Many music styles glitter like jewels on these small islands. The prayers of the islanders fill the spirit of the words with energy, the ever changing nature of music which heals people. From ancient times to modern Okinawa, the spiritual music of the islands has been a continuous tapestry.

.	.	Ryukyu=Okinawa	cent.			Japan	.	.
.	.	.	.	.	.	*Jomon Period(to 200 BC)	.	.
		.				*Yayoi Period(200 BC to 250 AD)
		.				*Kofun Period(Tumulus) (250-552AD)
		.				*Nara Period(646-794 AD)
		.				*Compilation of the "Manyoshu"
		.				*Emergence of the Waka 5-7 meter verse form.
		.	-	10C.	-	*Heian Period(794- 1185 AD)
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		Sacred songs are sung.	-	11C.	-	.
		.	.	.	.	.
		.	.	.	.	*Nenbutsu Buddhist songs achieve popularity
		.	-	12C.	-	.
		.	.	.	.	.
		.	.	.	.	.
		.	-	13C.	-	.
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		.	-	14C.	-	*Imayo Heian style verse
		.	.	.	.	*Transmission of Buddhism
		.	.	.	.	.
		Transmission of the Sanshin (14th-15th centuries)	-	15C.	-	.
		First visit of Sappushi envoys from China	.	.	.	*Spread of Nembutsu Dancing
		.	.	.	.	.
		Formation of Ryuka 8-8-8-6 verse form?	-	16C.	-	.
		Compilation of the "Omoro-soushi" (1531)	.	.	.	*Noh Theater becomes popular
		.	.	.	.	*Appearance of the Shamisen
		Transmission of Chondara Puppetry?	.	.	.	.
		Transmission of Eisa Folk Dances	-	17C.	-	.
		Taichu arrives (1603)	.	.	.	*Satsuma warriors invade Ryukyu
		Kenchu Kochi (1623-1683)	.	.	.	.
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		Chokun Tamagusuku (1684-734)	.	.	.	.
		Choki Yakabi (1716-1775)	-	18C.	-	.
		First production of "Kumi-odori" (1719)	.	.	.	.
		Unna Nabi?	.	.	.	*Appearance of the Kabuki
		Kuduchi is popular	.	.	.	*Formation of the Kinsei Kouta 7-7-7-5 verse form
		Seikiko Chinen (1761-1828)	.	.	.	.
		.	-	19C.	-	.
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		Ryojin Kin(1873-1936)	.	.	.	.
		Kamechiyo Kochi (1896-1969)	.	.	.	.
		First production of Kageki Opera (Around 1897)	.	.	.	.
		Tumaiaka is a hit (1910)	-	20C.	-	.
		Haruyuki Miyazato(1911-1992)	.	.	.	.
		Tokutaro Shiroma(1933- )	.	.	.	.
		Post WWII	.	.	.	Post WWII
		Choki Fukuhara makes first album (1947)	.	.	.	.
		Shuei Kohama and Rinsho Kadekaru rediscover Shimauta folk songs	.	.	.	.
		Okinawa's first Jazz band (1950)	-	'50	-	.
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		Sumiko Yoseyama debuts (1956)	.	.	.	.
		Rinsuke Teruya's "Watabu-Show" (1957)	.	.	.	.
		.	.	.	.	.
		.	-	'60	-	.
		Shokichi Kina's "Haisai, Ojisan" (1964)	.	.	.	.
		Tsuneo Fukuhara's "Bashofu" (1965)	.	.	.	.
		Rinsho Kadekaru releases album	.	.	.	.
		Murasaki established (1970)	.	.	.	.
		Shokichi Kina and Champloos established (1971)	-	'70	-	.
		Condition Green established (1971)	.	.	.	.
		Reversion to Japan 1972	.	.	.	.
		Okinawa Folk Mura (1972)	.	.	.	.
Yutaka Sadoyama's "Duchui-muni" (1972)	.	.	.	.
Yara Fumio Trio established (1975)	-	'75	-	.
Seijin Noborikawa's "Churabiki" (1975)	.	.	.	.
Rinken Band formed (1977)	.	.	.	.
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.	.	.	.	.
.	-	'80	-	.
Island formed (1983)	.	.	.	.
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WALTZ formed (1987)	.	.	.	.
Rinken Band start Tokyo sales of album "Arigato"(1988)	.	.	.	.
Ne-Nes formed (1990)	-	'90	-	.
Diamantes debut (1992)	.	.	.	.
Hidekatsu emerges (1993)	.	.	.	.
Yukito Ara and Pasha Club formed (1994)	.	.	.	.
Shigeaki Nishidomari's "Kaze no Donan" (1995)	.	.	.	.
Jigokuguruma formed (1996)	.	.	.	.
Indian Hi formed (1997)	.	.	.	.
Mongol 800 formed (1998)	.	.	.	.
.	-	21C.	-	.
Photo : Hiroshi Shimabukuro (STUDIO PLANET)