Okinawa Prefecture
One of Japan's leading resort areas

Population of Okinawa City: 140,000 people
The warm climate attracts many tourists.

Koza Music Town
Located at the town center

The place offers an Eisa experience,
a traditional folk dance from Okinawa.

A piano was placed here
for a limited period of time.

Cameras were set up to watch people play.

Father and Daughter living close by.

The father runs a chauffeur business.

The daughter is in finance.

Sakura (Dokushou)
Naotaro Moriyama (2003)

Bought a used piano a year ago
wanting to play his favorite song.

With the piano set up in his office,
he practices whenever he has time.

The father bought her the flute
she's been playing since middle school.

The daughter was the reason
he started learning the piano.

"I want to surprise her at her wedding."

"One day, but I guess I spoiled the surprise."

"I also wanted to play the flute as a surprise
at my own wedding."

"One day. There are no plans for it yet."

University student majoring in piano

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
French folk song

This was a song assigned
for a national piano competition.

She added an Okinawan flare to it,
which led to winning an award.

The inspiration came from
the beautiful skies of Okinawa.

"My dream is to become a theatric composer
for television and drama series."

Middle school teacher
Here with his wife and daughter

Intermezzo in A major Op.118-2
Johannes Brahms

Today is his wedding anniversary.

This was the song he performed
at his wedding 5 years ago.

Learned piano as a child only for a year,
picked up playing again later in life.

"Since today is our 5th wedding anniversary,
we thought it would be nice to play this song."

"I brought this music sheet, but I couldn't
play well because it's been so long."

"Do you guys want to come here?"

"It brought me back to our wedding day.
I was moved."

"My heart skipped a beat.
Thank you."

Father, 62 years old
Came to play with his son

Froggy's Song
German folk song

He took the song his 5-year-old son is learning,
turned it Okinawan-style.

He's been playing piano for 57 years,
formerly working at a music lesson school.

Retired 2 years ago,
moved here where his wife is from.

Okinawan folk songs have its own unique musical scale.

The melody is played by Sanshin,
a three-stringed instrument from Okinawa.

Okinawan folk songs are an essential
in local bars.

World War II left Okinawa with scorched earth.

But people still found their way to music
making Sanshin out of tin cans.

The folk song "Hiyamikachi Bushi" was composed
to uplift the locals and the ruined town.

"Hiyamikachi" means rising spirits.

Musician
Plays drums and piano at live music clubs

ASADOYA YUNTA
Okinawa folk song

He taught himself how to play the piano.

He used to perform songs
at the izakaya folk bar his parents own.

Sometimes felt frustrated as a kid
since he couldn't play pop music to perform.

Now he found a way to incorporate both,
making his own folk arrangements.

"As I got older,
I learned to appreciate folk songs more."

"However way I play, their melody
always leave a strong presence."

"That's what I love about it."

Piano teacher
and her 4th grade student

Jounetsu Tairiku
Taro Hakase with Ryota Komatsu (2000)

The theme song of a popular documentary.

Begged her teacher to learn this song,
started practicing it 4 months ago.

Her dream is to become a piano teacher.

"It wasn't that difficult.
I could have played the rhythm better."

"She's hard on herself."

Jazz pianist living in Okinawa

Playing an Okinawan folk medley
in the style of Jazz.

Her father is also a Jazz pianist.
She started when she was 3 years old.

After spending 16 years performing in bars,
she moved back to Okinawa a year ago.

She hopes to spread Okinawan folk music
with her unique arrangements.

"I want to combine Okinawan folk songs with
different genres and create new expressions."

"I'm still exploring the idea."

A friend joins in for a jam session.

He is the vocal of a popular band,
performing mainly in Okinawa.

Hiyamikachi Bushi
Okinawa folk song

This song is a cheer to the island locals,
expressing hope and honor with a lively tempo.

He says singing it is a real crowd-pleaser
as it continues to uplift the people.

Local, 56 years old
Came to have dinner with his friend

My Country Home
Nursery Rhyme (in Okinawan Dialect)

He spent his high school days in a band,
went on to working at family's soba factory.

He left home at age 29 to pursue music
against his father's will.

Learned to play the piano in his 30s,
began studying music composition.

"Mother and Father, how have you been?"

"How are the friends I left behind?"

"Whenever the rain falls or the wind blows"

"I reminisce, my country home"

"I've got a dream to achieve far away"

"Will I ever make it back?"

"Mighty mountains, my country home"

"Crystal waters, my country home"

"Heart of gold, my country home"

He now composes for TV and commercials.
He also made peace with his father.

"I was able to make up with my father
before he passed."

"He encouraged me to continue music
for the rest of my life."

"That's why I put a lot into the song."

"I sing in my dialect in hopes that these songs
reach my father and grandma in heaven."