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.

Although not known much on the Japanese mainland or overseas, Hirokazu Matsuda has been a local star of Okinawan traditional music for several years. He teaches over 200 students and is known as one of the best interpreters of standard tunes, and a composer of new songs. On this album, he sings, plays sanshin and shimadaiko (drum) on a selection of shima uta standards and some of those original tunes too. 14 tracks including Hantabaru, Naakunii-Kaisaree, Niage-Acchamee Guwa, Imasannin, Hanagasa Bushi-Asadoya Bushi, Asobiyakara Mono, Jisso Bushi, Koi shi Ireimura, Hatoma Bushi.


Price:   £17.99

Brilliant live album from the godfather of shima uta. Recorded in 1996 at Kudakajima music camp, known as the 'Spiritual Nature Island'. 13 tracks of traditional tunes, including Nakuni, Toshin Doi, with several guests including Japanese trumpet player Toshinori Kondo, Okinawan female equivalent to Rinsho, Misako Oshiro, his son, Rinji Kadekaru and singer Izumi Higa.Comes with booklet with rare photos and scenes from this wonderful event.

Classic recording of the 'godfather of Shima Uta', at his prime in the mid-70s. Strictly traditional, and a great starting place to discover 'shima uta'.


Price:   £17.99

Two CD set of rare material recorded in 1975, with all songs having the sea as their central theme. An impressive line up of guests include Seijin Noborikawa, Teihan China (father of Sadao) Sadao China, Rinsuke Teruya, Aiko Yohen, Naeko Seragaki all greats in their own right. Fantastic stuff.

Okinawa's greatest traditioanal musician, joins up with Okinawa's finest eisa drumming group, Sonda Eisa for a truly exceptional album. Recorded in the 1980s, including a live track. Bubbling over with the atmosphere of Okinawa.

Price:   £18.99

Okinawan music's greatest composer, Tsuneo Fukuhara, (whose father founded Marafuku Records) and writer of songs including 'Bashofu' and 'Shima Jima Kaisha' got together one last time with Okinawa's most prolific traditional musician Rinsho Kadekaru, who died in1999. Classic songs including 'Nakuni' and 'Umi nu Chimbora' are performed by these legends of Okinawan music. In Okinawan terms imagine Lightin' Hopkins and Howling Wolf getting together one last time.

Syoei Kina, father of Shokichi Kina, has had very few albums released, despite his undoubted standing in the Okinawan music world. In 2001 this has been partly rectified with the release of two compilations. This CD concentrates on the upbeat, katcharsee style of music, recorded mostly in the 1970s. Mostly well known tunes, played with a funky style that all seems but lost these days.


Price:   £18.99

The second compilation album of Syoei Kina focuses on slower style ballads, but still manages to keep a gently rolling rhythm and funkiness, like no one else with the exception of Seijin Noborikawa. Not the standard solo sanshin, but accompanied by a band. Probably eclipses the katcharsee CD above but the two together make a perfect set to hear the range of real Okinawan music. Recommended.

21 track compilation from one of the greats of Okinawan music, Seijin Noborikawa. 'Seigwa' as he is sometimes referred to is known as the 'Okinawan Jimi Hendrix' for his fast sanshin playing. Born in Hyogo prefecture in Japan in 1930 he moved back to Okinawa when a child, formed an association with another great, the late Rinsho Kadekaru, taught a young Sadao China and became president of the Ryukyu Minyo Kyokai (Okinawan Traditional Music Society). He released relatively few albums, but this one includes examples from most of them, from his 1975 albums for JVC Victor, duets with Rinsho Kadekaru (including the sound sample) and later albums for Respect with Sadao China and Japanese rock band Soul Flower Union. Recommended.

Price:   £18.99

Probably Okinawa's two greatest living musicians get together for a recording. Sadao China is best known for producing the female quartet Nenes, and writing most of their songs. Noborikawa is from a generation above, a funky, bluesy musician and one of the great characters of Okinawan music. Pure traditional material, sung seperately and in unison. Sanshin and taiko drumming on selection of uptempo and plaintive material, some standards, some lesser known. Simple and simply brilliant.

Excellent new recording by the elder statesman of Okinawan traditional music, now in his twilight years, but his most prolific in recording terms. Raw, traditional album featuring sanshin, vocals and taiko drums. Good selection of material ranging from the very famous, 'Asadoya Yunta', 'Nakuni' to the talking blues kudochi style, and even Seijin's young grandchildren on the opening track.


Price:   £18.99

Enjoying a new found national fame after starring in two films, the early recordings of one of Okinawa's greatest musical figures. Includes Seijin's first ever recording, and other infectious tracks from a bygone era. Solo and with other legendary artists such as Sadao China, Rinsho Kadekaru and the Four Sisters.

