Kita no

Misaki wo Ore wa Samishii ku hitori aruku

Omae ni nageta ano kotoba

Samui umi de kokoro ga nakutte

Yurushite Hoshii Saigo no Hito yo

Ore ga Naiteru Koukai no Umi yo

Yarenho

 

Shiokaze no Oto Omae no Koe ga

Ore wo yobu amai koe Atsui Kotoba

Kamome wa susuri naki tsukare

Ore no kokoro mo yo de naki tsukare

Yurushite Hoshii Saigo no Hito yo

Ore ga Naiteru Koukai no Umi yo

Yarenho

 

Wakare wa Nidome no Fuyu deshita

Omoi wa Kyo mo Nami Tateru

Moero Omoi wa ima mo Kawarazu

Yurushite Hoshii Saigo no Hito yo

Ore ga Naiteru Koukai no Umi yo

Yarenho

 

 

Debut Song: Koukai no Umi

So my first CD has debuted and if you want a copy you can pick one up from Shimizu Voice Studio Office by calling 808-848-0917.
$10 or 1000yen.

Original song written by Hikariyama Torao
Lyrics by Kyoko Sano & Hikariyama Torao
Arranged by Craig Shimizu
Back Vocals: Amy Katsumoto


 

Pacific Buddhist Academy Taiko and Karaoke 2013

 

Every year the Pacific Buddhist Academy's show is always better than the year before it.  This years featured act was no other than this year's 2012 Kzoo Grand Champion, Amy Katsumoto aka Utagawa Akemi. She sang Bungo Suido originally recorded by Kawanaka Miyuki. Better rendition I must add, the performance was filled with much more emotion than Kawanaka adds. This year as the opening singers, Kyoko Sano and I; Craig Shimizu had me write a song with Kyoko dedicated to the show's theme "Wind of Change." Kyoko and I came up with a strong fighting song called "Kaze Makase," which means to "Stand Against the Wind." I got to sing my Debut song Koukai no Umi as well. I am so glad that every year I get to perform with the PBA, this year makes it 5 years in a row! 

be happy.

In Japanese there is a word that I really love "Tonikaku," which means "anyways," or "no matter what." Like "no matter what I'm gonna keep smiling." Recently I've been cursed with a sheet of bad luck and it really sucks. My stupid tonsillitis, job loss, weight gain, date mix ups, plan cancellations all the time etc. it's like no matter where I go there is this bad luck that is following me... I think I have the worst luck in all of Hawai`i.

Even with that in mind I try to smile every day because I know that there will always be a tomorrow. I love to spend my days with the people who I love. Surround yourself with people who you love and I will guaranty that you will have an awesome like.

"Tonikaku, watashi wa yaruto kimetara - yume wo akiramenaide."
"No matter what, I've made up my mind  - to not give up my dreams."  

I hope everyone else is having a great week. I will try to keep you updated more...

 - Torao

Matsudairyu Odori Kai recital (Maui II)

Hey Guys - sorry for not posting as much! Been super busy with work. Well actually today I was terminated (well the entire walker attendant group did as) so I gotta reapply for a different position at a different branch.  So kinda been under some stress recently, but decided to update my blog since I've been doing a horrible job at updating it...

This trip to to Maui was actually for the Matsudairyu Odori Kai run by Yamada Yaeko sensei. It was a free event on Maui, held at Baldwin high school. Sensei had asked me to sing two songs, both being Hosokawa Takashi - so I picked Bokyo Jonkara, and she had picked Kita Sakaba for me to sing. She even let me borrow one of her studio's Hakama, which was beautiful. The design was strips and it started off silver towards the top and turned black at the bottom.

Grandma Catherine, and Amy also came along with me. So it felt comfortable performing for a different audience than usual.

I noticed that the dancers on Maui are very graceful and are super nice, down to earth kind of people. Yaeko sensei as well is very lady like and is definition of 'woman,' I think. Her dancers, danced with all their heart and soul into the music and dance. It varied as well, from Nihon Buyo, Shin Buyo, Nagauta etc. Her technique is what I think makes her different from other sensei, is that she has variety.

I genuinely love performing on Maui and would love to go back again, soon. Thanks Yaeko Sensei and the Matsudairyu Odori Kai! I'm hoping to get a new job soon, so I will talk to you guys about that again. Thanks for all the support all the time. I need to take my mind off of this junk... (stress) Good night everyone. 

tonsillitis

 I know I always apologize for not posting and then never do anything about it!
Sorry again! I've been so busy - since I started working.
Gonna be heading off to Maui next month again, and will be participating in the Pearl City Uta Matsuri at the end of this month.

Stressing and sick. Right now I have tonsillitis so my throat is in so much pain right now. The Uta Matsuri I'm still debating if I will be singing both nights - I don't wanna sing now and then not be able to sing ever again, so thinking about it.

