Music

It doesn’t take long to realize the deep and abiding love that Okinawans have for melody and rhyme. Whether the style is rock, hip-hop, classical, soul, ska, punk, country, rap or classical Ryukyu court music, the people of the Ryukyu Islands have always found solace in music.

One special type of local melody can be found in the heart of almost all Okinawans regardless of age— music called shimauta, or “island music.” Shimauta has offered comfort to the people of Okinawa during excruciatingly difficult times, augmented joyous occasions such as weddings and festivals, and provided amusement to accompany long summer evenings for countless generations.

It is said that Okinawan song was first put into writing between the mid-15th to 16th centuries in a compilation called the Omorososhi. The original collection consisted of more than 1,000 folk and court songs and was very diverse in content. It was written under court supervision and the content was originally only intended for use during formal occasions and rituals.

Modern times have brought many changes to Okinawan music. The most obvious evolution is the increased use of the Japanese language in verse, as opposed to the use of Okinawan dialect in modern compositions.

However, the original songs of the Omorososhi are kept pure and are still performed at formal functions such as weddings. Among the most popular Omorososhi pieces heard today are the Gujinfu, which consist of five famous traditional Ryukyu songs originally played only for the king and visiting dignitaries. The first and most popular of the five is known as Kagiyadefu. Kagiyadefu was always the first song performed when Gujinfu was played. Today, the song is played at traditional Okinawan weddings and celebrations.

Modern Okinawan music has, of course, changed with the times, heavily influenced by the postWWII American presence on the island. However, one thing hasn’t and will probably never change: music still permeates the souls of the people on Okinawa.