My Shima Playlist

Ryūkyūan/Okinawan music and art from the islands and in the diaspora. Profile art by Nami Oshiro. All posts here are automated from Instagram. linktr.ee/shimanchuplaylist

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Artists from the islands and in the diaspora (Google Doc) An unofficial and incomprehensive list of independent or unsigned artists with Ryūkyūan roots. Always under construction and accepting suggestions!

Shimakutuba (Ryūkyūan languages) fundraiser Original buttons, pins, and stickers to raise funds for independent Shimakutuba practitioners and revitalization projects!

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Donation delivered to Okinawa Hands-On NPO in Uchinaa!

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Nuu Yaga?! Mystery Box UPDATE

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Haisai, gusuuyoo. I hope everyone is safe and doing well. I teamed up with Nami Oshiro, a fantastic Shimanchu American artist based in Virginia, to create the first three items in an ongoing effort to raise funds for independent Shimakutuba practitioners and projects.

Many Shimanchu creators and educators are doing the work on their own time and out of their own pockets, so I'm hoping that this (and future fundraisers) can be a small show of support and gratitude.

This 3" sticker, 2.25" button, and 1.25" acrylic pin set features a Ramones logo-inspired design with an open-mouth shiisaa symbolizing the sharing of good things, i.e. our indigenous languages. There are several distinct languages throughout the Ryūkyū Islands (all of which are endangered), so we decided to go with the six regions recognized by UNESCO: Amami, Kunjan (Kunigami), Uchinaa (Okinawa), Myaaku (Miyako), Yaima (Yaeyama), Dunan (Yonaguni).

Please visit the Ko‑fi shop today! All proceeds (minus item production costs and shipping fees) will be donated to individuals/groups and I'll post receipts once the donations are made.

P.S. I'm still selling items through the Shimanchu Dushi-nu-chaa Online Sale, if you're interested in combining shipping.

Shiisaa illustration by Nami Oshiro

- namioshiro.com - inprnt.com/profile/namioshiro - etsy.com/shop/iyasasa - instagram.com/nami_oshiro - twitter.com/namioshiro

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🔃 SHUFFLE PLAY 🔃 Weekly random selection of one traditional song and one modern song A couple of songs for the soul after yet another unthinkable tragedy and the U.S. government continuing to willfully disregard our safety. 🎶 "Sanyama Bushi" (traditional) 🎶 Rendition by Shinjin Kise Full translation below 🎶 "Warabigami" 🎶 Misako Koja Translation excerpt below Misako Koja's "Warabigami," written in 1997 affer the birth of her first grandchild, hits differently in this context. The first time I heard a mournful rendition of the song was when she performed it at a June 19, 2016 protest rally (attended by tens of thousands of Shimanchu and allies) following the murder of 20-year-old Rina Shimabukuro by American civilian contractor and ex-U.S. Marine Kenneth Franklin Gadson. Surely, Koja never imagined having to sing the song under such circumstances. ⤵️ Some translations below ⤵️ (by no means am I an expert, so apologies in advance for any mistakes!) --- 🎶 SANYAMA BUSHI 🎶 Translation from "Nufani: English Translation of Kumiodori and Okinawan Poetry," Naganori Komine: "I can't believe it's real! I'm at quite a loss. It's like the daze that comes Just after a nightmare." --- 🎶 WARABIGAMI 🎶 Translation excerpt from karakui.wordpress.com: "Though stormy winds may blow As you go through this world I will shelter you from the storm, so you may bloom like a flower Irayo hei, irayo hoi, irayo, My dearest child, Don't you cry, heiyo heiyo, May the heavens shine on you Be a good human being, heiyo, heiyo, To lead a worthy life"

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Shimanchu Dushi-nu-chaa "After the Craft Fair" Limited Time Online Sale: tinyurl.com/dushinuchaa-online22 📸 : A few shots from the Okinawa Association in Gardena, California's (@oaamensore) Craft Fair on April 25. I was told that around 300 people attended throughout the day! I'm proud to say our table was consistently busy. Also, it was so nice to see dushi-nu-chaa (friends) I hadn't seen in a while as well as meet some of the badass folks I follow on Instagram. Ippee nifee deebiru to all of the artists who trusted me to share their incredible work with the Shimanchu community in Southern California: BloomingInAsia (Japan) @bloominginasia Brandon Ufugusuku Ing (Hawaii) @brandoningmusic Flor Kaneshiro (Argentina) @flor_kaneshiro Erica Kunihisa (Hawaii) @ekunihisa @shimanchupenpals Mahealani and Back (California) @mahealani.and.back Mariko Middleton (Vermont) @marikobtv @shimanchupodcast Miyuki Tamashiro (Peru) @miyuki.tuyuki Hiromi Toma (Brasil) @_________hiromi Artist info sheet that was passed out at the event: tinyurl.com/dushinuchaa-printout22 (PDF)

