Nēnēs (ネーネーズ) is an Okinawan folk music group formed in 1990 by China Sadao (知名定男).[1] The group name means "sisters" in Okinawan. Nēnēs is composed of four female singers who perform traditional Okinawan folk songs in traditional costume with sanshin accompaniment; they have also performed with a backing band, Sadao China Gakudan. They toured Europe and played New York City in 1994.[2] An independent release, IKAWŪ, landed them a recording contract with Sony Records and a collaboration with Ryuichi Sakamoto.[1] They hold a resident gig at the Live House Shima-Uta club in Naha, Okinawa.[1] [3]

Members

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Nēnēs Members
Original Members
1990–1997
Misako Koja [ja]
Yasuko Yoshida
Namiko Miyazato
Yukino Hiyane
古謝 美佐子
吉田 康子
宮里 奈美子
比屋根 幸乃
1997–1999 Yasuko Yoshida
Namiko Miyazato
Yukino Hiyane
Eriko Touma
吉田 康子
宮里 奈美子
比屋根 幸乃
當眞 江里子
1999–2003 Ryōko Koyama
Erina Miyagi
Kiyoka Ikei
Keiko Hirata
小山 良子
宮城 江利奈
伊計 季代花
平田 桂子
2004–present Ayumi Yonaha [4]
Ayano Higa
Nagisa Uehara
Izumi Kinjō
與那覇 歩
比嘉 綾乃
上原 渚
金城 泉

Discography

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Year Title Japanese Label Notes
1991 IKAWŪ IKAWŪ (行かうー) Disc Akabana
1992 Yunta ユンタ Sony Records
1993 Ashibi あしび Sony Records
1994 Koza Dabasa コザdabasa Sony Records
1995 Nārabi なーらび Sony Records selections featuring Balinese jegog ensemble "Suar Agung" [5]
1995 Natsu – Urizun 夏 ~ うりずん Sony Records
1996 Koza – Nēnēs Best Collection コザ ~ ネーネーズ・ベスト・コレクション Sony Records
1997 Akemodoro – Unai 明けもどろ ~ うない Antinos Records
2000 Okinawa – Memorial Nēnēs オキナワ ~ メモリアル・ネーネーズ Antinos Records
2002 Chura Uta 美らうた Dig Records
2002 Saudade Okinawa – Healing Selection サウダージ・オキナワ ~ ヒーリングセレクション Epic Records Japan
2002 Saudade Uchinā – Nēnēs & Friends Collection サウダージ・ウチナー ~ ネーネーズ&フレンズ・セレクション Ki/oon Records
2004 Nēnēs Golden Best ネーネーズ GOLDEN☆BEST Sony Records
2004 Shū Dig Records
2008 Sai Dig Records

Nēnēs also sang in the title track of Talvin Singh's Ok album.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Nippop Nenes Profile. Accessed May 16, 2007.
  2. ^ NENES Archived 2007-08-12 at the Wayback Machine. Far Side Music. Accessed May 16, 2007.
  3. ^ Live House Shima-Uta
  4. ^ Nenes Archived 2006-06-17 at archive.today at Dig Music Promotion
  5. ^ ネーネーズ(初代) Accessed March 25, 2008

Bibliography

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  • Henry Johnson, Nenes’ Koza Dabasa: Okinawa in the World Music Market. London: Bloomsbury Academic. (2021) ISBN 978-1-5013-5124-2
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