Haaaai, Irasshai!

NiceGuyJin

Meet Afropics, NoviGo and Eikaiwa Dave - all stars of the up and coming music group, Nice Guy Jin. Combining basic Japanese, catchy rap tunes and gaijin perspectives on traditional Japanese culture from onsens to natto, these Nice Guy Jins target many of the interesting aspects of Japan's culture that most gaijin are initially surprised with.

It definitely looks like we're going to be seeing a lot of these Afros this year here in Japan, with the recent successful release of their full length debut album, "All Stars." Not only was their first single, "Hai Irasshai," the theme song to Fuji TV's Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen-mae Hashutsujo, but the "Onsen Song" will also be featured in Konami, "Pop'n Music 12" in video game centers all throughout Japan.

Their music, NoviGo explains, is a celebration of Japanese culture through the eyes of a foreigner! "We love Japanese culture, food, music, and most of all, the people. We want to show how we see Japan through our music." Afropics adds, "Tokyo is one of the greatest cities in the world! It's full of energy and it's so creatively stimulating and my wife is Japanese. Half my family is Japanese. Each and every day we come to enjoy being here more and more!" Inspired by interesting and inspiring subjects during a typical day in Tokyo, Afropics explains, "We start writing down ideas (from there) and experiment with music in our studios."

Novigo, a former basketball player still very much active in exercise and nutrition, likes the Onsen Song the best as, "there's nothing more relaxing than a trip to the onsen." For Eikaiwa Dave, who recently has been taken by the art of Oyaji Gyagu (Old People's Jokes) and coined the name Nice Guy Jin, finds the Hai Irasshai! song as his favorite as, "It was our first song and it started it all. We also performed it live on Fuji TV's 'Waratte ii Tomo' and, it's in all karaoke boxes!"

Recently, they've finished making the new music video for the Nice Mega Mix. For these Nice Guy Jin's, "This album is a celebration of Japan and hope that the people of Japan enjoy it as much as we enjoy and appreciate living in Japan."

With its simple Japanese, funny perspectives on Japan and catchy tunes, Nice Guy Jin songs can indeed be an interesting addition to your mp3 players.

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