Kansas City Star, The (MO)
October 21, 2004
Page: 8
Soul and the Land of the Rising Sun Japan's R&B hit Kubota hopes U.S. audience grows
JENEE OSTERHELDT

Toshi Kubota has battled stereotypes since he was a teenager mimicking Stevie Wonder and the Stylistics.

Growing up in Shizuoka, Japan, at a time hip-hop and R&B was not as internationally renowned, it was way out of the ordinary to see a Japanese kid singing soul music - and doing it well.

His introduction to soul music wasn't through his parents, friends or on television. It was a poster hanging on the wall in his father's market that led to Kubota's love of soul music. The poster promoted a contest that promised a prize if you collected 24 bottle caps. So Kubota eagerly gathered caps from the floor but found only 15. Faced with a challenge, he waited for his parents to go to sleep and opened 10 bottles of soda so he could win the reward: a Stylistics album.

"There were five African-American men with huge Afros on the front," he remembers. "I didn't have a turntable, but a few years later I heard beautiful music on the radio, and the DJ said it was the Stylistics."

Years later, while performing at clubs in Tokyo, Kubota began to cut his demo. Launching his career in 1985 with "Shake It Paradise," Kubota went on to become a success in Japan. And 10 years later he came to the States and released his first all English album, "Sunshine, Moonlight."

His career continued to flourish in Japan, but in 2000 Kubota finally started getting buzz in American soul circles. His second English album, "Nothing But Your Love," paired him with soul music's heavy hitters like Raphael Saadiq, Angie Stone and ?uestlove of the Roots. Earlier this year Kubota released "Time to Share," a soulful album that could easily fit in any R&B lover's collection. Now he's the opening act for soul sensations Anthony Hamilton and Angie Stone. His hope is that this will be the album that gets American airplay.

"I want more songs on American radio and American television," Kubota says. "I would love to reach more people across the whole world, and I hope my message and my music would help to change stereotypes and make the world better."

But he admits that when he takes the stage, there is a hush over the audience and he hears whispers of people questioning his skills.

"Japanese guys singing soul music, it could be so strange for people," he says. "But I don't blame them. I hope the music will be bigger than the color and culture."
Once he opens his mouth to sing, audiences are no longer wary.
"By the end of the show they are clapping and screaming and dancing and grooving," Kubota says. "It's very amazing and I appreciate that they are so warm."

TONIGHT Toshi Kubota, Anthony Hamilton and Angie Stone perform at 8 tonight at the Midland Theatre; doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets ($38-$48) can be purchased at ticketmaster.com or (816) 931-3330. WHAT HE'S LISTENING TO Some of Kubota's influences & favorites: Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, Rick James, Mary J. Blige, D'Angelo, OutKast, Missy Elliott PREVIEW EXTRA To hear song clips of Toshi Kubota, go to Preview Extra on kansascity. com. Photo Kubota