It wasn’t until a trip returning to their father’s home-land of Okinawa in southern Japan as adults that Jory and Kaley Kinjo joined their musical forces on stage. Walking into every live music venue they could find, a spark was lit and the Kinjo Brothers came to fruition! Since their inception, the brothers have performed in live music venues and festivals across Canada and have returned to Southern Japan many times to perform, including a performance as a featured artist on the RBC stage during the Naha Matsuri in 2012 which was live broadcast across Okinawa on television and radio to an Island-wide audience. As well, in 2016 The Kinjo Bros were invited to perform at the 6th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival in Okinawa with popular group “Diamantes”. Kaley now currently resides partly in Japan and has collaborated with popular Japanese artists Alberto Shiroma, Diamantes, and Kazufumi Miyazawa. The Kinjo Brothers tour in Japan annually and are currently working on an album of English versions of popular Japanese songs.
Okinawan Connection
a famous little island
Okinawa is a sub-tropical island in Southern Japan that was an independent sovereign nation known as the Ryukyu dynasty until the mid 1800's. Okinawa is most well known for developing Karate, as well as for its distinct culture, music, beautiful beaches, longevity and its tragic role in World War II.
In the late 1800's my great, great Grandfather emigrated from the island of Okinawa to Canada with his 3 sons during a Japanese initiative exporting labor to many countries around the world. Him and his family made their way from Vancouver to Hardieville, in Southern Alberta. My Grandfather was born in Hardieville, AB and his family moved back to Okinawa when he was 6 years old. My Grandfather's Mother learned how to bake bread in Alberta and eventually taught my Grandfather, who took this skill back to Okinawa and started Kinjo Bakery that has been in operation there since 1952.