Kenji Nagatomi and the Tennessee Five
The Man, the Myth, the Legend. The Singing Cowboy of Kyoto since 1958.
Country Dream – All Japan Country Music Festival: Saturday, October 9 at Maruyama Park
Monday to Friday he is a dentist, then on Saturday night his bar Kenny’s on the floor above his clinic opens and he becomes Kenji Nagatomi and the Tennessee Five. Fiddle, pedal steel guitar, and now even banjo. I saw them play on Sunday on a big bandstand in front of City Hall during the Kyoto Festival. They often play at various festivals around town and further afield, including the Grand Old Opry in Nashville.
Kenji’s daughter Mari, a singer, will also perform with Nashville country harmonica legend Charlie McCoy, a frequent collaborator with Nagatomi.
Kenny’s is just north of subway Kuramaguchi at Karasuma-Shimei dori. (usually opens at 8 p.m., Â¥3000 cover includes 2 drinks.)
Any good? By the way, where do country bands play in Kyoto? I know it wouldn’t be like Texas but I can stand the kitch…
I am dumber than a bag of wet mice. I just realized you answered that question when i asked it a year ago. I really need to get around to checking those places out. First priority for October.
If they’ve played Grand ‘Ol Opry, they’ve got to be pretty good.
I’m also posting to say that I’ll be stealing the phrase “dumber than a bag of wet mice” for future use. Talk about poetic…
Nils
Great blog! I am a country music fan who has been following the Kansai country music scene for about 10 years. I have an ancient and error-heavy HP which I made many years ago and is now dormant but still has some of my pictures and writings. See
http://www.eonet.ne.jp/%7Efurm/docs/ctry_Japan.html
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