The song "Neba Neba Natto" may never make the Japanese music charts, but it is becoming a classic of a sort. The song, by Nikkei Aloha, has a laid-back Hawaiian tempo and humorous lyrics paying homage to natto (fermented soybeans).
"Neba Neba Natto," along with with other memorably titled tracks, such as "Mama Chari and Me" and "Keitai Denwa Warui Denpa," are the creations of three assistant English teachers (ALT) in the JET program. The three hail from Hawaii and are presently based in Saitama Prefecture.
"When we first started playing together three years ago, we never imagined that we'd form a band and even produce our own CD," says Scott Agena, 27, the group's ukulele virtuoso.