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Asadoya Yunta

Playing Asatoya Yunta, a traditional Okinawa Minyou song, on the Sanshin. The Sanshin is a three stringed instrument similar to the Japanese Shamisen.

Okinawan folk music (from Yaeyama): Asadoya Yunta. Originally a folk song from the island of Taketomi in the small cluster of islands known as Yaeyama (most southern part of the Ryukyu archipelago), where it is often performed with no instrumental accompaniment. Women sing to the accompaniment of sanshin, kutu, kucho (four-string bowed lute) and yotsudake (bamboo castanets). Asado (Asato) is a family name; ya means "house"/"family"; and yunta is a local term for a group work song. The original, in local dialect, tells the story of the beautiful Kuyama of that family being courted by a government official. Around 1940 a Japanese-language version was made to appeal to the mainland Japanese, in connection with a film. Even the Okinawans (who are losing their dialect) tend to sing the Japanese version, except, of course, back in Yaeyama. A classical (koten) piece, known as "Asadoya Bushi," is derived from this folk song, with similar melody, but slower tempo and performed without the bamboo castanets. (notes courtesy of David Hughes)

[SAA] kimi wa nonaka no ibara no hana ka kurete kaereba yarehon ni hikitomeru [MATAHAARI NU TSUINDARA KANUSHAMAYO] [MATAHAARI NU TSUINDARA KANUSHAMAYO] [SAA] ureshi hazukashi ukina wo tatete nushi wa shirayuri yarehon ni mamanaranu [MATAHAARI NU TSUINDARA KANUSHAMAYO] [MATAHAARI NU TSUINDARA KANUSHAMAYO] [SAA] tagusa torunara izayoizukiyo futari de kigane mo yarehon ni mizuirazu [MATAHAARI NU TSUINDARA KANUSHAMAYO] [MATAHAARI NU TSUINDARA KANUSHAMAYO] [SAA] somete agemashou konji no kosode kakete okure yo nasake no tasuki [MATAHAARI NU TSUINDARA KANUSHAMAYO] [MATAHAARI NU TSUINDARA KANUSHAMAYO] English translation: Oh, My wife is as a flower amidst a bed of thorns. I hold you back when I return at dusk. Oh, How happy, how ashamed to acquire a name of unfaithfulness. My husband is like a white lily but too much for me to control Oh, After working in the fields under the sixteen day old moon, the two of us alone but somehow constrained I have dyed for you, a dark blue kimono. Please wear it with a sash as a sign of my affection. Oh, Welcome to Okinawa, the green island with the four seasons of Spring, summer, fall, and winter.