Updated 12/5/14, 6/5/15
“Warabi-gami,” like “Hana,” reaches deep into the soul of Okinawa.
童神 (Warabi-gami) – 古謝 美佐子 / God Child – Misako Kojya Eng Sub. Uploaded to YouTube by Kazu H on 3/16/12.
“Warabigami” (Children of God) performed by Koja Misako (古謝美佐子). This Okinawan lullaby was written by Koja and composed by Sahara Kazuya.
Added 6/5/15: “上間綾乃 Ayano Uema 童神 Warabi-gami / A Child of God” uploaded by 上間綾乃専用 on 5/17/14.
『童神』 warabigami ☆ 古謝美佐子 ☆ 夏川りみ ‘Natsukawa Rimi.’ Uploaded to YouTube by 夏川りみ [Natsukawa Rimi] on 4/8/12.
This version is performed by Koja and Natsukawa Rimi. Natsukawa’s version is the more standard Japanese (Yamatoguchi) lyrics (see below) while Koja’s is decidedly Uchinaguchi.
Romaji (Yamatoguchi version)
Lyrics Koja Misako, Music Sahara Kazuya
Ten kara no megumi ukete kono hoshi ni
Umaretaru waga ko inori kome sodate
IRAYOO HEI IRAYOO HOI
IRAYOO Kanashi umi nashiguwa
Nakunayo~ya HEIYOO HEIYOO
Teida no hikari ukete
Yuuiriyo~ya HEIYOO HEIYOO
Sukoya ka ni sodate
Atsuki natsu no hi wa suzukaze wo okuri
Samuki fuyu kureba kono mune ni daite
IRAYOO HEI IRAYOO HOI
IRAYOO Kanashi umi nashiguwa
Nakunayo~ya HEIYOO HEIYOO
Tsuki no hikari abite
Yuuiriyo~ya HEIYOO HEIYOO
Sukoyaka ni nemure
Arashi fuki susamu wataru kono uki yo
Haha no inori kome towa no hanasakaso
IRAYOO HEI IRAYOO HOI
IRAYOO Kanashi umi nashiguwa
Nakunayo~ya HEIYOO HEIYOO
Ten no hikari ukete
Yuuiriyo~ya HEIYOO HEIYOO
Ten takaku sodate
“Warabi-gami” by Yukari, Mat-chan, & Miyo. Uploaded to YouTube by Gary Joe Wolff on 12/12/09
Note from Wolff: Sat. Dec. 12, 2009. Live and Dining Bar Reef, Koenji, Tokyo. Hula Dancer: Yukari, Sanshin: “Mat-chan” Tomotaka Matsuda, Ukulele: Miyo.
This is one of my favorites. I first heard it in Naha, in a little izakaya, hidden on the main street of Kokusai Dori. It was sung beautifully by Maho Maekawa, accompanied by her brother Tetsuo Maekawa on the sanshin. The next day, I went to Tower Records in Naha and bought 5 Okinawan music cds (can’t read or write Japanese, just random picks). Luckily, one of them had this song recorded by Koja Misako.
Anonymous, thank you for sharing the kind of epiphany that evolves into a landmark in our lives. I had the same when I first stumbled upon Uema Ayano’s video “県道節” (Kendoobusi) on YouTube a couple years ago. One song can light a fire that changes one forever.