Sunday, February 5, 2023

Okinawa - Music and Dance

I've listened and watched the Okinawan music and dance at the Shuri Castle site many times and I never get tired of it. The instruments, the music, the dance, and the costumes are all unique to Okinawa.









This three stringed instrument is called a sanshin.  It has a snakeskin covered body and is considered the heart of Okinawan folk music.



The Ryukyu bingata kimono is worn for this dance performance. Bingata is a traditional stencilled resist dyeing technique which originated in Okinawa.













The performances are free to watch and scheduled several times a day during the holiday season.

4 comments:

Toki said...

The scale that I am used to is different in Okinawa folk songs. Two musical scale are missing.
But Okinawa folk songs are very beautiful.

Queeniepatch said...

It looks so exotic! The Sanshin is a stringed instrument with a beautiful sound.

Jeanie said...

That kimono is beautiful. How wonderful you were able to see the performance! That would have been so memorable.

Leonore Winterer said...

That must be a really special event, even if it's held every day, because YOU don't get to see it every day! The costumes are stunning, I wish I could hear the music.