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.
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Okinawan Songs (41–50)
TeegeeNēnēzu
There is a famous phrase that expresses the temperament of the people of Okinawa: “Nankuru naisa.” It conveys the Okinawan spirit that if you conduct yourself rightly as a person, things will naturally turn out as they should.
This song, which celebrates that heart, is cherished not only by Okinawans but by many people more broadly.
Okinawan Songs / Okinawa Songs (51–60)
Nirai KanaiMAX
This is a dance-beat track by the four-member female dance unit MAX, featuring Okinawan folk instruments.
The song fuses Eurobeat with accompaniment in the Okinawan scale and the sound of the sanshin, conveying respect for Okinawan music, which is MAX’s roots.
The title “Niraikanai” is an Okinawan word meaning “utopia,” and serves as a hint for how to approach listening to the song.
I’ll bring charisma.Shichinin no Karisuma
This track by the seven charismatic artists humorously reimagines Okinawan music.
Released digitally in March 2025, it is also included on the September album “Charisma Gumbo.” HIROKI and NAOTO from the rock band ORANGE RANGE were involved in the production, resulting in a cheerful song that weaves together traditional Okinawan elements with a modern sound.
Wrapped in a bright, fun vibe, it’s perfect for lifting your spirits or setting the mood at a party!
WOO－TOO－TOO－WALTZ
This is a song that comically celebrates the Okinawan people’s reverence for their ancestors.
The music created by the leader, Rolly, gradually gained strong, widespread support.
Their American pop and hard rock, which set Uchinaaguchi lyrics to R&B rhythms, are expanding their following in the city of Koza, where the old atmosphere still lingers.
Dynamic Ryukyuderakkusu x derakkusu
This song skillfully blends Okinawan tradition with modern musicality.
It’s a track by the rock band Deluxe×Deluxe, set for release in March 2025, and it covers a work by Akira Ikuma.
The powerful rhythm and passionate melody are striking, and the life-affirming soundscape is deeply moving.
Even those not from Okinawa will likely feel a sense of nostalgia.
It’s a tropical anthem that makes you want to sing along.
Hello UncleKina Shōkichi & Chanpurūzu
Shoukichi Kina, known as a pioneer of the genre Uchinaa Pop—which gives Okinawan folk songs a pop arrangement—teamed up with Champuruz, a female group that also performs Uchinaa Pop, to create the very unique song “Haisai Ojisan.” The charm of this song lies in its lyrics, which comically portray the interactions between a certain boy and an older man who lives in the neighborhood.
With its up-tempo, rock ’n’ roll feel, it’s the kind of track that would set your body moving naturally if played for Eisa dancing!
Yuito of the WindHii de Katsu
It is one of the songs released by Higa Katsumi, a musician from the Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture.
Rather than traditional Okinawan music, it features a deep, resonant timbre reminiscent of regions like India and other parts of Asia, creating a strikingly mystical atmosphere.
Along with “Miruku Namuri,” it is beloved as a staple of Eisa, and the incorporation of gentle movements serves to emphasize the song’s worldview.
Because it is a piece with prominent vocals, paying close attention to the calls and responses should allow performers to showcase a powerful Eisa that can stand up to the intensity of the music.
