[Traditional Performing Arts of Okinawa] A special feature on classic Eisa songs that make you want to dance

Pa-pa PineappleNagopainappurupāku

Papa Pineapple Dance Eisa Full Version (3 minutes)

This song from Nago Pineapple Park, featuring a bright melody packed with tropical cheer and a pop rhythm, is a refreshing track that seems to capture the sparkle of the Okinawan sun in music.

Released in 2013, it was recorded in four languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.

In December 2024, it evolved even further with a new music video featuring FC Ryukyu’s dance team, “Gyakushū no BOMBERZ.” It’s a perfect fit for school sports festivals, Eisa performances, and group routines, with energetic choreography and an addictive chorus that make it ideal for everyone to have fun moving together.

Kankara Sanshin UmushirumunBEGIN

Kankara Sanshin Umushirumun

Just hearing the cheerful sound of the sanshin makes your heart start to dance.

In the lyrics, the three strings are likened to a family—the father, the mother, and the children—humorously singing about them blending together in harmony.

You can almost feel the excitement of waiting for Okinawa’s summer Eisa festivals and even hear the sounds of a laid-back life; simply listening brings a smile to your face.

This piece is included on the classic album “Begin no Shimauta – Omoto Takeo 2,” released in July 2002, alongside songs like “Shimanchu nu Takara.” It’s perfect not only for lifting the spirits of the whole family, but also as an enjoyable first step for anyone who wants to start playing the sanshin.

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.

ParadiseMiyagi Mamoru

"Paradise" by Mamoru Miyagi with Gen Hirakata & Ryota @ Tameike Usagi-ya

This is a thrilling, up-tempo track that brilliantly fuses traditional Okinawan music with pop.

The sound of the sanshin blends exquisitely with modern arrangements, evoking the refreshing breeze of the tropics.

Featured on the album “Minamikaze” (“Southern Wind”), this song celebrates Okinawa’s beautiful nature and the warmth of its people, and its melody is sure to bring both comfort and energy to listeners.

You can almost see the smiling children at a school sports day, dancing with all their might and beating the drums with powerful rhythms.

Festival of the Seventh Month

Eisa, Eisa, Hiyaruga Eisa [July Festival] ~ End Roll (Ryukyu Dance Troupe Shoryu Festival Taiko PV)

An energetic track by Ryukyu Mendan Shoryu Matsuri Daiko that preserves Okinawa’s traditional melodies and rhythms while adding a modern arrangement.

The powerful beat of the taiko drums blends beautifully with the plaintive tones of the sanshin, stirring the listener’s heart.

The promotional video, filmed across Okinawa’s main island in October 2013, captures dynamic performances set against Naha City, the area around Shurijo Castle, and stunning coastlines—showcasing Okinawa’s captivating scenery.

It’s an ideal piece for group routines at school sports festivals and dance performances incorporating Eisa.

The commanding drum rhythms and distinctive melodic lines will unite the entire venue and captivate the audience.

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.

Flower CityIkuma Akira

2024 Sports Day 3rd and 4th Grade Performance – Eisa “Suganchu nu Mai” ~With the Wind~

A powerful work that weaves a moving sound by fusing Okinawan traditional music with rock and pop.

The soulful vocals praising the preciousness of the Earth and life, the strong rhythms of the drums, and the beautiful melodies of the sanshin are in perfect harmony.

Singing of the importance of local culture and bonds, this piece features approachable arrangements of Okinawan performing arts and fully conveys the appeal of new music born from the interplay of tradition and innovation.

It’s perfect for performing Eisa at a school sports festival, and is a must-listen for anyone interested in traditional performing arts or dance.