"Melody Road" - plays Futami Jouwa
There's a stretch of Rte 331 up north that has grooves in the road which, if traveling at 40 kph, make your tires play this minyo.
It's a song that was written right after the war by a couple who had to leave their home in Itoman and migrated to the north as the battle raged.
Historical basis for some of Okinawa's folk songs.
YONAGUNI SHONKANE
Yonaguni Island folk song
There used to be a public official sent from the dynasty SHURI, and a woman from Yonaguni served him as his wife while he stayed in YONAGUNI. The song represents how sad she was when the official had to go back to SHURI. (Source: www.big.or.jp)
HATOMA BUSHI
Hatoma Island folk song
HATOMA nakamuri is the name of the highest hill in small island Hatoma.
The view from the hill is so beautiful, and the song is all about it. (Source: www.big.or.jp)
HATOMA NO MINATO
Hatoma Island folk song
HATOMA NO MINATO means 'the port of HATOMA'.
The harvest festival is held every year in Hatoma, and many people visits the island for the festival. People sing this song at the port when they see off the people who are leaving the island. (Source: www.big.or.jp)
KOHAMA BUSHI
Kohama Island folk song
KOHAMA is the island of only 16.6 km in circumference. The song praises its fertile soil that produces a bumper crops. (Source: www.big.or.jp)
YORUAMI BUSHI
Hateruma Island folk song
YORUAMI means night rain. The rice plants and millets used to be grown in large parts of HATERUMA Island , but the island always had a problem with dry weather. The song represents people's strong wish for rain. (Source: www.big.or.jp)
DENSA BUSHI
Iriomote Island folk song
Long time ago, some people were forced to settle down in the Uehara area in Iriomote and for that had to part from their family and friends. The song is said to be made by an official to encourage those settlers. (Source: www.big.or.jp)
BASHIMA
Iriomote Island folk song
BASHIMA means 'our islands' in Okinawa dialect. Chidori Narai is originally from Iriomote, and now vigorously plays in the mainland Okinawa. She said this song shows how much she loves her hometown Iriomote. (Source: www.big.or.jp)
KUROSHIMA KUDUCHI
The composition of the words of this song was very much influenced by that of Japan, which is very rare among Yaeyama folk songs. The KUROSHIMA KUDUCHI introduces interesting customs of KUROSHIMA, and it is one of the famous songs for Yaeyama folk dance. Instead of the classical version with samisen, this selection is arranged with synthesizer by MORIO. (Source: www.big.or.jp)
KUROSHIMA LOVE
The song was introduced in NHK TV program " Atarashii Okinawa no Uta" (New Okinawan Songs). (Source: www.big.or.jp)
ASATOYA BUSHI
Classical Taketomi folk song
ASATOYA KUYAMA is the name of woman used to lived in Taketomi. She was so beautiful and was asked to marry by a government official, but she rejected. The song praises her courage, and in other words, it shows the people's antipathy against officials. (Source: www.big.or.jp)
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A Dozen Nuchibana tunes on YouTube. Hole Hole Bushi
Song of Japanese Immigrants in Hawaii
The Okinawan Sanshin
Okinawa's Cafe
Relaxing instrumental mood music.
Approx. 22 minute recording I made that night in my village.
Click your BACK button to return to this page when finished listening.
Ayano Uema, from Uruma City, Okinawa. Official Website at http://columbia.jp/uemaayano/
Live Streaming FM Nirai Radio
Ocean Okinawa - beach music
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Updated: Apr 6, 2024
S.A. Mick McClary - Great Falls, MT
