Another best of Rinsho Kadekaru, this one released by Columbia and quite different to other collections. The godfather of shima uta in his prime. 14 tracks. 1. Naakunii, Hantaparu, 2. Meekata 3. Ichubichu Guwa, Jissou Bushi 4. Meenta Bushi, Safuen Bushi, Inishiri Bushi 5. Nishinjo Bushi 6. Kuigataree 7. Kunjan Deefuku 8. Kaisaare 9. Kadiiku, Takou 10. Harikuyamaku 11. Yachina Kuwaaidiisa Bushi 12. Ijuhai Chikuten Bushi 13. Sagichijuyaa 14. Jidai no Nagare
Kishun Nishie is Okinawa's leading exponent of Okinawan traditional dance music and a professor at the Okinawa Prefectural University of the Arts. He leads a troupe who perform on sanshin, kokyu (fiddle), taiko, fue and ryukin (koto). A music of grace and grandeur. 27 tracks. Price: £34.99
Rare recordings from the late 1920s taken from ultra-rare 78 records. Ryojin Kin was a highly skilled singer of classic minyo, that he performed in his own style. He could also play ryukin (koto) , kokyu, fue and was a excellent traditional dancer. 1. Kajadifuu Bushi 2. Nakagusuku Hantamee Bushi 3. Kuti Bushi 4. Nakankari Bushi 5. Nakama Bushi 6. Mutuhanafuu Bushi 7. Janna Bushi 8. Shui Bushi 9. Shudun Bushi 10. Akachichi Bushi 11. Chaya Bushi 12. Haichikuten Bushi 13. Nakafuu Bushi 14. Nkashi Haberu Bushi
More rare vintage recordings taken from 78s of traditional Okinawan music. Artists are Ryojin Kin (1-6), Seizui Isagawa (7-17), Seiho Furugen (18, 19) 1. Shukkuee Bushi 2. Jushichihachi Bushi 3. Imafuu Bushi 4. Agarii Bushi 5. Shukkuee 6. Asibikuwamucha Bushi 7. Oduiku Fadisa Bushi 8. Fishichi Bushi 9. Agitakaniku Bushi 10. Janna Bushi 11. Akatsuki Bushi 12. Uchidumai Bushi 13. Nnatukuri Bushi 14. Yuzakee Bushi 15. Kachinuhana Bushi 16. Kuniya Bushi 17. Kurushima Bushi 18. Chikuten Bushi 19. Binuchi Bushi Price: £13.99
Volume 3 in this excellent series of music treasures of traditional Okinawan music from a bygone era. Artists are Seiho Furugen (1-3), Kenpo Nakadomari (4-9), Haruyuki Miyazato (10,11), Seisho Okuma (12-15).1. Akatafuu Bushi 2. Unna Bushi 3. Nakafuu Bushi 4. Kuti Bushi 5. Nakama Bushi 6. Mutusanyama Bushi 7. Inimazun Bushi 8. Amakawa Bushi 9. Janna Bushi 10. Juushichihachi Bushi 11. Shukkuee Bushi 12. Tsukuten Bushi 13. Haitsukuten Bushi (Shitadashi) 14. Haitsukuten Bushi (Agidashi) 15. Agitsukuten Bushi (Agidashi)
Rare recordings of various artists inclduing Chosei Takara, Hatsuko Tatsumi, Kanako Takara, Kame Itokazu, Chosei Niigaki, Tsuro Ohama and Masako Nakamoto. The 22 tracks include Udui Ayagu Bushi, Kizami Bushi, Kunjan Sabakui Bushi, Ashibi Shonganee Bushi, Kanayou Bushi, Ashimiji Bushi, Shinmuchi Bushi, Ai no Amagasa, Tohgani Ayagu, Honen no Uta, Mamiga Pana, Akan Mabushi, Tubaraama Bushi and Asadoya Yunta. Price: £13.99
Compilation series of popular minyo songs from Okinawa mainland, Miyako Islands and Yaeyama Islands, performed by some of the greatest singers. Volume 1 has 16 tracks from Okinawa by some of the finest musicians such as Rinsho Kadekaru, Sadao China, Katsuko Yohen, Shuken Maekawa, Rinji Kadekaru, Hirokazu Matsuda and Yukino Hiyane.
12 tracks from the main Okinawa island, by Sadao China, Kiyofumi Maekawa, Shuken Maekawa, Mayumi Yamakawa & Yui Yui Sisters, Misako Oshiro, Choichi Terukina, Kame Itokazu, Seijin Noborikawa and Rinsho Kadekaru. Price: £13.99
More of greatest Okinawan folk tunes sung by Chokichi Terukina, Rinsho Kadekaru, Keiko Kinjo, Seijin Noborikawa, Yoriko Ganeko, Misako Oshiro, Aiko Yohen, Rinsuke Teruya, Mayumi Yamakawa & Yui Yui Sisters.
