[Eisa] A roundup of classic and popular songs—perfect for sports day!

Dynamic RyukyuIkuma Akira

Dynamic Ryukyu / Akira Ikuma

Akira Ikuma from Fukuoka made his CD debut in 1990 as the vocalist of the funk band E-ZEE BAND.

After the band disbanded, he released “Dynamic Ryukyu” in 2008 exclusively in Okinawa.

Issued as a single, the song became a hit in Okinawa and gained widespread popularity, being frequently used in Eisa performances.

It drew renewed attention in 2017 when Sendai Ikuei High School used the track as a cheer song at the Summer Koshien tournament, and it remains a staple cheer song for high school baseball today.

This song, which expresses gratitude for nature such as the earth and the sea, continues to be covered by a variety of artists.

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nikki

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Eisa: Wind of Ryukyu

Eisa: Wind of Ryukyu

This work, created so that children can enjoyably experience Eisa—Okinawa’s traditional performing art—is included on the album “2011 Victor Sports Day 4,” released by Victor Entertainment in 2011.

Its appeal lies in dynamic choreography where children dance with paranku hand drums to powerful taiko beats and exciting calls.

As a staple for group performances at school sports days, why not use this song to present an energetic Eisa performance?

Islanders’ TreasureBEGIN

BEGIN / Shimanchu nu Takara (From Okinawa: Uta-biraki! Uta no Hi Concert 2016 in Kadena [Uta no Hi Concert])

“Shimanchu nu Takara,” sung by BEGIN, a band from Okinawa, is a famous song that puts into words the feelings of junior high school students living on Ishigaki Island.

Released in 2002 as their 23rd single, it was also used as the image song for NHK’s TV program commemorating the 30th anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan.

Since traditional Eisa chants are originally included in the lyrics, it’s common for an Eisa troupe to join in during live performances.

If you dance Eisa to “Shimanchu nu Takara” while uniting your voices with your friends, it’s sure to be an amazing performance!

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Hamada Takuya

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My heart is pounding with excitement.Kochinda Takane

Sports Day Eisa: Choreography & Commentary ‘Chimudondon-don’

This work, whose title in the Okinawan dialect means “heart racing” or “feeling excited,” is one of Takane Kochihira’s signature songs in his musical career.

It’s a bright, rhythmic piece that brilliantly fuses elements of Okinawan folk music with pop, featuring an impressive, dynamic melody woven by the sound of the sanshin and a full band.

While honoring Okinawa’s traditional music, its contemporary arrangement brings out a fresh appeal, making it an ideal track for Eisa dances performed at school sports festivals.

Milk MunariHii de Katsu

[Okinawa LIFE] 2021 Eisa - Ryukyu Koku Matsuri Daiko - Mirukumunari Edition - Special Version - Full

Released in 1993 by Okinawan musician Hidekatsu, “Mirukumunari” is a traditional Eisa number that flows through the genes and spirit of the people of Okinawa.

The title “Mirukumunari” is a coined word combining “Miruku,” derived from the Buddhist bodhisattva Miroku (Maitreya), and “Namri,” meaning dance in Indonesian.

It is characterized by a spacious, majestic rhythm and melody.

The lyrics are sung in the dialect of Taketomi Island in the Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa, and it is said that even people from Okinawa’s main island find them difficult to understand.

The song’s content offers thanks to Maitreya, a deity of nature, for a bountiful harvest of crops.

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Across timeHY

Todaiji Temple Music Stage - Transcending Time - HY - 2010/11/03 - Eisa - World Heritage

This is a song that HY created with heartfelt care, inspired by the lessons on the preciousness of peace passed down from grandparents who experienced war.

By incorporating traditional instruments such as the sanshin and eisa drums, along with English chorus parts, the piece achieves a modern arrangement.

It was included on the album “Whistle,” released in January 2010, and later selected as the theme song for an NHK documentary in August of the same year.

By adopting it as an eisa performance piece, it becomes a work that conveys the importance of peace through traditional performing arts.

It is also ideal for children’s performances at sports days and is used as educational material to share Okinawan culture and prayers for peace.

Voice of the Seaurashima tarō (kiritani kenta)

Voice of the Sea, Eisa, Ryukyu Dance Troupe, Shoryu Festival Drums

A warm, folk-style ballad where the sound of the traditional Okinawan instrument sanshin blends with gentle vocals.

While attuning to the many sounds of nature, it tenderly sings of feelings for a loved one.

Composed by BEGIN’s Masaru Shimabukuro with lyrics by au commercial planner Makoto Shinohara, it became a gem of a song that highlights Kenta Kiritani’s strengths.

Released in July 2015 as the theme for au’s “Santaro Series” commercials, it is included on the album “Kanon.” The song won the Excellence Award at the 2016 Japan Record Awards.

Incorporating it into an Eisa performance at a school sports day is sure to create a heartwarming, peaceful atmosphere.