Veteran singer sings various Higya Bushi from Southern Amami Island. 2 CDs, recorded at the Tokyo Summer Music Festival 2006. Comes with a booklet detailing the history of Amami shimauta and the difference between Okinawan and Amami shimauta.

CD 1 ; 1. Asabana Bushi 2. Shun-ryoshu Bushi 3. Kurudando Bushi 4. Yachabou Bushi 5. Nagakumno Bushi 6. Mankoi Bushi 7. Naga-asabana Bushi 8. Ashikebu Ichiban Bushi 9. Shumichi Nagahama Bushi 10. Hanazumu Bushi 11. Imanu Kajakumo Bushi 12. Honen Bushi 13. Shudon Nagahama Bushi 14. Itou

CD2 ; 1. Hokorasha Bushi 2. Yoisura Bushi 3. Shunkanei Bushi 4. Muchakana Bushi 5. Kadoku Nabuikana Bushi 6. Torasan Naganei Bushi 7. Asawakare Bushi 8. SUbayado Bushi 9. Nagamu Kiryagari Bushi 10. Tokunoshima Bushi [Intabu Bushi] 11. Kantimui Bushi 12. Agare Tachigumo Bushi 13. Chukkyari Asabana Bushi 14. Rokucho

Fifth album released in 2008 to mark the band's 10th anniversary. Collaborations with other Okinawan bands and some of just the band. Notable for those collaborations that include Misako Koja, Ryukyudisko, Rip Slyme and Black Bottom Brass Band.

1. Rakki 8 2. Daimeiwaku 3. Beautiful - with Black Bottom Brass Band 4. Wa 5. Nasaki - with Ryukyudisko 6. Remember - with Rip Slyme 7. Hitori Janai - with SOFFet 8. Oba Rappu Warutsu 9. Party - with Stinking Blue Beat 10. Sayonara 11. 29 no Haru - with Skaymates 12. Momo - with Misako Koja 13. Asadoya Yuntack

Price:   £20.99

Singer songwriter from Izena Island, Okinawa. Learned sanshin at school, and studied Ryukyu classical music at university. He is a descendant of King Shoen, a king of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Had a hit single on an indie label in Okinawa before signing to a major label. Pop ballads and upbeat tunes with undercurrents of Okinawa such as some sanshin accompaniment.

1. Sensei 2. Seishun no Tabidachi 3. Umoreta Kotoba ni Yume o Sagashite 4. Shiawase Datte Koto 5. Okurareruka 6. Chanpuru Island 7. Natsu Ga Kita! 8. Tonde 9. Hana Yo 10. Rin Rin Rin 11. Sokode Umareta Boku no Uta

Reissue from vinyl of 60s 'home song' hits, written for the long running and popular radio programme. Fantastic selection of 60s Okinawan music featuring Four Sisters, Yara Families and many more.

CD1.

1. Four Sisters/Chinnukujuushii 2. Tatsuko Toyoma / Yuuna No Hana 3. Kurara Shinkawa / Bashoufu 4. Hoptones / Hey! Niseta 5. Four Sisters / Keiben Tetsudou Bushi 6. Hoptones / Uruma Jima 7. Four Sisters / Miyako Shiki Ondo 8. Four Sisters / Umakukamade 9. Four Sisters / Shima Musume 10. Hoptones / Kaette Kitayo 11. Hoptones / Watashi No Furusato 12. Four Sisters / Yanbaru Garasa Guwa 13. Four Sisters / Shima No Ichinensei 14. Hoptones / Barasanpin 15. Yukichi Yamazato / Juugoya 16. Toshie Nakamatsu / Gin No Kushi

CD2.

1. Chieko Iha / Chocchoi Komori Uta 2. Chieko Iha / Kusa Makura 3. Hoptones / Furusato No Ame 4. Hoptones / Katare Guwa 5. Yara Families / Shirahama Blues 6. Yara Families / Bossa Nova Jintoyo 7. Four Sisters / Oka No Ipponmatsu 8. Sadako Inami / Hatachi Miyarabi 9. Antei Tamaki Minyo Kenkyukai / Heiwa No Negai 10. Tetsuhiro Daiku / Yamazaki No Abujama 11. Antei Tamaki / Ai No Amagasa 12. Antei Tamaki Minyo Kenkyukai / Heiwa No Yorokobi 13. Deigo Musume / Kome Wo Tsukuru Ie 14. Masao Yagi / Shibai No Michi 15. Naeko Seragaki / Yusunu Hana 16. Seiki Gibo / Shian Bashi

Price:   £23.99

Compilation album of Okinawan songs, mostly of the pop variety, that have been used on TV commercials.

1. Mamoru Miyagi / Union Desukara! 2. Begin / Ojii Jiman no Orion Beer 3. Takahiro Wakigami / Bonbe Kun no Uta 4. Karahaai / Sankaku Oyane 5. Seijin Noborikawa / Tadataka No Uta 6. Kenichi Shiroma and Agure Kids / Yuke! Furimagaagure! 7. Minako / Ryuu Chan no Uta 8. Shuken Maekawa / Ryukyu Awamori Zanpa 9. Riiko Takara / Wa.wa.wa.wallaby 10. Okaasan no Aji 11. Naoya Oshiro / Roukin Soudan Bushi 12. Pineapple Gassho-dan / Pappa Pineapple! 13. Isamu Shimoji / Waido 14. Miwa and Genki Kids / Milk De Genki 15. Shakari / Sora no Kaze 16. Kusu Ryuukyuu Ouchou 17. Chihiro Kamiya / Taiyo no Hana 18. All Japan Goith / Yume No Hana 19. Takahiro Wakigami / Chubu Biyou Senmon Gakkou CM Song 20. Parsha Club / Umi no Kanata

Latest album from Yaeyama's Tetsuhiro Daiku is a collaboration with Indonesian gamelan. Okinawan music and gamelan music use the same five note scale, so this is a perfect match, and as with most releases on the Off Note label definitely worth checking out. Nine tracks including a bonus track and two remixes.

