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.
Rinken Band members
|
Teruya Rinken |
照屋林賢 |
sanshin |
band leader
|
Tomoko Uehara |
上原知子 |
vocals, drums, sanba, sanshin |
joined in 1988
|
Katsunori Inafuku |
稲福克典 |
vocals, drums |
joined in 1993
|
Naoki Enobi |
栄野比尚樹 |
vocals, drums |
joined in 2002
|
Kaoru Yonamine |
與那嶺薫 |
vocals, drums |
joined in 2006
|
Akira Uehara |
上原顕 |
bass guitar |
joined in 1993
|
Kiyohito Yamakawa |
山川清仁 |
keyboards |
joined 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 |
|
Year
|
Title
|
(Okinawan) Japanese
|
Label
|
Notes
|
1987 |
Arigatou |
ありがとう
|
Sony Records |
|
1990 |
Nankuru |
なんくる
|
Wave |
|
1991 |
Rikka |
リッカ
|
Sony Records |
mini album (4 songs)
|
Karahāi |
カラハーイ
|
Sony Records |
|
1992 |
Ajimaa |
アジマァ
|
Sony Records |
|
1993 |
Rinken Band |
りんけんバンド
|
Sony Records |
best selection
|
Banji |
バンジ
|
Sony Records |
|
1994 |
gon gon |
ゴンゴン
|
Sony Records |
|
1995 |
Cheren |
チェレン
|
Sony Records |
|
1996 |
A Star (Hitotsu bushi) |
一つ星
|
Indies Maker |
|
1997 |
Nachi nu fa |
夏ぬ子
|
Sony Records / Indies Maker |
|
1998 |
Mantin nu yorokobi |
満天ぬ喜び
|
Indies Maker |
|
Party (Pārī) |
パーリー
|
Sony Records / Tristar |
|
1999 |
Nifee (Nifē) |
謝
|
Indies Maker |
|
2000 |
Qing-dahmi |
Qing-dahmi (チンダミ)
|
Indies Maker / The Orchard |
Rinken Band Best
|
2001 |
Orinasu hibi |
織りなす日々
|
Indies Maker |
|
2002 |
Shima-jū shichi-gwachi |
島中七月
|
Indies Maker |
Rinken Band Eisā Special
|
2003 |
Eisā |
EISA (エイサー)
|
Rent Rack Japan |
|
Ajimaa no uta |
あじまぁのウタ
|
Rent Rack Japan |
|
Urizun – Rinken Band New Best |
URIZUN~りんけんバンドニューベスト
|
Sony Records / Gt Music |
best selection
|
2008 |
Golden Best – Rinken Band |
GOLDEN☆BESTりんけんバンド
|
Sony Records / Phantom Sound & Vision |
best selection
|
2012 |
Kugani michibushi |
黄金三星
|
Rinken Records |
|
Year
|
Title
|
(Okinawan) Japanese
|
Label
|
Notes
|
1992 |
Njifa |
ンジファ
|
Video Maker |
2006 release in DVD format
|
1995 |
Tink Tink Tink ... Primal Pulse |
ティンクティンク
|
TC Entertainment |
2003 release in DVD format
|
2004 |
Pineapple 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 |
|
2008 |
Rinken 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 Maker |
live concert footage from 2007
|