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 / Okinawa Songs (1–10)
Must-listen!! Masterpieces that evoke thoughts of Okinawa
Alright, let’s dive right into the song introductions! First, we’ll present 10 classic J‑pop tracks about Okinawa, carefully selected by our editorial team. Many of these songs feature the sanshin or have distinctive Ryukyuan scales. These are the essential Okinawa songs to start with!
Islanders’ TreasureBEGIN
This is a classic song released in 2002 by BEGIN, indispensable when talking about Okinawan music.
Higa Eisho’s gentle vocals and the warm melody and instrumentation envelop you with a sense of comfort as you listen.
I heard it was written at the request of a teacher who was a classmate, and it carries the feelings of the island’s children.
The characteristically Okinawan scale, tinged with nostalgia, is wonderful and resonates straight to the heart.
It’s a song I want to keep loving forever.
Island SongTHE BOOM
It’s a song everyone in the country knows.
It was released in 1992 as a track on the album “Adolescence.” When it comes to representative songs that incorporate the Ryukyu scale, this one surely stands out.
You can feel a prayer imbued with anti-war wishes, and a sense that your heart is set free by the richness of folk music and its grand atmosphere.
It’s a timeless masterpiece we’ll want to keep singing and listening to forever.
Motherkariyushi 58
This song, a signature track by Kariyushi58, a band from Okinawa, has a title that means “mother” in the Okinawan language—you already knew that, right? As the title suggests, vocalist Shingo Maekawa wrote this song to express his gratitude to his mother, and it’s often used not only for Mother’s Day but also in wedding scenes where people want to convey thanks to their moms.
It’s said that Maekawa was quite a bit of a rascal in his younger days, and perhaps it’s precisely because these words come from someone like him that they resonate so deeply.
Voice of the Seaurashima tarō (kiritani kenta)
A smash hit released in 2015 by Kenta Kiritani, also known as Urashima Taro.
You’ve probably heard it in au’s Santaro series commercials.
It’s a song about his feelings for Otohime, and the shamisen together with Kiritani’s powerful yet heartrending vocals really sink in.
Composed by BEGIN’s Masaru Shimabukuro, it features the Ryukyu scale, giving it a distinctly Japanese flavor.
It makes you want to relax by the seaside and listen.
Ryukyu Love SongMONGOL800
When it comes to rock bands from Okinawa that are indispensable to today’s rock scene, it has to be MONGOL800! This song, included on their classic 2001 release MESSAGE, carries a wish for anti-war and a hope that everyone can live in peace.
While it’s a strongly rock-flavored track—with heavily distorted guitars and drums pounding out an intense beat—it ultimately comes together as a song that conveys kindness and warmth throughout.
NEVER ENDAmuro Namie
This is a famous song said to have been performed at the 2000 Okinawa Summit at the direct request of then-Prime Minister Obuchi.
It’s not only a song about Okinawa, but a masterpiece delivered on the stage of a summit where world leaders gathered.
It conveys a wish for lasting peace and the sentiment that, although there has been much sorrow and tragedy in the past, our future will continue on.
A place to return toHY
This is a hometown song by HY, whose members are all from Okinawa, filled with their feelings for the island.
It really makes you think that Okinawa is such a wonderful place—there are overwhelmingly more people there who cherish their hometown compared to other prefectures.
You can feel the love for Okinawa held by these women who left the island and are thriving in Tokyo, and it’s deeply moving.
The song also features the sanshin and Eisa calls, allowing you to fully feel the atmosphere of Okinawa.