SPEED’s Shimabukuro Hiroko, Imai Eriko and Uehara Takako reunite at Okinawa Actors School for one night event

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SPEED’s Shimabukuro Hiroko, Imai Eriko and Uehara Takako reunite at Okinawa Actors School for a one night event.

Okinawans are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the reversion of Okinawa back to Japan (as part of the 1971 Okinawa Reversion Agreement with the USA). It was finalized on May 15, 1972.

Okinawa Actors School (known for producing top talents such as Amuro Namie, MAX, DA PUMP, SPEED, D&D, Folder, Chinen Rina) celebrated the anniversary at their one night event. Glad to see Imai Eriko and Uehara Takako as surprise guest alongside Shimabukuro Hiroko for a mini-SPEED reunion (minus Arakaki Hitoe who had to postpone) last night.

The night was also to show a boost of support for tourism as Okinawa was hurt by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Shimabukuro performed SPEED songs such as “AS TIME GOES BY” and with the third and final song being “Body & Soul”.

“I can’t sing this song alone! Eri-chan, Taka-chan!” Uehara and Imai then appeared with tremendous applause.

Uehara’s supple dance and Imai’s powerful singing voice are still alive, and the harmony between Imai and Shimabukuro echoes.

With the three of them shoulder to shoulder, both Uehara and Imai said “Thank you!” and left the stage.

The last time anyone has seen SPEED together was six years and four months ago.

A total of 79 people from seven groups performed, including Chinen Rina (41), Takamaki Chiharu (45) of “Kiroro” and a total of 41 songs were performed for three hours and 3,500 people were in attendance.

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