In 1945 and ’46 my Father, Jorma Sr., found himself a young Naval officer attached to an Army military intelligence unit with General MacArthur’s staff. As a first generation American born in this country, Dad was already something of a linguist. His first language was Finnish, then English taught at the Carnegie Library in Ironwood, Michigan. As a thirteen year old, the Kaukonen family moved to East L.A., Lincoln Heights to be exact… so his next language was Spanish. His younger brothers were combat vets, Tarmo in North Africa and Italy and Pentti in the Pacific, winding up in the Philippines. Dad was a little older and he had to jump through hoops in order to enlist. they sent him to the Navy Language School in Ann Arbor an he learned Japanese. (Before Dad went home for the last time, he would master Urdu, Tagalog and Swedish.)
After the fire bombing of Tokyo, there was little left standing save plumbing and iron safes. Dad and his buds would sift through the ashes of the city and crack safes to see if there were any relevant documents inside and at night they were billeted with Douglas MacArthur’s guys at the Grand Hotel in Yokohama. (Interestingly enough, still standing.) When I was here with Hot Tuna in 1997, that’s where we stayed.
Evening in Yokohama
After an eleven an a half hour flight from Denver, we arrived in Narita welcomed by a gentle Spring rain. A couple hours later after checking into the hotel in Yokohama, we took a walk to find an eatery.
A ramen shop... yeah buddy!
A simply delicious bowl of Ramen an some Gyoza! A man’s gotta eat.
Jack, Douglas our promoter, myelf an Myron Hart... yummy
Floto by unknown waitress.
It’s 0100 here in Japan… thirteen hours and a day off from Ohio time. I’m awake… obviously. Hmm. how did that happen? I figured I’d answer some emails, update my blog and see if I can get back to sleep. Today is a bona fide day off so I’m going to walk around the port. Tomorrow we play Thumbs Up here in Yokohama. In 1997 Hot Tuna did a live recording here (Hot Tuna, Live In Japan) at a little club called Stoves which is owned by the guy who also owns Thumbs Up.
We’re looking forward to a great couple of weeks here, and we’re going to keep all of you in the loop.
Sayonara
Hey Greg:
I only just now saw your comment.
That Ray/Jorma hoe down is a good idea.
It speaks to the comment, posted on another, recent blog-post; about how Ray’s songs can give the feeling of nostalgia for places ,to people that have never been there — they only need to hear the songs and are brought to those places.
“Muswell Hillbillies” is the ultimate example.@Greg Martelli
Great referance and long forgotten -Hoagies – cranky old yank..
Another interesting allusion to musical taste ;Ray Davies the quintessential , mussewell hillbilly & Hot Tuna , let’s bring Ray to Miegs county for a hoe down.
This is the age of machinery. !!!
Dear Jorma,
Live in Japan playing now as I write this!
I
Just to move a little off topic here, a while back I’d asked Jorma about the Ovation guitars he played year ago and he responded that they were long gone, etc. In today’s news here in Connecticut it was announced that Ovation guitars will cease manufacturing guitars this summer. These guitars were the brain child of Charles H. Kaman who also manufactured helicopters.
‘Live in Japan’ is one of my fav albums. Have some fun in the Land of the Rising Sun. Stay away from sushi and sashimi. Safe travels.
Yokahama, hello!
Jorma-san:
Be on the look-out for “Yoshi”:
He’s a big Jorma/Hot Tuna/Ray Davies/Kinks fan.
Hey, Carlo:
Across the great divide:
You and I are here, via cyberspace, at the same place, same time!
Hi Carlo!
Jorma and Jack/ Tuna will:
“Keep on rockin (them) baby!”@carlo pagliano
Extremely beautiful Dan Hicks and Jorma Kaukonen!
Winsome duet.
Thank You Jorma!
Jack & Jorma-sama are gonna rock Yokohama
Rock Them All Real High Tonight Jorma!
Maybe you fellers have time to whip up Hoagy’s “I’m a Cranky Old Yank in a Clanky Old Tank on the Streets of Yokohama with my Honolulu Mama Doin’ Those Beat-o, Beat-o Flat-On-My-Seat-o, Hirohito Blues.” But maybe not, too. Safe travels!
Stevie
Glad you made it! I remember the whole story about Stoves. I’m playing Live in Japan at work today in honor of Hot Tuna! Looking forward to the set lists and pictures. Onward!
Sher sounds some fun pickin’ awaits….and eatin’ and sightseein’
Play it Purty for Yokahama guys !!