Shimauta Performance and Introducing Singers/A translator

島唄実演（動画）

Yoisura Bushi (Yoisura Song)

Asabana Bushi (Morning Flowers)

Kurudando Bushi (The Sky Has Turned Overcast)

Shunjoshu Bushi (Mr. Shunjo)

Shunkane Bushi (Shunkane Song)

Itou (Work Song)

Ikyunnya Kana Bushi (Are You Going Away?)

Yachabo Bushi (Yachabo, The Homeless Man)

About the Singers

Nishi Kazumi

Nishi Kazumi was born at Nishikomi, Setouchi of Amami Oshima in 1942. Hearing her father-in-law’s singing of Amami shimauta, she was deeply impressed. Then, she was taught by Tsuboyama Yutaka. She got the best new singer award at the Amami Folk Song Contest by singing “Katoku Nabekana Song” in 1984. She won the Grand Prix at the Amami Folk Song Contest as the youngest winner ever of the Grand Prix in 1985. Took part in the “Folk Live” event of the International Folk Art Festival at the Smithsonian Institution in 1986, as a representative of Japan. 

She opened a restaurant in1983, specializing in Amami cooking, also offering folk song singing for entertainment, herself too singing. She fell sick in 2003 for a while, but recovering her health, she has been active in singing at her restaurant, offering a stage for traditional singing parities, encouraging young singers and local fans of shimauta.

Nakamura Mizuki

Nakamura Mizuki was born at Kasari of Amami City in 1979. When she was in the 5thgrade, she joined the “O-Kasari Children’s Folk Song Club” which aims to develop the traditional Amami Island music, and started to learn shimauta, the shamisen, and the August dance. She learned these arts under the guidance of Taichi Hiroo. Won the grand prix, singing “Katoku Nabekana Song” at the Amami Folk Song Contest in 2003. Won the grand prix at the Folk Song Festival sponsored by the Japan Folk Song Association, competing with many folk singers from all over Japan by singing “Yachabo Song” in 2006. In addition to her traditional way of singing, she is active enough to try various activities by collaborating with other musicians. 

She is a kind of a young leader for other young singers in the Amami Islands. Has many fans for her free and easy way of singing in her clear beautiful voice.

Maeyama Shingo

Maeyama Shingo was born in Nase, Amami City in 1983. He was thrilled by the beauty of Amami shimauta at age 19. He learned how to sing Amami shimauta from Ms. Ishihara Hisako. He has steadily improved his singing skills, winning the grand prix at the Amami Folk Song Contest by singing “Shunkane Song” in 2011. He won it for the first time in 10 years as a male singer, while female singers won the prize successively.

In addition to his traditional way of singing the Island songs, he has been collaborating with other musicians in different genres, trying new activities, working for diffusing the Amami Island songs. He played a part as a singer in a play in the long running TV drama in Japan, “Sego-Don” in 2018, thus widening the scope of his activities. At present, besides working at the home for the aged, “Nijino Oka“ (the Hill of Rainbow), he has been widely presenting his performances in the islands, in and out of the country.

Other artists:
Sakae Tadahiro for beating the drum and finger whistling
Higo Osayo, Mitsumoto Setsuko, Sakae Kazue for hand-clapping and dancing