Charlie Nagatani is a legend. Not just in Japan but also in the US, since, through his 60+ career in country music , he has gained honorary citizenship in 33 U.S. states, met two American presidents, been recognized as an official Kentucky Colonel, won awards and medals from various peace and cultural societies and, perhaps the most prestigious item on the list for a country star, earned membership as a performer at the Grand Ole Opry, the iconic heart of country music located in Nashville, Tennessee (source: Japan Times). Furthermore, Good Time Charlie, his bar in Kumamoto, has been providing a portal to rural America for decades for the fans of his and his band, Charlie and the Cannonballs, while being one of the main sources of income for him and his family. “Far Western” explores his life, history and current situation, along with a number of other Japanese country and bluegrass musicians, fans, and venue owners, through a captivating history that begins just after World War II.
In that fashion, we learn how the FEN (Far East Network) broadcast country music shows like the Grand Old Opry, in Japan just after the war, in essence planting the roots for a number of youths that would make the particular music one of the key elements of their whole life, even in an environment that was hostile to both musicians and anything pro-US. As we listen to artists like The Ozaki Bros (the first bluegrass band in Japan), Masuo Sasabe and Blueside of Lonesome, Juta Sagai, Kazuhiro Inaba, and Toru Mitsui, the foremost musicologist on American country music in Japan, talking about their lives and the way they got to know and embrace music, a number of rather intriguing portraits start unveiling. The trips to America a number of those artists took at the time are particularly interesting, especially for the way they managed to connect with their American “comrades” and as a testament to the fact that music knows no borders.
Furthermore, the documentary deals with the artists on a more personal level, as we learn of their relationships with their siblings and their spouses, and the way their dealing with American music affected them. The numerous live performances in various venues, both in the US and in Japan, are the main source of entertainment for the documentary, with Matt Leach's editing placing those scenes in key moments, that help the flow of the narrative significantly, in an overall quite convincing work. The juxtaposition of footage with interviews also works quite well, with James Payne allowing his “subjects” to shine through their words, while David McMurry's camera allows the same to happen to their overall appearance, with the images of Japanese wearing cowboy boots and hats being as unusual as it is intriguing.
Expectedly, “Far Western” is filled with country and bluegrass music, and a certain knack for the category is essential to enjoy the film. For those who do though, the documentary will prove a real treat.
