Oki (musician)

Oki Kano (加納 沖, Kanō Oki), known professionally as OKI, is a Japanese musician of Ainu ancestry. He was born in Hokkaido, and grew up in Kanagawa Prefecture.[1] He studied industrial arts at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. His father, Bikki Sunazawa, was a renowned wood sculptor. Oki uses the tonkori, an Ainu stringed instrument, in his performances and mixes traditional Ainu music with reggae, dub and other styles of world music. He also plays guitar and traditional Ainu percussion instruments.

OKI
Oki performing with the Oki Dub Ainu Band, 2007
Background information
Birth name	Oki Kano (加納 沖, Kanō Oki)
Born	1957 (age 63–64)
Origin	Kanagawa, Japan
Genres	Ainu, Dub, Reggae, Rock, Afrobeat
Instruments	Tonkori
Years active	1999–present
Associated acts	Umeko Ando

Oki performs frequently in Japan, and he has also taken part in a number of folk music festivals in other countries. In 2006, he released the album Kíla & Oki with the Irish band, Kíla. His earlier solo albums include collaborations with the female Ainu singing group Marewrew, who sometimes appear in his live show as well. More recently, he has played with his own Oki Dub Ainu Band, which plays mostly traditional Ainu songs in an electric style which mixes dub rhythms with tonkori playing. During live concerts, he either plays with the Dub Ainu Band or as a solo acoustic act, singing and playing the tonkori.