What had happened was - the other day when I was at work, I just finished my shift and was heading home. While I was waving bye to everyone I started to feel a warm feeling in the back of my throat. I felt my mouth was filling up with a liquid, so I ended up spitting blood all over the cement.

my hospital bracelet

I ran back to the office and everyone seen that blood was dripping from my mouth and it wouldn't stop. My coworker (Kazu) came with me into the bathroom. He stayed with me for a good 5 minutes and I ended up spitting almost a cup of blood. Amy Katsumoto came to pick me up and we went straight to Pali Momi Hospital.

Everyone was so worried, the following day grandmother (Catherine) and I went to follow up at the doctors, and he told me that I has tonsillitis, so I couldn't sing, go to school, or go to work for a week...

The Uta Matsuri is coming up and I'm so stressed right now. Oh well, we'll just see what happens and go with the flow. I hope everyone is having a better week then I am.

新しい仕事

今日ウチ

師匠はかずおハン

ウチの新しい仕事はJTB: OLI OLIシャットルワッカそれはバスボーイです。昨日はウチのトレイニングですが昨日の師匠はジョーンさんです。

JTBのトロリは大きいなぐじらですがジョーンさんの欲しいはウチのことをぐじらのタイムが覚えたいやで。

タイムはむずかしいと思います。でもね、今日ウチはちょっとわかります。

ジョーンさんの仕事CSRです。『CSRはぐじらのタイムマナジャでもウチの仕事シャットルワッカ』

ただウチはCSRじゃない、今日ニュー師匠はかずおハンです。かずおハンのふるさとは沖縄県です。ただ、やっぱり日本語だけを話します。

昨日と今日のお客さまはいつも朝でしずかです。

おひるのタイム『それはダイヤモンドヘドハイキングの後』お客さまはにぎやかとモットやさしいになって。それはウチの喜んでやで!

ダイヤモンドヘド

アラマ! 忘れちゃった! 今日の一番喜んではシェラトンワイキキホテルで浴衣きって子共がぐじらバスに乗っての頃。

 ・ウチは『スイマヘンお客さま、今日はウチのはじめてのデイです。よろしくお願いします』

 ・ほかの人は『いや、大丈夫ガイドさん 上手 上手!』

・かずお師匠は『上手ですね? 彼は演歌歌手です。』

 ~それでウチの目が大きいな上げています~

・ほかの人と浴衣きって子共は『歌って下さい!!! 』

~はずかしい感じでハワイの民謡を歌います 『ホレホレ節』~

\(^0^)/~~~~
*行こうかメリケンよ*
*帰ろうか日本*
*今じゃ子もある 孫もある*
*ハーソノワケチャッタチャデ ヌイヌイ マカイ*

歌の時に皆が手拍子にする。 はずかしいでも手拍子から喜びになって。

浴衣きって子共も『スゲーエーエーエーイ!』と言う。。

ウチの頭で『よっかたとお思います。。。。。。』

それはウチのデイです! 明日仕事でもう一度いい日に上げて下さい!

ハワイの歌祭りの練習

昨日 、ウチはホンマニ忙しいヤネン!

仕事のはじめてのデイですが
その後はハワイの歌祭りの練習です。

歌祭りの舞台でウチは新沼謙治さんの『津軽恋女』を歌います。

この舞台はじめてのタイムライブバンドといっしょうにシエーアにします。

バンドのミュジシアンは全部高校学生やで!! ホンマヤビックリがプーロのにあうです!!

『エットねー。。。 ありがとう』だけ言うなの。。。 口で言葉出ないやで!

今年の歌祭りデットは2月、でもエックザックトデイットうちはわからない今! すいまへん!!

Happy New Years

Shinnen Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!

Happy 2013 everyone! The year of the Snake.

"The coming 2013 year of the black Snake is going to be astute in observations and deft in actions. The Snake symbol of the 2013 year is an active, snaky and has a very seductive nature. The 2013 Snake of Kuei Szu year has ability to read complicated situation quickly in a controlled manner which is good for business. But 2013 Snake need to watch for fanatical commitments since Snakes inclination to spend money quickly than earn them may produce tensions in personal relationships."

Found that on http://www.gotohoroscope.com/chinese-zodiac-snake.html hope it helps with everyone's confusion. This year I have big plans and big projects coming up soon. Along with everyone else I do have a new year's resolution(s).

1. Loose more weight
2. Sing more
3. Don't change for others.

In 2012 I've lost 30lbs and could loose  a little more to look better.
I want to improve my voice even more, and
I don't wnna be a puppet for someone this year.

I hope I can go through with this - I think it's very reasonable. On the 30th I got to the Mochi Tsuki that was fun. Some other BIG news. In January I will be heading off to Maui to perform for the Shinnenkai as well as in March for the Matsudairyuu Dance Studio's recital. So busy year already!

