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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>I also noticed the use of the Okinawan scale in
some of the music of Spirited away, but rather than assign it a specific meaning
(Okinawa) I think it's probably used more generally to sound vaguely familiar
and yet exotic at the same time. Although the traditional Japanese pentatonic
scale has pretty much disappeared from popular music, it still should sound
familiar (or "Japanese") to listeners in Japan. The Okinawan version
of the pentatonic scale (Ryukyu-cho) is the same, but with a flattened fifth (a
blue note) that is enough to displace it from the familiar. That's probably all
that's going on there. Jazz pianist/composer Fujii Satoko has used Ryukyu-cho to
similar, very cool, effect in her "South Wind" ensemble
music.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>I don't think the Hot Spring resort is supposed
to look Chinese, either....</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>(Among the spirits patronizing the resort there
is a brief glimpse of a Kachina, though.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>David Hopkins</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>