Okinawa no minyo [Folk Songs in Okinawa]

OKAMURA [Kichiemon].

Okinawa no minyo [Folk Songs in Okinawa]

"While making this book, I was getting more and more nostalgic to Okinawa" (sic.)

First edition, one 100 copies, signed. Colour stencil printed throughout. 296 by 195. Orihon, original white crinkled handmade paper wrappers, printed title slip, in original folding case with matching printed title title slip, some wear to folding case and very faint foxing to title page, a very good copy. Unpaginated [title page], [18], [colophon]pp. N.p., private printed, Showa 36 [i.e. 1961]

[With:] OKAMURA (Kichiemon), MIYARA (Toso) interpretor, and SESOKO (Tsune) translator. Okinawa no Minyo [Folk Songs in Okinawa]. First edition, one of 100 copies. Staple bound, original printed paper wrappers, top right slightly bumped, otherwise a near fine copy. 9pp. Tokyo, Far Eastern Booksellers, n.d. [but, 1961.

£950.00

A beautiful book bringing Okinawan minyo (folk music) to life.

Each region of Japan has its own distinctive minyo songs, passed down orally from generation to generation. These were often sung by workers – farmers, fishermen and miners, for example – while they were working. Some songs have a humorous tone, while others are imbued with messages of hope for a good harvest. All the songs featured in this book can be found on YouTube. It is particularly enjoyable to experience this book with the songs playing.

This book was especially meaningful to Okamura. On the printed explanation booklet, he is quoted on the front:

Folk Songs of Okinawa are the songs of my beloved country.

I am far away from Okinawa, but my heart is always with Okinawa.

While making this book, I was getting more and more nostalgic to Okinawa.

Extremely rare. No copies in OCLC.

Stock No.

254595

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