Love you guys! Have a great one!

Shimizu Voice Christmas 2012

Still excuse me for not keeping everyone posted up on the events!
You know how it is during this time of the year, so hectic and so much more performances than normal.

Speaking about not normal, for the first time the Shimizu Voice studio has had their first Christmas recital, held at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai`i. Even though the theme was changed from Halloween to Christmas, it did not stop our Sensei (Craig Shimizu) from holding and unusual recital, filled with comedy in all languages from English to Japanese to French etc.

That is the one thing that makes Craig Shimizu different from any other vocal teachers on Hawai`i. He does not only teach Vocal training, but stage performance and showman-ship. He always makes his students do something other than just sing, from dancing / moving around to comedy etc.


This recital we had many comedy acts. One which really stuck out from all of which I have seen was the swimmers accompanied vocally by Colette Gomoto. Luckily I got to be a part of the craziness. We all had to wear tank-tops, swim caps, and goggles. All of that exercise to look good in that tank-top, did NOT show at all!

I also got to perform my original song "Koukai no Umi," (project coming up with that) lyrics by me (Hikariyama Torao) and arrangement by Craig Shimizu himself. My idea of the lighting in the audience did not turn out as well as it did in my head though, so the lighting is not too well..  

Finally - Amy Katsumoto (2012 Kzoo Grand Champion) got to sing her winning Kzoo song "Ai no Sanka," right before Sensei, along with Jeff Sato, and I closed the show with a small parody of Psy's Gangnam style. Odd right for a Japanese recital?

In the end I think this recital was really awesome and packed with so much comedy and variety - it was a shame that the Ajisai Karaoke Club's show was also the same day as our show. Oh well! hehe

Hope to hear from everyone soon!
  

Christmas almost here

Christmas is almost here already! next month! This year I am really in a Christmas mood, I've been watching a bunch of movies on Lifetime like everyday and just getting excited! This year I wanna decorate the entire house. This year Waikiki Trolley is doing this campaign thing about seeing Honolulu city lights, so I think grandma, maria, and I re all gonna go. My friend Elena might go as well, but one thing I know for sure; is that I'm going as an elf! Been working on my costume this month and thing it looks awesome! Grandma needs to help me sew on the gold onto the jacket though! So it's almost done but not quite there yet! Pretty soon! Anyways - just thought that I'd share this with everyone!

thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Hope everyone is having a great one! Not getting drunk and partying too hard! (joking!) This year we celebrated a little early because my family had to work on Thursday. Grandma usually goes all out for Thanksgiving with her Turkey dinner, well our was a lunch. She made so many things Turkey w/Gravy, Mac-salad,  Cranberry Sauce, this thing that I don't know the name but it's baked Yams with Marshmallow on it, and a whole bunch of other stuff! There is way too much to write down! I don't know how she does it! Oh the other thing was Ham!!! I LOVE HAM! (or any kind of pork) Hers had cherries on it! Oh the Ham was soooooooo delicious!

The most important thing though is what the meaning of the Holiday is. I am so thankful for my life. I mean this year has just been so awesome and will be one of the most memorable one. I finally got to go to Japan for the first time in May of this year with Amy and my Grandma, and got to go again for a Television show with Fuji Tv with my granny too! Amy got to Win Kzoo! Grandma was in the Hospital with diverticulitis and survived! So this year has been pretty awesome! I think it's because of the water dragon year! I recognize that there are some people who are less fortunate, my families prayers go out to them. I hope that they had a awesome Thanksgiving this year, and as always I hope everyone else is having a great week. Thanks for reading again everyone!

weight lose

Hey everyone! sorry been super busy with everything! 
Anyways this month I've been so crazy about losing weight because of project Shimizu Sensei has in-store for us. Actually my struggle to loose weight started when I was around 7 years old. I've always been big and tried for a while to loose weight, but nothing seemed to work.

Since summer of this year I have lost 20+ pounds! Super happy so far but still trying to loose more. All I want to do is loose 10 more pounds and then I'll be satisfied with how my body looks. So since I'm STARTING to get smaller what I want to start working on is muscle now.  Since I recently cut my hair short I really need to try and look slim, cause this hair cut makes me look bigger than I normally am. So trying to become healthier. It's not easy. I've been dieting (slacking off every now and then) and a lot of exercising almost everyday. Running, dancing, and a lot of cliché work outs have been working. One thing that really helped was that now since I've cut out Soda, Juices and Salt the fat kinda just melts off! I learned that Salt does retains water and doesn't help. I've been only drinking water, and feeling awesome! Just a little more needs to go! But will keep trying to make myself look better!!! 
Remember:  No such thing as failure - only attempts at success!!

Oh before I forget, ya'll could go look at my official site - just updated it: http://wix.com/toraos/tevitaapina/
thanks! Some updates are Shimizu Recital is on December 16 and I will also be on KSSK radio station on December 15 live with Perry and Price! Hope everyone is having a great week!!!

