Video List


	Amaka / 04:05 This dance was created in the Ryukyu Kingdom era. The theme of this dance expresses the feeding of satisfaction and the contentment of making love on secret.

	Kashikaki / 03:59 The literal meaning of KASHIKAKI is, labor to make yarn for weaving. KASHI stands for a tool for spinning. This dance is one of the wellknown Okinawan classic dances, because of its sophisticated movements and the universality of the theme: A wife at home making clothes for her husband.

	Nnimajin / 05:17 The desire to see a plentiful harvest each year was one shared by every Ryukyuan from the king down to the lowliest peasant. The dancer of Nnimazin performs holding a bunch of rice ears, which were considered to symbolize the prosperity(yugafu) that was the concomittant of a rich harvest.

	Yotsutake / 05:25 The costume of this dance consists of a gorgeous Kimono called a Bingata, and a large flower-shaped hat. The dancers clap bamboo pieces together thoroghout the dance.

	Wakashu Kuti bushi / 04:28 This dance belongs to the category of wakashuodori(boys dances), which were originally performed by boys of about fourteen or fifteen prior to the comming-of-age ceremony.

	Takaderamanzai / 04:16 This dance originated from a Kumi Odori, or a theatrical drama called Manzai Tichiuchi. This dance tells the story of two brothers who accomplished their mission to avenge their father's death.

	Nubui Kuduchi / 03:29 After Ryukyu had come under the domination of the southernmost Kyushu province of Satsuma in 1609, members of the Ryukyuan nobility were obliged to travel frequently to Kagoshima, the Satsuma capital, and to the Japanese capital of Edo on political and offcial business. The text of Nubui kuduchi describes the journey between Shuri, starting at the Kannondo temple, culminating at the end of the long sea voyage in arrival at Kagoshima. The musical form is that of the kuduchi, a Japanese idiom charcterized by strophic presentation of an extended text.

	Zei / 04:33 Zei is a little flag-like dancing tool held in the hands while dancing. A movement is made to symbolize a command given by a Samurai officer. This dance shows the a brave warrior's spirit going to the battlefield.

	Shundo / 07:18 The meaning of the title of this song is "An Ugly Girl." In it there are two pairs of girls: one ugly and the other beautiful. The ugly girls want to join the beatiful girls in play, but the beatiful girls refuse because the other are so ugly and dirty. The agly girls feel disappointed and retunes backstage while making some comical movements, such as swinging and throwing their buttocks.


	Hatomabushi / 03:01 Hatoma is a tiny island, only four kilometres in circumference, in the Yaeyama group. This dance is based on a traditional folk song from Hatoma entitled Hatuma Nakamuri. The dance was choreographed about 1920 by the popular actor Iraha Inkichi(1886-1951) using the music from Yaeyama although performed at a much faster tempo than that of the original.

	Kanjeku / 04:53 The style of the verse is comprised of seven and five syllables. This style is typical of Kuduchi, or a ballad. The song has 21 verses. The story goes as follows : A lazy blacksmith who lived in the village of Ifa, Misato, fooled around for a month with a party girl named Mosa. He spent all of his money and coud not pay her madam. As a result, Mosa paid the expenses for him because he was going to kill himself by jumping off a high bridge. The dance of Kanjeku is very popular for its lively tempo and comical plot. The cast members are: a lazy blacksmith named Kanafi, a party girl named Mosa, and her Madam.

	Hanafu / 05:49 This dance is said to be one of the finest among Zo Odoris. The Zo Odori dances are diffrent from the Koten Buyo, or classical dances that originated in the Ryukyu Kingdom. The Zo Odori dances were composed after the Meiji period. This dance depicts a young lady seeing her lover off from the cliff of Migushiku. This dance was created in 1894 and attracted people by its new perspective on party girls. Its elegant movement with an umbrella made the dance very popular.

	Tanchame / 03:50 This dance depicts life in the fising village section called "Tancha", of Onna village, which is located in the middle of Okinawa. This dance is performed with a man holding an oar and a woman holding a bamboo basket. The movement is rather more realistic than abstract.

	Nuchibana / 04:34 At the time of its creation by Tamagusuku Seiju almost a century ago this zo odori dance was entitled Nuchibana-gwa in order to distinguish it from the classical onna odori known at the time merely as Nuchibana. However, Nuchibana-gwa achieved such popularity that it eventually appropriated the name Nuchibana to itself, after which the classical dance had to be renamed Mutu Nuchibana.


	Kurushima Kuduchi / 02:05 This dance lets the dancers sing as much as the chorus. In this repect, this song is unique. This is one of the songs which praises as island. It is known for its well arranged words, and light and cheerful dancing.

	Itomanotome / 03:43 Being choreographed by outstanding dance-master Yuko Majikina in the middle of Showa era. This dance depicts the scene of fish-wife's life a Itoman which was a well known village for fishery.

	Akanmabushi / 03:30 Although this dance is different from the original one which originated in Yaeyama island, Miyagi Minoru who was charismatic Kumiodori player choreographed as a more lively piese.