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Zulu King Tone

Posted Jul 11 2007

I was connected to Tone through a mutual friend back in the states, who described him as a teacher and activist in the Japanese hip hop community (he heads up the local Zulu Nation chapter). During our initial meet up we wandered around Tokyo’s Shibuya district, sampling good Indian food, and sharing drinks at the Gaspanic bar. It quickly came apparent that hip hop aside, he had a lot of interesting insights and perspectives. We agreed to meet up again and do a formal interview. However, due to both of our schedules, we weren’t able to meet until the night before I left. We ended up with a group of folks so our interview turned into a discussion. I threw in some questions when I could, but my companions were so interested in Tone’s perspective that I sat back and did a lot of listening. It’s not everyday one meets a Brooklyn-born Latino/West Indian who’s made his home in Asia! Most of the questions were asked by myself, Ron, and Toni. Gotta give credit where credit’s due! I had a million more questions. Since Tone’s a teacher, DJ, activist, expatriate, and person of color, there were a number of directions that we could’ve went. Alas, time wasn’t on our side. Here are some highlights from our conversation. Hopefully, there will be more to come! At the end of this article check out responses from students at Oakland Unity High School.

I am really interested about life in Japan. These past few days in my history class our teacher Daniel Zarazua has been teaching our class more about Japanese. For me, as a Mexican coming from México and having so many struggles here in America, it has been really interesting learning more about Japan since I found that we have things in common. We like the same music and have some of the same preferences in food. During these past days I have been reading and looking at different articles, watching videos, pictures, newspapers and magazines that help me understand more about their life and culture.

I read this article where my teacher Daniel Zarazua, Ron, and Toni are making an interview and the interview turns into a discussion. This caught my attention even more. Maybe it was more interesting because I know one of the interviewers, who is my teacher. I have a better image of how life is really like and all the different opportunities that an outsider has in order to survive there. I know that in the interview you guys brought really interesting point from politics to business. I have a personal question to ask though. In my case, being a Mexican woman struggling here in America, how many opportunities would I have going to Japan and studying more about their music? I know that much of the music that is been sold out there is Latino rap from famous sureño rappers like Mr. Shadow, Mr. Capone and Latin pop from Selena, Thalia, etc. Also popular is Hip-Hop coming from real famous African Americans like Snoop Dog, 50 Cent, Omarion, etc. and so many other artists. This is the point that is most interesting for me.-Deisy C.

When I looked up Zulu King Tone I found an article by our own Mr. Zarazua. The beginning of this article was just mostly about how Mr. Zarazua met up with Mr.Tone and all the things they went thorugh, such as their schedule difference and locations.

From this interview I learned many things, but what got my attention the most was what Mr. Zarazua was talking about in class, about how you can leave your wallet at the bar or in another crowded place and some one would nicely put it to the side and return it afterwards. I thought that many of these things were very familiar but even though that was true, I learned more. For example, I learned about the "Unity Ride" and about a guy named William Rodriguez who works with the 911 Truth Commission. I learned that he was there when the 911 attack happened.

I also learned that Unity high students can really contribute with others in the world by just reading a simple interview that can inform us about many other things happening.-Lesslie V.

1 Comment

1. Roman B. said at June 12, 2008 11:11 pm:

The first thing that comes to mind is, I can't believe black people are accepted in suck a homogenous society. It's really great to know that there are some black people in Japan working. Shows us brothas that anything is possible if you can dream it. And I dream big and teaching in Japan is one of my dreams. And to see that a black man teaching in Japan and just being able to take in Japanese culture is just wild. I would love to do what Zulu King Tone does, I read about the Nova program but that's only part of it. What could be more exciting than living in a Foreign country and being around so much more than the average man.

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