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🔃 SHUFFLE PLAY 🔃 Weekly random selection of one traditional song and one modern song

Yaima (Yaeyama) spotlight featuring a traditional song/dance about the heart-shaped Kuro Island and a traditional-modern fusion band led by Ishigaki-born Yukito Ara! 🎶 "Kurushima Kuduchi" (traditional) 🎶 Rendition by Yasukatsu Oshima (Song translations below) 🎶 "Gokokuhōjō" 🎶 Parsha Club (Often performed by the eisaa-inspired Ryūkyūkoku Matsuri Daiko drum-dance groups)

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🎶 KURUSHIMA KUDUCHI 🎶

Translation from "Nufani: English Translation of Kumiodori and Okinawan Poetry," Naganori Komine: 1. "The island of Kurushima is an ideal place, with old traditions and prosperity. Perennial beauty reigns throughout the island." Dancers: "It would be wonderful to have rain every ten days and a breeze over the abundant harvest. All the villages, Nakamutu, Alishiji, Yiku, Huri, Huki, and Miyazatu, at the quarters of the royal envoys, celebrate by playing the sanshin and sounding Ten Tun Ten." 2. “The shape of the island looks like a drop of rain, and the people enjoy dancing and feasting.” Dancers: “Last night the chiefs of the east and the west and many others gathered. Everyone participated in a tug of war. The two sides pulled as if their arms were made of iron, and stood strong as if their feet were made of sturdy pine. They cried: ‘Heave ho! Heave ho!’ One side eventually lost and hung up a white flag. This song celebrates this event.” 3. “Let’s all celebrate, both young and old, for the timely rain that falls from heaven every season.” Dancers: “This would be wonderful: ‘I am a mouse living in an office. We stole a dried octopus and showed it off on Meenu Nakamui Hill. The moon watched us run away from a cat.’ Let’s celebrate this event with this song.” 4. “I am attracted to the smell of plums and cherries. Let me enjoy them everyday with nubile young girls.” Dancers: “The month of June comes again. The feast for the god of grain has brought together young and old in the village. The young pushed the old people to the beach where they all saw the boat race. The beach looked like a colored painting with fragrant and colored clouds up above. ‘Heave ho!’ I was the judging official. The crew of the ship jumped up to the boat quickly, and trumpeted with a shell. Then, the race started. What a pleasure it was to see the boat race. Let’s sing about the race with this song.” 5. “What a wonderful life to be able to see a waning moon shining down on a moonlit beach.” Dancers: “It’s so funny that a big crab in the bushes bit the girls in Kurushima while they were sneaking around to catch it."

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Yii soogwachi deebiru! Happy (Lunar) New Year! Kutushi-n yutasarugutu unigee sabira. 🙏🏽 Check my story highlights for traditional songs and dances 🎶

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The following translation and explanation is from Let’s Sing Uchinaaguchi: 

ARATAMA NU TUSHI NI TAN TU KŪBU KAJATI KUKURU KARA SHIGATA WAKAKU NAYUSA

For the new year, The coal* and konbu* are presented Your spirit and body Become young

*The coal cleanses, and represents warmth. The konbu (kelp) nourishes, and represents happiness ー phonetically, kūbu brings to mind yurukubun, which means "to rejoice."

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Tiger artwork from prestonmarket.com.au Okinawan design elements from Adobe Stock and Shutterstock

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🔃 SHUFFLE PLAY 🔃 Random selection of one traditional and one modern song

CLICK HERE to read/listen on my Ko-Fi profile!

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🔃 SHUFFLE PLAY 🔃 Weekly selection of one traditional song and one modern song

Two songs about Tancha, which is located on the coast Onna Village, Okinawa Island. There is also a beautiful traditional dance that depicts young men and women fishing and selling the day's catch 🐟🐟🐟 (several duet and group performances can be found on YouTube - see Story Highlights for links).

🎶 "Tanchamee Bushi" (traditional) 🎶 Rendition by Masaya Yamauchi Translations below Spotify | YouTube

🎶 "Tanchamee no Yoru" 🎶 Banjo Ai Spotify | YouTube

⤵️ Some translations below ⤵️ (by no means am I an expert, so apologies in advance for any mistakes!)

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🎶 TANCHAMEE BUSHI 🎶

Translation from "Nufani: English Translation of Kumiodori and Okinawan Poetry," Naganori Komine:

Ichihanari Bushi

“Although I would like to go to Katsirin Island, it’s really hard to go through the rough seas of Wanyama Jou Channel.”

Tanchamee Bushi 

1. “There are schools of small fish called sururu there.”

2. “People shout that they’re not sururu, but the bigger mijun.”

3. “The boys went to catch the fish, then the girls went to sell them.”

4. “After the girls came home, they smelled good.”

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Spotify Playlist | YouTube Playlist