16 tracks from Okinawa by Shinobu Matsuda, Rinsho Kadekaru, Rinji Kadekaru, Chojin Kameya, Misako Oshiro, Yasuko Yoshida, Namiko Miyazato, Shuken Mekawa and Seijin Noborikawa. Price: £13.99
14 tracks from Okinawa and Miyako island by Yasuko Yoshida, Namiko Miyazato, Yukino Hiyane, Suekichi Matsuda, Yoriko Ganeko, Yasuko Urazaki, Morinobu Taba, Emiko Shimabukuro, Takao Nagama, Kiyofumi Tokuhara and Hirokazu Matsuda.
17 tracks from the outer lying Ryukyu islands of Miyako and Yaeyama by Genji Kuniyoshi, Yoshihiro Higashitakanishi, Noriko Higashitakanishi, Minako Kawakami and Hideyoshi Higashisuji.
Price: £13.99
Ayakaji is female singer Kaori Nakata and Tetsuaki Shimajiri, sound creator and producer. 8 tracks in a kind of new age style including traditional songs, originals and a cover of a Begin tune.
Even for the most covered band in the world, these are rather unusual versions of Beatles' tunes. Toru Yonaha (sanshin, fue), Issei Kamichi (taiko), Yoko Okinaga (koto) and Natsuko Morita (kokyu) under the name of Soul Gakudan tackle some of the Beatles' favourite tunes. 1 Norweigan Wood 2. Ticket to Ride 3. Eight Days a Week 4. Yellow Submarine 5. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da 6. Day Tripper 7. Michelle 8. In My Life 9. Nowhere Man 10. Hey Jude Price: £13.99
Latest album from the Ryukyu techno twins, now recording for a major record company. Techno and club rhythms combined with Okinawa melodies and sounds. Continue to be firm favourites of the Japanese festival circuit.
The ever inventive Wataru Kousaka tries his hand at playing Okinawan tunes (Tinsagu nu Hana) or tunes in an Okinawan style, on the Indian sarod with some accompaniment on santoor and tabla. 5 tracks, 52 minutes. Price: £12.99
Originally released on LP in 1976, rare recordings of some of the greats of Okinawan music recorded in Osaka. Artists include Seijin Noborikawa, Sadao China, Teihan China, Kunitaka Sato and Kame Itokazu. Digitally remastered. 1. Toushin Dohi, Iwai Bushi 2. Acchame Guwa 3. Inasuri Bushi, Maeda Bushi 4. Rokucho 5. Kurudando 6. Umi nu Chimbora, Akayama 7. Myaakunii, Jintohyoo Bushi 8. Amakawa, Amakawa Guwa 9. Takouyama 10. Kadeku 11. Shichiguwachi Eisa, Toushin Dohi, Acchame Guwa 12. Tomari Takahashi
Originally released on LP in 1970, digitally remastered. Rare and fantastic recordings of traditional Okinawan minyo, by lesser known artists today, but the bees knees of their day. 1. Isako Kawata / Asatoya Yunta 2. Fusae Kawata / Hamachidori 3. Yasukazu Kawata / Kuroshima Kuduchi 4. Kimiko Kawata / Tinsagu nu Hana 5. Yasukazu Kawata, Yasumori Yoshida / Modorikago 6. Asako Kawata / Seibumon Bushi 7. Kimiko Kawata / Miyarabi Taiko 8. Fusae Kawata / Tanchame Bushi 9. Yasukazu Kawata / Agai Kuduchi 10. Kimiko Kawata / Shirahama Bushi 11. Isako Kawata / Mashunku Bushi 12. Fusae Kawata / Asemizu Bushi 13. Kayoko Kawata / Awamori Guwa Nominomi Price: £14.99
Compilation album of roots and traditional shima uta. Dancable Okinawan songs including kacharsee and eisa classics. 15 tracks including Ara Yukito - Kadeku , Toshin Dohi. Rinsho Kadekaru - Toshin Doi, Deigo Musume- Chatanmae, Rinji Kadekaru -Tsuki nu Yoru, Shuken Maekawa - Acchamee-gwa, Ryoichi Nago - Hantabaru plus Nenes and Misako Koja.
Fascinating CD of uzagaku, the gagaku music of the Ryukyu Kingdom era. Over 100 years ago, uzagaku was performed during formal court celebrations at Shuri castle. It was often played when special envoys were visiting from China, and derived from Chinese music. After the Ryukyu Kingdom was abolished and Okinawa became a part of Japan in 1879, uzagaku became almost extinct. Now, nine tunes have been revived by the group of artists called 'Uzagaku Fukugen Enso Kenkyu-kai' in Okinawa and the instruments have been restored. Those instruments include string instruments such as sangen, niko (erhu), yongen, biwa, yonko, gekkin, flutes such as yokobue and percussion such as doram sanba. While the style of singing has also been replicated.
Price: £18.99
