From J-pop to folk songs! Popular and classic Okinawan tunes
For those of you looking for songs from Okinawa, this article introduces a wide variety of music related to the islands.
We’ve picked out everything from J-pop themed around Okinawa and Okinawan pops to traditional folk songs that have been passed down for generations.
Okinawan music is so captivating, isn’t it? From instruments like the sanshin and other traditional Japanese instruments to its distinctive vocal style—and that unmistakably Okinawan vibe!
Getting a bit musical here, but Okinawan music often uses a five-note scale known as the Ryukyu scale or the yo-nuki scale, built on the notes do–mi–fa–so–ti–do.
That very resonance of the Ryukyu scale is the secret behind the uniquely Okinawan atmosphere you feel in these songs!
Listen to the tracks we’re about to introduce and soak in the spirit of Okinawa.
- [Traditional Performing Arts of Okinawa] A special feature on classic Eisa songs that make you want to dance
- Popular Okinawan Songs Ranking [2026]
- Okinawan folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes: the heart of our hometown passed down through song.
- A classic song in the Okinawan dialect, Uchinaaguchi
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- Popular Okinawan Songs: Artist Rankings [2026]
- [Special Feature on the Yo-na-nuki Scale] Hit Songs and Classics That Evoke Nostalgia and a Sense of Wa (Japanese Aesthetics)
- [Touching the Heart] Timeless Ballad Masterpieces. A Collection of Unfading Classics and the Latest Songs [2026]
- [Ryukyuan Music] Folk and Classical Music of the Ryukyu Islands
- Gen Z listeners, take note! Great songs that color the J-pop scene
- Top Songs to Hype Up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals [2026]
- [Classic and Contemporary Hits] Emotionally Stirring, Heart-Touching Songs
- [A Cheer for Myself] A pep song dedicated to you who are doing your very best
Ryukyuan Classical Music (1–10)
Onna-bushi
It is based on a poem by Onna Nabe, a female poet from the Ryukyu Kingdom era.
After seeing a posted notice that said “Do not leave the village,” issued to secure tax revenue and labor, she criticizes the government of the time by essentially saying, “Surely they can’t mean to forbid me from going to see my lover outside the village, can they?”
Akata Shuriden
This song is said to be a children’s tune that was sung during the Miroku-Umuke (Mīrukū Unkee) festival in Akata, Shuri, Naha City, Okinawa, a ceremony centered around the Ishikawa family since the Ryukyu Kingdom era.
Although it died out in the early Showa period, it began to be sung again in 1994.
It was also broadcast on NHK Educational TV as one of the children’s songs known nationwide, so some of you may have heard it.
Nankuru Songrinken bando
Rinken Band is an Okinawan pop group formed in 1977 that debuted in 1987.
They have continually released music that fuses Okinawan instruments such as the sanshin and island drums with modern instruments.
“Nankuru” is an Okinawan word meaning “things will work out somehow.” In addition to their original songs, they also perform traditional Okinawan pieces arranged in the distinctive Rinken Band style.
Daughter JintoyoWagōku Yoriko
Yoriko Gajumaru has been on stage since she was 10 and made her debut in 1977.
The song she released in 1978 became a huge hit.
It’s said that this song has relatively few Okinawan dialect lyrics and is easier to understand, but it’s still hard to grasp, isn’t it? By the way, “Jintoyō” is a chant meaning something like “That’s true,” “Yeah, that’s right,” or “Indeed.”
Okinawan folk songs (11–20)
Okinawan folk songs, each with unique charms depending on the region
How was the Ryukyuan classical music? I think those pieces could be considered the roots of the Okinawan songs we enjoy today. Now, for the final section, I’ve carefully selected songs from Okinawan folk music! Unlike Ryukyuan classical music, which was cherished as court music, these songs have their roots in tunes widely sung and loved by common people. Many are sung in Uchināguchi, the Okinawan dialect. Also, even within what we call Okinawan folk music, the dialects used in the lyrics vary by region—such as the main island, Miyako, and the Yaeyama Islands—and there are many diverse differences in musical style and how the lyrics are set. Related articles:Okinawan folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes: the heart of our hometown passed down through song.
Okinawan folk songs (1–10)
AkamabushiŌshiro Shiban
It is said that “Akabamushi” was written and composed in the early 18th century by Oshiro Shiban, an official of Miyara Village.
This song is also known as “Irasanisha,” and it celebrates the joy of a prized horse—one the king had demanded be surrendered—returning to its owner.
“Irasanisha” means “I’m so happy,” and because it is a joyful song, it is often performed at celebratory occasions.
Ittaa anmaa maa kaiga
A traditional Okinawan children’s song and lullaby that older siblings would sing to their younger brothers or sisters; in the past, it’s said that the older children would sing it while putting infants to sleep or soothing them.
Its gentle melody is perfect for a relaxed lullaby, but there’s also a version covered by MONGOL800 arranged as an intense hardcore number, so it might be fun to compare the two.
Tinsagu FlowersKojya Misako
This is a didactic song, used as the departure melody at Kenchomae Station on the Okinawa Urban Monorail, that sings of lessons passed from Okinawan parents to their children.
Okinawan children grow up hearing this song from a young age; it is filled with a parent’s heart and the spirit of Okinawa.
By drawing on examples from Okinawa’s nature and everyday life, it conveys its message in a way that resonates deeply, and its heartfelt lyrics are especially appealing.