Song of Okinawa Prefecture

For the music of Okinawa Prefecture in general, see Okinawan music.

Okinawa kenmin no uta
English: Song of Okinawa Prefecture
沖縄県民の歌
Prefectural song of Okinawa Prefecture
LyricsSeiko Miyazato [ja]
MusicShigeru Shiroma [ja]
AdoptedMay 15, 1972 (1972-05-15)
Audio sample
First 15 seconds

The "Song of Okinawa Prefecture" (Japanese: 沖縄県民の歌, Hepburn: Okinawa kenmin no uta) was adopted on May 15, 1972, upon the United States' return of Okinawa Prefecture to Japan. Its lyrics were written by local teacher Seiko Miyazato [ja], with music composed by University of the Ryukyus professor Shigeru Shiroma [ja].

History

The U.S. militarily occupied the Ryukyu Islands after defeating Japan in the Pacific War of World War II.[1] After diplomatic meetings in 1969, the U.S. agreed to return Okinawa Prefecture to Japan within three years.[2] In preparation, the Japanese government held a public contest to compose an official prefectural song – the country's first – to "cultivate the Okinawan people's pride and love".[3][4]

Music composed by Shigeru Shiroma [ja], a professor of education at the University of the Ryukyus, was chosen to accompany lyrics by Seiko Miyazato [ja], then a teacher at Nakazato Junior High School in Kumejima, Kume Island.[4] The governor of Okinawa Prefecture announced the song's adoption through a public notice (#4) on May 15, 1972, the day the prefecture was returned to Japan.[5] The song's instrumental is performed at the prefectural government's annual ceremony marking Okinawa Prefecture's return to Japan.[3]

On March 18, 2012, following a public survey, the Okinawa Prefectural government designated "Tinsagu nu Hana" as "Okinawa Prefecture's favorite song".[6] It subsequently became an official symbol of Okinawa Prefecture, making it the prefecture's second musical symbol alongside the "Song of Okinawa Prefecture".[7][8]

References

  1. ^ Yamaguchi, Mari (May 13, 2022). "Explainer: Why frustration lingers in Okinawa 50 years later". AP News. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  2. ^ "Memorandum From the President's Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon". Office of the Historian. Foreign Service Institute. March 12, 1969. Retrieved December 17, 2024. The U.S. agrees in 1969 to return Okinawa to Japanese administration within three years on the basis of mutually agreed conditions and following the completion of detailed negotiations.
  3. ^ a b Nakayama, Ichiro, ed. (2012). 全国 都道府県の歌・市の歌 [Songs of Prefectures and Cities Across Japan] (in Japanese). Tokyodo Shuppan. p. 426. ISBN 978-4-490-20803-0. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  4. ^ a b 沖縄県(その3)‥沖縄県民の歌──初の県民歌の知られざる前身 [Okinawa Prefecture (Part 3) – Song of Okinawa Prefecture: The Unknown Antecedent of the First Prefectural Song]. Novel Up Plus (in Japanese). 2023.
  5. ^ 沖縄県公報 – 資料紹介 [Okinawa Prefectural Gazette – Document Introduction]. Okinawa Prefectural Archives (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 17, 2015.
  6. ^ Kina, Daisaku (March 19, 2012). 「てぃんさぐぬ花」　県民愛唱歌に制定 [The myth of the Ryukyu Kingdom flag]. Ryūkyū Shimpō (in Japanese). Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  7. ^ 沖縄のシンボル [Symbols of Okinawa]. Okinawa Prefecture Official Website (in Japanese). Okinawa Prefectural Government. July 11, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  8. ^ 県民愛唱歌うちなぁかなさうた「てぃんさぐぬ花」 [Okinawa Prefecture's favorite song "Tinsagunu Hana"]. Okinawa Prefecture Official Website (in Japanese). Okinawa Prefectural Government. July 11, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
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