Popular Okinawan Songs: Artist Rankings [2026]
A ranking of popular Okinawan songs and Okinawan artists.
Songs that embody the spirit of Okinawa—featuring the Okinawan scale or highlighting the sound of the sanshin with a tropical atmosphere—as well as hit tracks by popular artists from Okinawa, have made the list.
- Popular Okinawan Songs Ranking [2026]
- Ranking of Popular Nostalgic Songs and Classics [2026]
- Bands, artists, and singers from Okinawa Prefecture
- Popular Karaoke: Artist Rankings [2026]
- Ranking of Beloved Hit Songs Among Women [2026]
- A classic song in the Okinawan dialect, Uchinaaguchi
- From J-pop to folk songs! Popular and classic Okinawan tunes
- [Ones to Watch in 2026!] Recommended Female Singers & Recent Female Artists
- Popular Moving Songs Ranking [2026]
- [Teens] Popular Songs Ranking by Generation [2026]
- Band Rankings Popular Among People in Their 40s [2026]
- Kousetsu Minami Popular Song Rankings [2026]
- Recent songs sung by male vocalists in Japanese music [2026]
Popular Okinawan Songs: Artist Rankings [2026] (21–30)
Kaze no DonanNishidomari Shigemasa29rank/position
That powerful singing voice really moves you, doesn’t it? This is a song by Shigemasa Nishidomari, a musician from Yonaguni Island.
It was released in 1995 as his debut single.
The lyrics are rough yet deeply affecting—that’s their charm.
It’s a masterpiece you’ll want to listen to carefully.
Flower windmillKuwae Tomoko30rank/position
The chorus naturally gets your body moving, and the song has become one of the folk tunes widely loved by Okinawans of all ages.
In Okinawa, where elders are cherished, the 97th birthday is celebrated as “Kajimaya,” with the entire village holding a grand celebration on the 7th day of the 9th month of the lunar calendar; as that custom suggests, this song is dearly loved.
It is also used as the departure melody at Akamine Station on the Okinawa Urban Monorail.
Popular Okinawan Songs: Artist Ranking [2026] (31–40)
RASEN in OKINAWAAwich, Dakki, OZworld, CHICO CARLITO31rank/position
This is a single brimming with hometown pride, created by four talented rappers from Okinawa.
Over a sound where the tones of the sanshin blend with hip-hop beats, Awich, Tsubaki, OZworld, and CHICO CARLITO powerfully express their daily lives and pride.
The track was included on the EP “098RADIO vol.1 Hosted by Awich,” released in March 2023, its music video has surpassed 20 million views, and it was performed on Music Station in February 2024.
Their stance of carrying their homeland on their backs as they move toward the future will resonate with anyone who values their roots.
When you need courage to face adversity, listening to this song will surely give you a push forward.
OKIDOKI feat.CHOUJI,Grace AimiBig Knot Records32rank/position
It’s a warm, uplifting track where Okinawan tradition and the present day intersect comfortably.
The performers are rapper CHOUJI and singer Grace Aimi.
Built on the gentle melodies of Okinawan folk music, the interplay of sprightly rap and soaring vocals conveys the joy of passing culture down across generations.
Its sound is both new and nostalgic, and it’s impossible not to feel your spirits lift.
Released in September 2023, the song even reached No.
2 on the charts in New Zealand, beyond Japan.
Put it on while driving along Okinawa’s beautiful coast, and you might just see emerald-green scenery rise vividly in your mind’s eye.
sunflowerCivilian Skunk33rank/position
CivilianSkunk, a band from Okinawa that has swept numerous competitions and auditions, was formed by four members who met in middle school.
Their single “Himawari,” released on March 20, 2013, features a catchy melody that leaves an impression.
The sanshin in the intro is great, too!
NO MORE CRYD-5134rank/position
D-51 is the name of a train located in Yogi Park in Yogi, Naha, Okinawa.
This train is from the railway that existed before the war.
The tracks were lost during the war, and although there were plans to rebuild the railway, it was long said to be impossible in Okinawa due to the large number of unexploded ordnance.
Only recently has talk of restoring the railway resurfaced.
The song carries a strong message of “not crying.”
RYU STYLEDA PUMP35rank/position
A track released in 2004 by DA PUMP, who made a comeback in 2018 with “U.S.A.” It’s a number that layers razor-sharp rap over a track featuring Okinawan traditional instruments.
DA PUMP, who have even performed at Shurijo Castle, include ISSA and other original members from Okinawa.
Let this Okinawa-born dance beat get your body moving in all the right ways.
