Asadoya yunta

The sanshin tabulature (kunkunshi) for Asadoya yunta.

• Japanese: 安里屋ユンタ (asadoya yunta)

Asadoya yunta is a traditional folk song from the Yaeyama Islands which, in a version with lyrics in standard Japanese, has become the most popular, or most widely-known Okinawan folk song.

The original Yaeyama lyrics tell of a girl named Kuyaama, from Taketomi Island, who is to be given as a bribe to an official. She refuses him, however, and the official takes a different girl as his wife. Kuyaama marries a man from the island, and goes on to live a poor but happy life.

References

• "Asadoya yunta." Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia 沖縄コンパクト事典. Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003.