Land Hessen

Rinken Band (りんけんバンド) is an Okinawan band that formed in 1977[1] and helped popularize their homeland's musical forms and traditional Okinawan music starting in 1985, when their first hit, "Arigatou", was released.

Rinken Band was founded by Rinken Teruya [ja], the son of well-known Okinawan folk music artist Rinsuke Teruya [ja]. The band fuses Okinawan folk music, pop, and celebratory eisā traditions to make ballads and dance tunes.

Rinken Band's most recent appearance in the United States was a concert in Oahu, Hawaii.[2][when?] They were featured at the annual Okinawan Festival of 2007.

Members

Rinken Band members
Teruya Rinken照屋林賢sanshinband leader
Tomoko Uehara上原知子vocals, drums, sanba, sanshinjoined in 1988
Katsunori Inafuku稲福克典vocals, drumsjoined in 1993
Naoki Enobi栄野比尚樹vocals, drumsjoined in 2002
Kaoru Yonamine與那嶺薫vocals, drumsjoined in 2006
Akira Uehara上原顕bass guitarjoined in 1993
Kiyohito Yamakawa山川清仁keyboardsjoined in 1993
Former members
Hayato Fujiki藤木勇人vocals 
Yoshimitsu Gakiya我喜屋良光vocals, finger whistle (指笛, yubi-bue) 
Yoshimi Kuwae桑江良美vocals, drums 
Toyoharu Ookawa vocals, drums 
Mitsuru Tamaki玉城満vocals 
Kazunari Uechi上地一成drums, percussion, vocals 
Masaaki Uechi上地正昭bass guitar, vocals 
Tsugumi Yonemori米盛つぐみkeyboards, vocals 

Discography

Audio CD

YearTitle(Okinawan) JapaneseLabelNotes
1987ArigatouありがとうSony Records 
1990NankuruなんくるWave 
1991RikkaリッカSony Recordsmini album (4 songs)
KarahāiカラハーイSony Records 
1992AjimaaアジマァSony Records 
1993Rinken BandりんけんバンドSony Recordsbest selection
BanjiバンジSony Records 
1994gon gonゴンゴンSony Records 
1995CherenチェレンSony Records 
1996A Star (Hitotsu bushi)一つ星Indies Maker 
1997Nachi nu fa夏ぬ子Sony Records / Indies Maker 
1998Mantin nu yorokobi満天ぬ喜びIndies Maker 
Party (Pārī)パーリーSony Records / Tristar 
1999Nifee (Nifē)Indies Maker 
2000Qing-dahmiQing-dahmi (チンダミ)Indies Maker / The OrchardRinken Band Best
2001Orinasu hibi織りなす日々Indies Maker 
2002Shima-jū shichi-gwachi島中七月Indies MakerRinken Band Eisā Special
2003EisāEISA (エイサー)Rent Rack Japan 
Ajimaa no utaあじまぁのウタRent Rack Japan
Urizun – Rinken Band New BestURIZUN~りんけんバンドニューベストSony Records / Gt Musicbest selection
2008Golden Best – Rinken BandGOLDEN☆BESTりんけんバンドSony Records / Phantom Sound & Visionbest selection
2012Kugani michibushi黄金三星Rinken Records 

Video / DVD

YearTitle(Okinawan) JapaneseLabelNotes
1992NjifaンジファVideo Maker2006 release in DVD format
1995Tink Tink Tink ... Primal PulseティンクティンクTC Entertainment2003 release in DVD format
2004Pineapple ToursパイナップルツアーズPDD (ピーディディ)music for the film
Ajimaa no uta, Tomoko Uehara, Tenshi no koeあじまぁのウタ 上原知子 天使の声Rent Rack Japan 
2008Rinken Band Karahāi Live 2007 Kanzen-banりんけんバンド カラハーイライブ2007完全版Video Makerlive concert footage from 2007

Sources

  1. ^ "りんけんバンド: RINKEN BAND Official Website". ajima inc. (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  2. ^ Rinken Band in Hawaii - YouTube (01/28/2020)