Price:   £18.99

Another release from the Off Note label, Okinawan group in similar mood to Tetsuhiro Daiku and other wonderful similar releases from the same stable, this one combining gruff vocals, with sax, trumpet, bass and a bit of sanshin in a kind of nostalgic style. Sounds like the Okinawan Tom Waits with a jazz band, the title track particularly brilliant. Nine tracks.

Hajime Chitose is a singer from Amami who in 2002 and 2003 had some of the biggest selling singles and albums with a blend of pop and Amami island style singing. While she isn't currently at the height of her popularity, she's still the best known artist from Amami. Her career started with this album in 2001 released on an indie label, of covers of pop songs. Unexpectedly it became quite a big hit and helped to propel her to stardom.

1. Birthday 2. Namae no nai Tori 3. Sweet Jane 4. Little Wing 5. Fuyu no Sanatrium 6. Home Again


Price:   £13.99

Hajime Chitose's second 'mini-album', this time all original tunes. Includes 'Ryugu no Tsukai', the theme song for the film Planzet. Also the first collaboration song with Gen Ueda who later would help to make 'Wadatsumi no Ki' into a million selling single.

1. Kotonoha 2. Yakusoku 3. Ryugu no Tsukai 4. Seirei 5. Mihachigatsu

Within a bewildering maze of Okinawan compilations, this one sticks out. Slightly. Some of the most important bands of the 80s and 90s Okinawan boom from Okinawa and Japan such as Rinken Band, Nenes, The Boom, Shang Shang Typhoon, Soul Flower Union, together with the even older Haruomi Hosono version of Asadoya Yunta and a seleciton of artists who have come to prominence in the last decade.

1. The Boom/Shima Uta 2. Begin / Shimanchu nu Takara 3. Ryoko Moriyama / Nada Sousou 4. Junko Yamamoto / Warabigami, Ten no Komoriuta 5. Shang Shang Typhoon / Ai Yori Aoi Umi 6. Rinken Band / Arigato 7. Tokiko Kato / Hana 8. Nenes / Heiwa no Ryuka 9. Haruomi Hosono and Yellow Magic Band / Asadoya Yunta 10. Alfredo Casero / Haisai Ojisan 11. Yuko Asano / Okinawa Samba 12. Soul Flower Union / Mangetsu no Yube 13. The Boom / E-Ambe 14. Rinken Band / Kanpai Sabira 15. Akiko Yano / Tinsagu nu Hana 16. Nenes / Akemodoro 16. Toru Yonaha, Katsushi Aragaki, Kazunari Uechi / Bye Bye Okinawa

Price:   £21.99

Second edition of the book written by John Potter. Guide to the music of Okinawa, with sections on the history of the music, features on some of the major stars of the roots scene and recommended listening, all of the CDs still in print available on this web site. The second addition has been revised and updated and includes some new interviews with Toru Yonaha, Keith Gordon of Ryukyu Underground and Tatsumi Chibana.

First album for about two years from Seijin Noborikawa, one of the last surviving greats of Okinawan music. 12 tracks from originals to traditional. On this evidence Seijin shows no signs of wilting, despite turning 78 this year. Simple traditional small band music featuring sanshin, percussion and hayashi backing vocals.

Price:   £20.99

Yet another Okinawa compilation. This one of the most famous tunes such as Asadoya Yunta, Tinsagu nu Hana, Toshin Doi, Umi nu Chimbora and Honen Bushi. Artists include Seijin Noborikawa, Mika Uchizato, Yoriko Ganeko and Toru Yonaha.

Second album from sanshin player and vocalist. Fairly syrupy pop sound with guitars, keyboards and drums accompanying the Okinawan elements. Mix of original and traditional tunes.

1. Hana Kuduchi 2. Mura Ashibi 3. Michi 4. Kokoro no Iro 5. Hamachidori 6. Chanmii 7. Ayagu 8. Tinsagu nu Hana 9. Tabi 10. Tootangaani 11. Umi Yakara 12. Yume no Sora


Price:   £21.99

Latest album from Makoto Kubota's Blue Asia project. This album focuses on the music of Miyako island, Okinawa. Kubota became fascinated with the ancient prayer music that he found, sung by 80 something year old grandmothers. These singers and musicians are combined with the ever tasteful electonic sounds and effects of Kubota and his Blue Asia pals.

1. Myahk 2. Ikema Kuduchi 3. Myahk-zutsu 1 4. Gudinpuu 5. Weenma nu Eeg 6. Kun-nu-Shu 7. Nakadati no Migagama 8. Nisu ga Tou 9. Myahk-zutsu 2. 10. Nakayamaabu 11. Tabihae no Aagu 12. Bangamuli 13. Nakadati no Migagama Remix 14. Myahk 2