Kzoo Taikai 2012 *POINTS!*

Congratulations to Amy Katsumoto (Utagawa Akemi) for coming in Grand Champion in this year's Kzoo Taikai. Super happy we all get to go to Japan again Next Year! I've been so happy with my travels recently!

Here are the Points from Craig Shimizu Sensei.
GRAND CHAMPION:  Amy Katsumoto   "Ai No Sanka"   427 points

CHILDREN'S DIVISION
FIRST PLACE:       Naomi Sano  "Yell"  394 points
SECOND PLACE: Tegan Inoue  "Daite Kuretara Ii No Ni"   389 points
THIRD PLACE:     Nina Tanaka  "Okaeri"   382 points

TEEN DIVISION
FIRST PLACE:       Haley Sakamoto  "Half Moon Serenade"   409 points

SECOND PLACE:  Tia Inoue   "Tokai No Suzume"   401 points

THIRD PLACE:      Lydia Haff   "First Love"   395 points

ADULT DIVISION

FIRST PLACE:       Carolyn Shimamura    "Be Alive"   424 points

SECOND PLACE:  Fred Hokada     "Arigato...Kansha"   419 points

THIRD PLACE:      Emiko Bossian    "Mikazuki"    415 points

SENIOR DIVISION

FIRST PLACE:        Kiyoko Endo    "Murasaki No Mambo"    412 points

SECOND PLACE:  Tony Kimura    "Koi Suru Machikado"    411 points

THIRD PLACE:       Susan Muramoto-Willy    "Onna Minato Machi"   407 points

SUPER SENIOR DIVISION

FIRST PLACE:       Yoshito Hironaka  "Kampai"  398 points

SECOND PLACE:  Roy Nagamine  "Sake To Namida To Otoko To Onna"   392 points

THIRD PLACE:      Betsie Fukuda   "Sugi"    387 points

This year you can see how the Points were super close! 

The competition was awesome this year. I was so happy I got to be a guest singer this year! Recently Shimizu Sensei has been teaching me inhalare la voce, it's actually a singing technique where you inhale while singing, so that you don't strain your voice. The technique is actually very hard. Still trying my best to master it.

Will try my best to keep every one posted more on time now! Life has just been so hectic recently!  

I'm Home!

Sorry Guys I haven't been posting My Laptop that I normally use is broken right now and I'm using my tiny Netbook right now. It's to tiny and hard to use, but I just have to GAMAN and keep trying to work with it!

Anyways... the title might have thrown you off, cause not too many people knew that I was leaving for Japan. I just came back and I'm not aloud to say what I was there for, but I can tell you it was for a TV show. It was a show about foreigners who like Japan, so my group of coarse was Enka, the other two groups were Oda Nobunaga, and AKB48. There even was a special guest, Mikawa Kenichi! hehe But I didn't get the pictures yet from the company..

I met four really awesome Enka lovers from all over the World! Their names are Berma, Claudia, Maria, and Ashley. Berma was from Germany and he is very talented at singing and enka trivia, I as were we all! Claudia was from the UK and she's really great at singing and Monomane! Claudia could do monomane of Yashiro Aki, Misora Hibari, and even Akikawa Masafumi! Maria was from Peru, she was such a great singer, she even knew how to do the AKB48 dances too! Last but not last Ashley, she was from New York and she was awesome, her and I talked the most. She sang Sakamoto Fuyumi's Yozakura Oshichi and she is such a great singer! All of my new friends were so funny and we all loved Monomane too! I loved it so much, I didn't want it to end!

After the TV show shooting - Grandma and I went to Harajuku and Asakusa. We dragged all of our luggage with us, so it wasn't too fun trying to catch trains and hold our suitcases too...! hehe
Once I got back to Hawaii I was so sad, I miss Japan so much I don't ever wanan come back home. I cried and cried once I got back.

The funny thing though is while I was in Japan I missed Hawaii so much and once I got back I cried cried about how much I missed Japan.

Fukuoka-ken Jin Kai RKB in Hawaii

On September 16,2012 I got to perform for the RKB in Hawai`i A.K.A. Fukuoka-ken Jin Kai

I sang a Ishikawa sayuri song called "Uta no Kono Fushigi na mono."
Grandma and I didn't have a ride that day so we caught the bus, despite grandma'a stomach pains she still had since her surgery.

I'm glad we made it bad without getting hurt.

The event was a free event at Pacific Beach hotel and not too many people came unfortunately, but the other entertainment was excellent. Kzoo winners and division winners. Hula Halaus from Fukuoka and I even got to see my old Minyo group! Harada-kai!
Very nostalgic!

The food was great - featuring food from Fukuoka ken.

I enjoyed it and had fun!