Category Archives: Research

Profiles of Giants of the Ryukyuan Music Performing Arts ⑪ Seizui Isagawa (1872-1937) Master Teacher of Nomura Ryu (Style) and editor of Nomura Ryu KunKunShi (uta-sanshin) Born Febrary 28th, 1872, in Kume, Naha City. At age 36, he entered Master … Continue reading →

Profiles of Giants of the Ryukyuan Music Performing Arts ⑩ Ryoshin Kuwae (1831-1914) Master Teacher of Nomura Ryu(Style) (uta-sanshin) Born December 12th, 1831. He was a student of Ansho Nomura. In 1866, he participated in the last sapposhi、on May 4th, … Continue reading →

Profiles of Giants of the Ryukyuan Music Performing Arts ⑨ ShinShin Matsumura (1835-1896) Matsumura was born in Shuri, on January 1st, 1835. He was a student of Ansho Nomura as well as his primary assistant in the editing of the … Continue reading →

Profiles of Giants of the Ryukyuan Music Performing Arts ⑨ ShinShin Matsumura (1835-1896) Matsumura was born in Shuri, on January 1st, 1835. He was a student of Ansho Nomura as well as his primary assistant in the editing of the … Continue reading →

Profiles of Giants of the Ryukyuan Music Performing Arts ⑧ Ancho Nomura (1805-1871) Founder of Nomura Ryu(Style) (uta-sanshin) Nomura was born in Sakiyama (some say Akabira), Shuri, on June 2nd, 1805. He was on of the premier students of Chinen … Continue reading →

Profiles of Giants of the Ryukyuan Music Performing Arts ⑦ Seigen Afuso (1785-1865) Uta-Sanshin Afuso Ryu (Style) Founder Master Afuso was born in present day Tera Cho, Shuri, February 15th, 1785. Born to the son of a Magistrate, like his … Continue reading →

Profiles of Giants of the Ryukyuan Music Performing Arts ⑥ Sekko Chinen – 1761-1828 Born in feudal Ryukyu, May 5th, 1761 to a family of the farming class in Tobaru, Shuri, Young Sekko’s first ambition was to become a medical … Continue reading →

Profiles of Giants of the Ryukyuan Music Performing Arts ⑤ Chouki Yakabi (1716-1775) The father of Ryukyu Musical Scores Chouki Yakabi was born January 19th, 1719, in Shuri, the capitol city of the Ryukyu kingdom, the 4th son of (Anji) … Continue reading →

Profiles of Giants of the Ryukyuan Music Performing Arts ④ Aka Inko (late 1400`s – mid 1500`s?) The origins of the Ryukyuan, or Okinawan Uta-Sanshin is Akainko. Some refute him ever being an actual person, but only myth. He is … Continue reading →

From time to time a musician changes the existing paradigm for an instrument or style of music. Jake Shimabukuro is an American of Okinawan ancestry. Listen to this ukelele virtuoso on youtube. His website is http://www.jakeshimabukuro.com/