Notable Ryukyuan Music
| Title | Local name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| "Tinsagu nu hana" "Chinsagu nu hana" ("Tensagu no hana") |
てぃんさぐぬ花 ちんさぐぬ花 (てんさぐの花) |
"The Balsam Flowers"; a warabe uta; Okinawan children will squeeze the sap from balsam flowers to stain their fingernails. The lyrics of the song are Confucian teachings. Of the six verses, the first three relate to filial piety, while the latter three refer to respecting one's body and one's goals. Each verse has exactly the same number notes using language and meter devices that are solely Ryukyuan. The English translation tells of the content of the verses but fails to convey the precision and the beauty of the song: "Just as my fingernails are stained with the pigment from balsam flowers, my heart is painted with the teachings of my parents. Although the stars in the sky are countable, the teachings of my parents are not. Just as ships that run in the night are guided to safety by the North star, I am guided by my parents who gave birth to me and watch over me. There's no point in possessing magnificent jewelry if you don't maintain it; people who maintain their bodies will live life wonderfully. The desires of the person who lives sincerely will always run true and as a result she will prosper. You can do anything if you try, but you can't if you don't." |
| "Asadoyā yunta" "Asadoya yunta" |
安里屋ユンタ 安里屋ゆんた |
"Song of Asadoyā"; Originating at Taketomi in the Yaeyama Islands, this is one of the most recognized and often performed Ryukyuan folk songs. |
| "Tanchamē" | 谷茶前 | a song originating in the village of Tancha in Onna, Okinawa |
| "Tōshin dōi" | 唐船ドーイ 唐船どーい |
"A Chinese Ship Is Coming"; The most famous kachāshī dance song, it is often performed as the last song of a Ryukyuan folk music show. |
| "Nākunī" "Naakunii" |
ナークニー | a lyrical song expressing deep longing |
| "Haisai ojisan" | ハイサイおじさん | a "new min'yō", music and lyrics by Shoukichi Kina |
| "Bye-bye Okinawa" | バイバイ沖縄 | music and lyrics by Sadao China |
| "Akata Sun dunchi" "Akata Sundunchi" |
赤田首里殿内 | "Inside Akata Shrine in Shuri" |
| "Tsuki nu kaisha" "Chiki nu kaisha" |
月ぬ美しゃ | "The Moon is Beautiful"; a song from the Yaeyama Islands |
| "Bashōfu" | 芭蕉布 | Bashōfu is Ryukyuan banana cloth. |
| "Kādikū" "Kadiku" |
嘉手久 | a courtship kachāshī dance song |
| "Shichi-gwachi eisā" | 七月エイサー | an eisā dance song |
| "Warabi-gami" | 童神 | a lullaby |
| "Shima nu hito" | 島ぬ女 | "Island Woman" |
| "Nishinjō bushi" | 西武門節 | written in 1933 by Matsuo Kawata (川田松夫?) |
| "Sai-sai bushi" | さいさい節 サイサイ節 |
a drinking song originally from Okinoerabujima in the Amami Islands; "Sai" is the Amami word for sake. |
| "Irabu tōgani" | 伊良部とーがに | a song from Irabu in the Miyako Islands |
| "Kagiyadefū bushi" "Kagiyadefuu bushi" "Kajadifū bushi" |
かぎやで風節 | a classical (koten) Ryukyuan dance song; Also called "Gojin fū" (御前風?), it was played before Ryukyuan kings during the Shuri dynasty. |
| "Jin jin" "Jing jing" |
ジンジン | a warabe uta; The title means "firefly"; the lyrics implore the firefly to "come down and drink". Shoukichi Kina and Champloose's version of this song, with slide guitar by Ry Cooder, was a minor hit in British discos. Takashi Hirayasu and Bob Brozman released a 2000 collaboration album by the same title that is a collection of various Ryukyuan songs or nursery rhymes. Their song "Jin Jin" is track 6 on this album. |
| "Tenyō bushi" | てんよー節 | A common song involving red and white flags played at the Obon Festival. |
| "Nada Sōsō" | 涙そうそう | "Great Tears Are Spilling", 2000 single with music by Begin, lyrics by Ryoko Moriyama |
| "Hana – Subete no hito no kokoro ni hana wo" | 花~すべての人の心に花を~ | music and lyrics by Shoukichi Kina |
- "Futami Jouwa"
- "Ninjoubushi"
- "Kudaka"
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