Overview

The traditional music of Amami, known as `Shima-uta,` has a rich history and is still a large part of the culture on the island today. Shimauta is a form of folksong that is performed by singing while playing the shamisen also known as the sanshin (Japanese three string guitar). The Shima-uta songs are characterized by a lax time signature and the use

of falsetto notes in the vocals that Japanese called the `Uragoe.` Though Okinawan (Ryukyu) folk music is played with a unique musical scale that does not have re or la, the Shima-uta of The Amami Islands uses the same scale as the one used in mainland Japan, that does not have fa or ti.

It is also characterized by the use of the old language of Amami which is quite different from modern day Japanese. While there are upbeat joyous songs that are sung during celebrations, a large portion of the songs are blue and are a representation of the hardships the islanders faced.