Okinawan Folk

General
#1

This isn’t shamisen related, but as we all know, we’re not always good at staying on subject, so whatever. A friend on JET who had lived in Ishigaki, Okinawa sent me this link awhile ago. It’s Shimoji Isamu playing his song “Oba.” He’s from Miyako-jima, Okinawa, and sings in the local language. I’ve always been really into linguistics, and anything about non-standard languages/dialects fascinates me. Really though, take one listen to this and I don’t know how you could call the Ryukuan languages a dialect of Japanese. You can tell they come from the same place, but this would be completely unintelligible to a Japanese speaker. There are straight up sounds that you don’t find in Japanese. … … …

You know what, just watch the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rjl0XOfhPM

#2

What a great song!
I agree with you that the language he is singing is not Japanese but a unique Okinawan language.
However I imagine that it is a similar situation to venice in Italy where there is a unique venetian language but most people speak a dialect of italian that has phrases and pronunciation from venetian
As this website says ( Introduction To The Okinawan Language: Uchina Guchi ) Japanese isn’t a native language in okinawa - the website is a nice intro to Uchina Guchi.

Than you v much for the interesting post

  • or as they say in Okinawa: Nifee deebiru :slight_smile:
#3

Hi! From aichi prefecture,Japan. My name is Kyoko.
I visited Okinawa last March and had a wonderful time. I played sannshinn and felt super light and inexpensive. I missed the chance to buy one, though.
It is easy to talk with Okinawa people in common Japanese language because they all speak Japanese with some Okinawa accent. It is so charming that I love listening to their language. Lifestyle there was slow moving compared with the main land of Japan and I was happy to be laid back.
Traditional Okinawa language as in those songs must be, of course, totally different independent one. I guess I cannot communicate with a person in talking in that old style.
By the way, whole culture in Okinawa is very different from ours and the trip was just like an oversea travel without a passport.
I am happy to answer any questions from all over the world.
Have a nice day!

#4

Hi Kyoko,

Yes, Okinawa seems very different from mainland Japan! Masako went there for vacation and sent me pictures. It almost reminds me of somewhere like hawaii! 天気が違うので沖縄人の気持ちと日本人の気持ちも違うですね。 I would like to go sometime. :slight_smile: I love their traditional dance.

It is good to have you on Bachido! Welcome, welcome! :slight_smile:

#5

Thanks for your reply, Kyle. Okinawa dance looks really Japanese ancestor. Every Japanese culture seems to be originated in Okinawa and Korea. Things might have been more complicated, though.

We must learn archaeology if stick to it. I should practice my shamisen more (￣^￣)ゞ

じゃあ、また(^O^)／

#6

Went to Okinawa this past week and got to try Sanshin and the eisa drum dance, and it was all a lot of fun. I really liked the laid back atmosphere and how in touch they seemed to be with their traditional culture, even if it is partially for the sake of tourism. A lot of Japanese seem to be really out of touch with their own culture, which has become a focus of my studies this semester, but is something I find kind of depressing. It was a refreshing experience, and I’m not too excited to be back because I have a paper to write. I should also mention that Okinawa seems to be behind the curve when it comes to speaking Japanese with foreigners; most of the foreigners they meet are from the military base and speak no Japanese, so they seem to feel that they need to engage foreigners in English and sometimes when you try to speak to them in Japanese they don’t catch what you say because they’re listening for English…

#7

It is nice to know Eric had a good time in Okinawa. We are sorry to be unable to respond in Japanese. I can speak English, but suddenly cannot switch my channel of the language.
Whenever I get a call from my American friend, I answer in English. Poor Albert is speaking in Japanese! He greets Yaah, Kyoko gen ki de su ka? ( How are you doing,
Kyoko?)
I go in English , Oh, thanks, I m fine. What’s up? Which I always think I should have answered in Japanese. — アルバート？ ありがと、元気だよ。
This kind of strange conversation is happening every day all over Japan. Japanese comedians often take up this situation and make us laugh!
it is just our DNA to be ready according to the others mother tongue.

じゃあまたね(^O^)／

#8

I was in Okinawa recently on ethnomusicological field research on Sanshin and identity. The language of the Video is Miyako language, which is one of 6 (!) languages of Ryukyu that are incompatible to each other. Unfortunately, the language of daily life has become japanese (due to colonial policy the Okinawan languages are in Japan regarded as dialects), so that every of this six languages is endangered, yet the traditional songs (often referred to as shimauta) and the traditional music theater are still performed in the old languages.
The Sanshin has a way more important role in Okinawan culture, than the Shamisen (or the chinese Sanxien) ever had, so it ha sbecome kind of a national symbol there.
If someone is interested in the Okinawa topic, please write me, I would like to exchange on this a lot).
沖縄のことにつて話したいので、返事して下さい。日本語ででも大丈夫です。

#9

I was in Okinawa recently on ethnomusicological field research on Sanshin and identity. The language of the Video is Miyako language, which is one of 6 (!) languages of Ryukyu that are incompatible to each other. Unfortunately, the language of daily life has become japanese (due to colonial policy the Okinawan languages are in Japan regarded as dialects), so that every of this six languages is endangered, yet the traditional songs (often referred to as shimauta) and the traditional music theater are still performed in the old languages.
The Sanshin has a way more important role in Okinawan culture, than the Shamisen (or the chinese Sanxien) ever had, so it ha sbecome kind of a national symbol there.
If someone is interested in the Okinawa topic, please write me, I would like to exchange on this a lot).
沖縄のことにつて話したいので、返事して下さい。日本語ででも大丈夫です。

Ive studied sanshin for quite awhile alongside okinawan culture, would love to visit someday, only ever been to hawaii like 32 times haha
i’m told its very much like okinawa as most people in hawaii are okinawan :slight_smile: and same vise versa

Would always love to learn moar :3

#10

Cana -I was in Okinawa for the first time in 2011 (we had a koto concert there), and it was beautiful. Feels very different from “mainland” Japan. Flora is gorgeous (didn’t see any “fauna” except the aquarium, which is totally worth the effort to visit). People are pretty laid back. The Okinawan food was delicious. I enjoyed seeing the similarities and differences in the music, traditional dress, architecture, etc.I as compared to Japan, and really hope to get back there some day…

Kyle, how 'bout an Okinawan Bachido conference a couple of years after the Hokkaido one?!? :-D. (Surely some of your Japanese Tsugaru associates might be interested in a trip there… :wink: )

#11

heh would love to go but i have no money, or any pets or fam to tie me down.
or school for that matter >.>;;

would be awesome to go but i would get lost on my own too, more lost then i am now.

maybe sometime for vacation if i ever get lucky haha
only 18 right now … so vacation on my own would be abit… weird

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