Noborikawa's comeback album from 1998. Two CD set, the cover is in a Blue Note style, while the title refers to Noborikawa's similar status in Okinawa to Howling Wolf in the blues world. Brilliant stuff.


Price:   £20.99

It's been 14 years since the great Sadao China last released a studio recorded solo album. Since the classic female quartet Nenes disbanded, aside from working with the new Nenes he's recorded with Seijin Noborikawa and produced a few young singers. On Utamaai he is joined by Yasuko Yoshida, (ex-Nenes) on backing vocals, sanba (castanets) and his son Sadahito on additional sanshin. An album of mostly traditional tunes, with China's dry vocals, sanshin and ryu-kin (koto). Excellent album of pure Okinawan traditional music.

Classic recording from the 70s of Sadao China, and Kame Itokazu, more famous for her buyo, or Okinawan dance.


Price:   £18.99

Fantastic album of Yaeyama traditional songs performed in fairly traditional style, except for wonderful version of Tsuki nu Kaisha, featuring oud, bass and percussion.

As always from Daiku, a class album.

Remastered reissue of classic album by traditional music from Ishigaki island, Yaeyama. Pure, traditional, folk songs by this island's greatest musician, under who Tetsuhiro Daiku studied.


Price:   £17.99

Yaeyama dance song compilation.Old tunes and versions, many that Yaeyama's grandaddy of music, Yukichi Yamazato grew up with. Volumes 2 and 3 also available.

Traditional Yaeyama shima uta from Tetsuhiro Daiku's teacher.


Price:   £18.99

Similar to Tetsuhiro Daiku's albums, mixing Okinawa with Japanese chindon.Superb.

A stunning collection of traditional Yaeyama songs, the western group of the Ryukyu islands. Tetsuhiro Daiku, Yasukatsu Ohshima, Yukito Ara, Begin, are just some of the artists from Yaeyama who have played and popularized the music in Okinawa and Japan. Yoshihiro Higashitakanishi is known mostly only on the Yaeyama islands, as a superb singer and performer of traditional Yaeyama music. This 3 CD set includes rare island music gems.


Price:   £33.99

Volume 2 from locally known singer in Yaeyama, Yoshihiro Higashitakanishi. Many little performed songs from a group of islands with a rich musical history. Yaeyama music has close connections to Taiwan and Southeast Asia, the repertoire mainly working songs that evolved from working in the fields or at sea or songs used at religious ceremonies.

Combining music and comedy, a peer and teacher of Rinsuke Teruya, Seijin Noborikawa and others. Vintage recordings of including versions of Japanese hit songs. During his career, (he died in 1969) Onaha was also known as a collaborator with Four Sisters. A former great of Okinawan music, whose recordings are now made generally available.

Price:   £18.99

Second volume of 'mandan' a kind of stand up comedy with music. Unless you speak fluent Okinawan, the jokes will pass right through you, while musically is of marginal interest. Great atmosphere however, of a small club and entertainment in pre-war Okinawa.

Legendary musician and composer playing the traditional music beautifully, accompanied by stringed instruments, including some Japanese traditional influences.

Price:   £18.99

Pop versions of some of Tsuneo Fukuhara's most famous songs, including Bashofu, one of Okinawa's best loved pop songs. The presence of Four Sisters adds more weight and interest, otherwise can be a bit light.

Recordings made on Erabu islands by local ordinary folk enjoying life through song. Rough recordings, as if from 50 years ago, but a fascinating insight into the everyday tradition on a remote Okinawan island. Features 70 year old sanshin player and farmer Shigeru Hayashi, and Masayoshi Hiyashi. Put together by Shisar and An-Chang Project for whom these people have been a big influence.

Price:   £18.99

Traditional Yaeyama, Okinawan shima uta. Sanshin (lute) and vocals.

Respected elder Yaeyama musician, about on a par with Yukichi Yamazato, and produced by Yaeyama's best known musician Tetsuhiro Daiku. An album of Yaeyama standards.

Price:   £18.99

Imagine a male version of Nenes singing traditional style Yaeyama shima uta. One paced, without the charm of the female vocalists.

Solo sanshin and vocal from older Okinawan musician, hitherto, relatively unknown, but like so many others deserved of a wider audience.

Price:   £18.99

Traditional Okinawa shima uta, beautifully performed and recorded.

On Okinawan local label, traditional musician now in his 60s who has gained attention in Japan for his music for a drama series.

Price:   £18.99

An important musician, as the upholder of Miyako Island music traditions, this is remarkably only his third album. Traditional songs and music, some of it the first time to be recorded.

There isn't much recorded traditional music from Miyako island available beyond Genji Kuniyoshi, so this first release by locally respected musician is very welcome.

Released on Okinawan independent label.

Price:   £18.99

Veteran of Okinawan music scene, originally only available as cassette. Has been playing for 45 years and is much underrated outside of Okinawa.