Popular Okinawan Songs: Artist Rankings [2026]

Futami Love StoryTeruya Chōbin85rank/position

Futami Love Story by Kazumi Tamaki and Takeshi Yamauchi

The sorrowful melody tightens my chest.

This song was composed by Mr.

Chobin Teruya while he had evacuated to northern Okinawa during the war.

It is said to be a song for the people of a community called Futami, who accepted him.

Don’t the lyrics remind us of what truly matters?

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Araki Jakkan

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Annual Events KudokiTeruya Rinsuke86rank/position

Annual Events Kuduchi Ninjuu-gyouji Kuduchi / Rinsuke Teruya

This is a pop-style song that sings about Okinawa’s many annual events.

Each event has its own meaning and has been carefully preserved, but young people have trouble remembering them.

It’s a song that lets you enjoyably learn about Okinawa’s traditional events and their meanings to a rhythmic tune.

Nineteen SpringsTabata Yoshio87rank/position

Okinawan folk song: Nineteen Springs

It’s an Okinawan folk song that was also used in the 1999 film “Nabbie’s Love.” The song captures the essence of youth, expressing a tender, youthful crush.

There’s also a cover version by Yoshimi Tendo; hearing it with an enka singing style feels refreshing, and it’s a truly wonderful song.

Hiyamikachi-bushiNoborikawa Seijin88rank/position

Hiyamikachi-bushi — Seijin Noborikawa

“Hiyamikachi” means something like “Alright, let’s fire ourselves up!” It’s a song filled with the desire to rally Okinawa and its people, who were devastated by the Battle of Okinawa.

Today it’s known as a leading example of fast-picked Okinawan folk songs, but it originally had a slow tempo.

During the folk music boom, it seems to have gotten faster and faster.

It’s fun to sing and fun to listen to, making it one of the songs that many beginners on the sanshin aspire to play.

Yui-YuiChimei Sadao89rank/position

♪Yui-yui Yui-maru♪ @ Okinawa

An Okinawan folk song that was broadcast and became a hit on the children’s program “Open! Ponkikki.” The repeatedly appearing phrases are so catchy you can’t help but hum along.

The cheerful atmosphere comes through in the singing.

It’s an Okinawan song we’d love for little children to hear.

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Araki Jakkan

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Seibumon-bushiChimei Sadao & Miyazato Yasuko90rank/position

Seibumon-bushi Nishingyo — Sadanao China, Yasuko Miyazato

Seibumon refers to the entrance to the Tsuji district, where a red-light quarter once existed.

In the Tsuji area, prostitution and social gatherings took place, and at that time human trafficking also occurred, with children from poor rural areas being sold there.

These girls were called “juri,” and they trained in the performing arts of song and sanshin, developing new songs and advancing their sanshin techniques.

The song Seibumun-bushi is about a Shuri official and a courtesan.

Basho-fu (traditional Okinawan banana-fiber cloth)Ishimine Satoko91rank/position

Satoko Ishimine Bashofu (Revised Version)

This is a representative folk song of Okinawa.

Satoko Ishimine, who became famous for “Hana,” has a beautifully clear, resonant voice that is incredibly soothing.

The lyrics capture the scenery of Okinawa, making it a song that truly embodies the region.

It doesn’t use much dialect either, so it’s easy to listen to even for people from outside the prefecture.