Wiza Roza makes his rounds in reggae country

Japanese entertainer Wiza Roza has invested the past month getting trained in the art of performing the Jamaican genres in Kingston.

Already well-versed in dance, comedy, mixing and recording music in Osaka, Japan, where he was born and raised in the southern central region of Kansai, the entertainer said, "The only thing I have to do is catch more information from the right people in the right place - Rasta and reggae country."

It is not his first time visiting Jamaica. In the early 2000s, Wiza Roza came to the island to focus on dancehall education by making his rounds at studios and street parties.

However, he soon relocated to the United States to learn English and martial arts, then returned to his home in 2005 to create a name for himself.

"In Japan, we love reggae and dancehall," Wiza Roza said during a spontaneous interview during the carnival road march in Jamaica on Sunday.

Word about the entertainer's Jamaican-influenced music spread like wildfire, and his popularity as one of Osaka's underground artistes grew.

He has interacted with a diverse group of local entertainers, ranging from dancehall's Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, and Chi Chi Ching to reggae's Big Youth and Earl 'Chinna' Smith.

On this, his latest trip to Jamaica, he has reconnected with some of the artistes, but he is also turning up to dance classes like those held at Dancehall Hostel.

"Now my friends and I love the Jamaican music and bacchanal music. I chose Bacchanal road march because I went to its J'Ouvert party, and it is nice," he said. "I supposed to come Jamaica in carnival time to catch information on this music, too."

Some of Wiza Roza's music combines Japanese and English, such as Brazileiro, recorded for his first EP released more than a year ago.

The song is catchy but may call for persons to press the rewind button because of his distinctive accent, which also affects him when competing in sound clashes.

He has a large collection of dancehall music, the most popular recorded on the 'Bounce Suh' rhythm created by Starstruck Records and another single titled Dancehall in my Hotel on the 'Money Mix' rhythm by Good Good Productions, which he names as one of his prized productions.

This time around, he is hoping to gain enough knowledge on reggae to record more music for the genre.