Islands of Song: The Dynamics of Tradition and Modernity in Shima-uta (Island Songs) and Shin min’yō (New Folk Songs)

This article explores the role of song in shaping and expressing island identity in the Amami Islands 奄美群島 of southwest Japan, with a focus on the genres of shima-uta 島唄 (island songs) and shin min’yō 新民謡 (new folk songs). These two musical styles serve as distinct cultural emblems, each reflecting different historical roots, stylistic influences and social functions. The former is anchored in traditional culture and the latter is a more recent tradition connected with twentieth-century commercial recordings. By examining similarities and differences between these genres, this study demonstrates that Amami identity as conveyed through song is not static, but a dynamic process of cultural negotiation. Through shima-uta and shin min’yō, performers and communities continuously navigate the tensions between tradition and modernity, articulating a fluid sense of belonging, representation and imagination.