Quick Stats:
The First Taste   As a child, the only songs I knew were a random blend of modern American music and traditional Chinese folk songs. It wasn't until high school that I began to learn about Japanese Music, a brand of music known universally as "J-Pop" and associated with the likes of Utada Hikaru and Hamasaki Ayumi. So I listened to a few tracks by the most well-known singers (as far as a novice like me could know who was popular), and for the most part, I liked them. But it's often been my experience that what is most popular isn't always what is most moving or thought-provoking, or even what is very good. So I kept looking.

I remember visiting Luis Guerra's long-standing Cycling Anime-JPop MP3 site and listening to a song with an intriguing title, "kiss in the dark". It was the theme song of a game I'd never played before, "Eretzvaju", and sung by a vocalist I'd never heard of before, "Okui Masami". But as I listened to the first stanza, the second stanza, the chorus... I've come to realize that there are two types of great music. One type needs time to grow on you; you have to listen to it a few times before you begin to really love it. The other type of "great music" immediately, physically grabs you on your first listen, and in some point during your first time through, you suddenly recognize it as the makings of great music. For me, "kiss in the dark" was the second type: in some instant between the 2nd and 3rd lines of the chorus, I suddenly realized, recognized, that this was a great song.

I found more great music. "Rondo-revolution" from La Fillette Revolutionnaire Utena, and "Get along" from Slayers. (Incidentally, I initially thought the "better singer" in "Get along" was Hayashibara Megumi and developed a good deal of respect for her; it wasn't until later I realized who the "better singer" really was and learned to respect both of them!)

The First Course  On my first (and only) venture to an anime convention, FanimeCon '00 on the West Coast, I spent most of my time in the crowded and eye-boggling dealer's room. While milling around, I heard an unfamiliar song blaring from the loudspeakers sung by a now-familiar voice. I made a beeline for the loudspeaker, asked the nice man behind the display table what was being played, and he answered, "'naked mind' from Slayers. Masami Okui." I loved it, loved the song, knew I would certainly like many other songs by this fantastic singer. So I took the CD the nice man had handed me to look at ("the BEST of SLAYERS [from TV and Radio]"), bought it then and there, and have not regretted my purchase (or later purchases) ever since.

The Full Feast  With every new song I hear from this dexterous singer, lyricist, and songwriter, I come to better understand the extent of her considerable skill and devotion to music. Her singing voice is distinct and unmistakably awesome, capable of being soft and soothing or powerful and driving at the right times; but whether in the studio or on a live stage, it always shines with astonishing clarity and control. Her music covers a nice range of styles and moods and shows a intelligent evolution over time, developing from the tin-can 80's style synth found in some of her earliest singles into the upbeat, pleasant light rock style that prevails today. Equally broad in its range are the lyrics of her songs, the great majority of which Okui Masami writes herself; play on words and unconventional Japanese (and English!) are never out of the question. Best of all, the lyrics are often energetic and inspiring, hopeful in a way that is far too rare with other lyricists. Some of her best songs move you--whether to action or to tears--as much with their words as with their melody.

I have yet to explain the origins of this website. I've found a curious and perplexing dearth of fansites in English devoted to Okui Masami and her music. Thus I wrote okui-masami.net in the hopes that it might be able to help you become better acquainted with this singer, her music, and her passion. Thank you for visiting, and please take advantage of the translations and information that are featured here. Thank you for reading this very long blurb, and please enjoy!

~Teresa Ko
okui-masami.net