Unk Dicko and Shigeto Takahashi...part 5.

Poor Shigeto....he and his 3 other colleagues were working very hard throughout the week. They had to travel to Johore Bahru on a company assignment for some work with a sunsidiary firm.

So, I did not hear from him until last evening when he called me on my mobile. They were proceeding to Terminal 3 Changi Airport for check-in before departure.

He sounded a little frantic as he wanted to return the ukulele to me.

I told him over the phone that the ukulele is not important but meeting up again is.

I drove up to T3 and the carpark at B1 and B2 were full. B3 had ample lots as I parked and took the lift to the Departure floor.

Shigeto-san was at Counter 3 waiting for me. We were both glad to be able to meet up again even briefly. He brought me over to introduce me to his other colleagues.

Photo:

Shigeto Takahashi and his colleagues

at T3 after checking in.

I asked if they still have time and they said yes. So, Shigeto started to play a couple of his signature tunes on the ukulele. It was lovely! Other travellers nearby were listening and watching intently at this impromptu performance.

I played some songs from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore as well...as he had not heard of then before.

Soon, his colleagues left for a drink and the 2 of us exchanged much info about ukulele playing, music, chords and working life.
The most important question that I asked him was this: " How many hours of practice do you put in daily?"

I wasn't surprised by his frank answer.

From 2002 onwards, he practised for a minimum 4 hours daily mainly on solo pieces and strums. We chatted and talked on and on while strumming on the uke. He recounted for me his wonderful experiences at the New York Ukulele Festival and meeting up with Da Silva...the founder of Da Silva brand of ukuleles.

And his playing at Yoshimite Nat Park..with Da Silva.

Soon, all good things must come to an end and we hugged and said SAYONARA to each other.

He told me to contact him the next time I'm in Tokyo...as he would like to bring me to a "Ukulele cafe"! He did not forget D2, my wifey, asking me to thank her for showing him around last Sunday.

Well Shigeto-san...Unk Dicko is most happy to have met you and count you as a friend.

All the very best on your performance and appearance at Sweden's Ukulele Festival next month!

You can be sure I'll be following the uploads on Youtube for that event!

Domo Arigato.

Unk Dicko and Shigeto Takahashi...part 4

While enjoying the after dinner stroll along the waterfront..raindrops started to fall. We decided to head back to my car parked at the B1 carpark.

While heading back to Pasir Panjang via Telok Blangah Road, traffic was very light. I was cruising and Shigeto played some of his memorable tunes posted on Youtube...seated beside me on the front seat. He was obviously happy to be holding and strumming a ukulele while enjoying his first night in lovely Singapore.

Somewhere along our leisurely drive, D2 pointed to a lighted up poster, requested me to pull over to the kerbside and asked Shigeto to take a closer look.

He did and exclaimed, " That's you....Dicko-san! " We came out to capture some snapshots with my camera. He was still strumming away.

After we passed by several more of such posters he said,

" You are famous Dicko-san!" I left all the explanations to D2...haha.

When we arrived at his hotel, he thanked us profusely for everything and for the night. Before we left, I took my ukulele and handed it to him...to keep him company since he did not bring any.

We promised to meet up again before his stay ends.

Unk Dicko and Shigeto Takahashi...part 3

Sunday 12 April 2009 -Esplanade Waterfront.

We sat down to enjoy our famous Singapore local fare ...delicious satay, Hokkien mee and Oyster omelette. Leaving D2 and Shigeto at the table, I went to get some drinks. There was a cold drink stall at the last left row. When it was my turn to order a voice suddenly exclaimed, " Hello...Mr Yip sir! ". It was the stall assistant's voice, a young man below 20. I recognised him immediately as one of the many, many former students whom I had cajoled and counselled to keep to the straight path.

He was delighted to see me but I was even more delighted than him...knowing that he is gainfully working and looking happy too. The lady boss who is Chinese asked him," So he's really your former teacher ah? "

"Yes", he answered her.

Then turning to me she asked," How's he?"

Me: " He's very good. You can depend on him. "

That brought many smiles all around...including other customers waiting behind me.

I bought 3 can of drinks. I counted the change lady Boss gave me. The price was clearly listed.

"Hey...you gave me too much change", I said.

Lady Boss: " No...for you special. You're his former teacher!"

