Tadayuki Matsubara: Kaagi Miyako nu Ayagu

For as long as anyone can remember, the name Genji Kuniyoshi has been synonymous with the very best traditional songs from the Miyako Islands. Sadly, he left us at the age of 90 in 2021, just weeks before the recording debut of singer and sanshin player Tadayuki Matsubara. Matsubara’s album Churaumi, Churashima helped revive interest in the old Miyako songs, and he even duetted with Kuniyoshi’s wife Yoshiko.

Now Matsubara is back with his second album release, once again courtesy of Kenichi Takahashi’s Respect Records. The Tokyo-based label continues to support and promote music from the Ryukyu Islands and must be congratulated for developing such a fine catalogue of this music, especially in recent times. The new album’s complete title is Kaagi Miyako nu Ayagu ~ Aoi Umi nu Nyan, Tida nu Nyan ~ and like its predecessor it offers a set of mainly traditional songs from Miyako.

As is usual with Miyako songs, everything is kept sparse and simple with Matsubara’s vocals and sanshin upfront, accompanied on some tracks by Keiko Higa’s shimadaiko. The duo Akamami (Akane Murayoshi and Manami Uechi) also lend a hand with some hayashi or background vocals here and there. The most significant addition however is that of the well-known Miyako singer-songwriter Isamu Shimoji who appears on two tracks.

The opening ‘Bagashinshii’ is a departure for Matsubara as it’s an original composition of his own. The title refers to ‘my teacher’ and is dedicated to his great mentor Genji Kuniyoshi. This is followed by ‘Miyako nu Ayagu’ a standout version of the familiar traditional song on which he is joined by both Keiko Higa and Akamami.

The first get together with Isamu Shimoji is for the song ‘Kinai Wago’ (see video above) where Shimoji joins Matsubara on guitar and vocals. Shimoji plays guitar again on the Miyako lullaby ‘Bangamuri’, a song he also arranged. A different unaccompanied version of ‘Bangamuri’ closes the album. 

Matsubara was born in Urasoe, Okinawa. He was into hip-hop until he had the surprising revelation at the age of 27 that minyo is, in fact, in many ways much the same as hip-hop. He subsequently began to concentrate on the songs from Miyako where his family originates. The world of traditional song is much richer because of this decision and Matsubara is consolidating his place as an important singer while carrying the torch for all the Miyako islands. This is a fine album.   

To promote the album, Tadayuki Matsubara will perform two joint concerts with Isamu Shimoji. The first of these takes place at Live House Output in Naha on Sunday 21^st July. Then the pair move to Tokyo for a second concert at Minami Aoyama Mandala on Saturday 27^th July.

Kaagi Miyako nu Ayagu is released by Respect on 29^th May.

https://respect-record.co.jp

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