Home / Series / Journeys in Japan / Aired Order / Season 4 / Episode 15

The Soulful Rhythms of the Amami Islands

The Amami Islands are subtropical. Blanketed in dense forests and surrounded by emerald waters, they are located about 400 kilometers from Kagoshima Prefecture in southern Kyushu. These islands, isolated from the continent long ago by tectonic activity, are full of rare indigenous flora and fauna. But the animals and plants are not the only thing that the forests of Amami have nurtured. They have also shaped a distinctive culture there. One example is the Amami folk song, called Shima-uta. In this edition of Journeys in Japan, Naotomo Umewaka explores the mystical forests of Amami, as well as the music and spirit of the people on the islands.

English
  • Originally Aired May 7, 2013
  • Runtime 30 minutes
  • Network NHK
  • Created February 19, 2018 by
    Administrator admin
  • Modified February 19, 2018 by
    Administrator admin