I was flabbergasted! I thought the traditional healthy respect for teachers had gone down the drain in this new age.

At least I now know that at the Waterfront I can count on an ordinary citizen like Lady Boss with a genuine respect for teachers like unk Dicko. Thank you, Lady Boss and my former student as well. You have both made my day...no, I mean my night! Unk Dicko will remember for sure.

When I came back with the drinks I recounted briefly the incident to D2 and Shigeto. They lightened up. Shigeto wanted to know what I used to teach. Mainly sports as well as other subjects too.

He told us his company in Japan has sent him here to conduct some productivity training for an industrial company here and in JB.

After dinner, we went strolling along the waterfront and the Singapore River with the beautiful city skyline behind us. He saw the Merlion. It was a distance away so we decided not to walk there.

Unk Dicko and Shigeto Takahashi...part 2

We met at the foyer of Pasir Panjang Inn. Shigeto was really glad to see me in person. D2 captured these scenes.

Before we took off for the Esplanade, I brought out my ukuleles from the car and handed the Kamaka to Shigeto. Here we were...fine tuning the ukes before we strummed around. He told me he like the sounds of the Kamaka.

This is a very good example of two perfectly total strangers from two perfectly different countries starting a friendship that is bonded strongly by our common passion for the simple ukulele....and for music.

At the Esplanade:

We came upon this pretty setting with suspended lanterns and lampshades with a multitude of shapes and colours

This was just before we had a late dinner at the Waterfront.

Unk Dicko hosts SHIGETO TAKAHASHI..top Japanese Uke Player

This Youtube video shows Shigeto Takahashi playing the ukulele at Mt Fuji, Japan. Shigeto happens to be one of the very Top Ukulele player from Japan currently. He has taken part in Ukulele Festivals in Portland,USA and elsewhere. Unk Dicko is honoured to have met up with him on Sunday 12th April 2009...here in Singapore. How did it happen?

On 23 March 2009, Shigeto visited this blogsite and left a comment at the end of my post dated 18 Oct 2008, titled" My Ukuleles and me ". He located me from Ukuleles Players Worldwide com... a registry of ukulele players worldwide. He and unk Dicko are members. I am the only ukulele player from Singapore listed in this site. Click here to see my page listing. You can read his comments and the post here. He included as his contact a link to his Youtube homepage. I visited the page and the video above and many others are posted there. He is a truly gifted and excellent ukulele player with a style of his own. He has produced his own CDs too.

In the 3 weeks that followed we corresponded by email. He told me he would be coming to Singapore on 12 April 09 on a work assignment for about a week. He's an engineer by profession. Originally, he wanted some recommendation of where to look for good Peranakan (Nonya) food. He has never been to Singapore before. And we have both never met, of course. I told him to call me as soon as he has checked into his hotel and I would be his Singapore host. On Sunday, he flew into Changi Airport safely on S'pore Airlines and was accomodated at Pasir Panjang Inn. D2 accompanied me as I drove up to meet him at the Inn.

Shigeto-san is a most unassuming "young" man. He's 32 and still single. We introduced ourselves warmly in the foyer and he gave me his personal CD as a gift. D2 asked if he had eaten and he was frank...not only no, but he was famished! I suggested we leave right away for the bright lights and good food. Just before entering my car, I opened the boot and showed him my Kamaka Ukulele. Handing it over to him, I said, " let's go...I drive and you play!" He did not bring along his ukulele as it was a working trip. So...he was really happy to be strumming on my Kamaka. Within the confines of the car the sounds of his playing was heavenly. We cruised along the highway towards the Esplanade, parked and proceeded to a well-known Peranakan restaurant there. " Sorry sir, we are closing" said the doorman. It was about 9.30 pm. At a nearby Thai Restaurant it was the same thing.

No problem. In Singapore there will always be food open 24 hours... like the Esplanade Waterfront Food Centre. We were very fortunate as although the place was crowded we managed to find an empty table. Shigeto enjoyed the big prawn Hokkien mee, Oyster Omelette( Or-luak) and satay I ordered. Over this late dinner, we ate and chatted and shared our work and music experience. He related how he started on the ukulele at age 16 and was taught by a lady teacher. He was curious about how I was hooked too. When I said 1963 was the year I began playing...he responded..."long before I was born!"