与那峯ぬ姉小 (The Maidens of Yonamine) is a traditional folk song from Miyako-jima, Okinawa, often sung after the upbeat, group-dancing “kuichā” songs that bring communities together in celebration.
Performed in the distinct Miyako dialect, which sets it apart from other Okinawan languages, this song captures a glimpse of daily life in Yonamine village. It follows young girls waking at dawn, doing their morning routine, and heading to the North Sea coast with their father’s fishing net, only to find the Mizuna and Paadara fish nowhere in sight.
Accompanied by the sanshin’s soft strums, it’s a glimpse into island routines, family ties, and the sea’s unpredictability, preserved through oral tradition.
Here is a rough translated version of the song, which each verse ending with the chorus “Uyaken-naaure”, roughly translating to “my heart is rich with happiness”:
The young girls of Yonamine, because they’re young, (my heart is rich with happiness),
Get up early in the morning, at sunrise.
Children, go get water and a ladle now,
And what do you do with the water and ladle?
Rub and wash your eyes clean, that’s what,
Rub and wash my eyes, and once fully awake,
The fishing net my father got ready for me,
The net my dear father folded with care,
I’ll go grab it, quickly go get it.
The North Sea coast, so long and wide,
I’ll walk the coast to catch Mizuna and Paadara fish,
But the Mizuna and Paadara could not be found anywhere!
Special thanks to Rika Tanahara from @sanshin_nakayuku for her assistance with the lyrics translation.
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