Okinawan folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes: the heart of our hometown passed down through song.
Doesn’t Okinawan music have a unique vibe that many people love?
In Okinawa, a distinct culture has been nurtured over a long period of time.
As a result, the unique resonance of the Ryukyuan scale combined with lyrics in the Okinawan dialect gives the music a charm unlike any other.
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of folk songs and children’s songs that have been passed down from adults to children for generations in Okinawan music.
Listen to the songs we’re about to share, and carry on the spirit of Okinawa in song yourself.
- [For Children] Recommended Nursery Rhymes and Traditional Children’s Songs to Sing in April
- [Ryukyuan Music] Folk and Classical Music of the Ryukyu Islands
- [Traditional Performing Arts of Okinawa] A special feature on classic Eisa songs that make you want to dance
- Ranking of Popular Folk Songs
- Fukuoka’s folk songs and children’s rhymes: History and sentiments conveyed by the nostalgic melodies of home
- Children’s Songs You Can Sing in August: Summer-Friendly Kids’ Songs and Fingerplay Rhymes
- [Sea Nursery Rhymes] Fun children's songs themed around the sea
- [Parenting] Parent-child bonding! Hand-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes collection
- Recommended children's songs and hand play songs for October! Music time in childcare that feels like autumn.
- [Folk and Children's Songs of Hokkaido] Songs of Hokkaido that continue to be loved across generations
- Nostalgic Children’s Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes: The Heart of Japan Passed Down Through Song
- Nursery rhymes I want to sing in July: fun summer songs
- Beautiful Folk Songs Passed Down in Miyagi Prefecture: A Collection of Masterpieces that Play the Heart of the Hometown
Okinawan folk songs, children's songs, and nursery rhymes: The heart of our hometown passed down through song (61–70)
DanjukaruyushiTsunami Tsunenori
“Danju Kariyushi” is a word used by the people of Okinawa, surrounded by the sea, to pray for the safety of those setting out on voyages—something like a word of spiritual power.
It was believed that by speaking aloud a phrase with the nuance of “This is very auspicious!!,” it would become reality.
The melody starts slowly and gradually speeds up, evoking the image of a ship sailing smoothly.
It is the departure jingle used at Omoromachi Station on the Okinawa Urban Monorail.
Nakazun Nagare
“Nuchijunnaagari” is pronounced “Chunjun Nagari,” and it’s a traditional Okinawan folk song often used in Eisa performances.
Its appeal lies in an energetic vibe that gradually lifts your spirits as you listen.
The melody employs the distinctive tonal character of Okinawan folk music, giving it an oriental atmosphere you won’t find in other regions.
If you listen to it on a clear day while gazing at the distant sky, the surrounding scenery and the imagery of the song are likely to match beautifully!
In conclusion
We introduced plenty of Okinawan folk songs and children’s songs.
Each piece has that distinctive Okinawan sound, and just by listening, you can picture Okinawa’s scenery—the beautiful sea and sky, and its warm-hearted people, right? By listening to these songs that have been passed down from adults to children for generations, we can carry them on to the next generation.