Miruku Munari lyrics and it's origin

Miruku Munari (ミルクムナリ) is a title of eisa song that is popular in Japan as well as in Okinawan communities in many countries. The name of this song means "The Dancing Miruku", derived from a combination of the Okinawan words "Miruku" (Maitreya) and the Indonesian word "Menari" which means "Dancing". The lyrics come from the Ryukyuan Language of Kohama Island, Yaeyama Islands which originally was a prayer asking for an abundance of agriculture and crops through the gods' blessings. So Miruku Munari can also mean "The Dancing God".

The song's composition was done by a musician from Taketomi Island called Hidekatsu Kamei or better known as Hidekatsu (日出克). Hidekatsu released the song as a single in 1993 and included it in his 1994 album, Shinpi Naru Yoake (神秘なる夜明け). The song was later popularly used as an Eisa song. 

 

Hidekatsu explained that at first the song Miruku Munari included elements of the Andean bamboo drum from South America, so he called it "world music". The drum sound used in the original version was later mistaken by his Okinawan friends as the typical Okinawan drum sound as in Eisa's performances. This song was later used by Ryukoku Matsuri Daiko and became one of the most popular songs about Okinawa. 

 

With the help of Daiichi Hirata (平田大一), a friend from Kohama Island, Hidekatasu decided to incorporate elements of Okinawan culture into the song in the form of the ritual verses of Kohama Kuduchi which are usually sung at the Ketsugan-sai Festival, Kohama.

 

This song had become controversial because it was opposed by the people of Kohama who considered sacred ritual poetry inappropriate to be heard by the wider audience outside Kohama Island. This resulted in Hidekatsu being unable to visit Kohama for several years. 

 

Although the lyrics of the verse were created by the inhabitants of Kohama Island, various other islands and villages in Okinawa also have similar Kuduchi verses. Kuduchi verses originally originate from the main island of Japan. However, the use of these lyrics in the pop song Miruku Munari led to strong opposition from the Kohama community, because the island's social life was still more closed off than other areas of Okinawa.

Lyrics verse: Kohama Kuduchi.

Yaeyaman Language romanization and English translation by Matt Gillan.

1. Kutushi Miriku nu, yugafu dushi sami (This year is a prosperous year)

2. Miriku ganashi nu, urui misōchi (Miruku has graced us with his presence)

3. Gukuku munu dani, utabimimisetasa (We have been given the seeds for our crops)

4. Yadu nu yadu kaji, chine nu chine kaji (Each house, each household)

5. Kaji mata sandōnicchai (Enough for everyone)

6. Kutushi ini nu muitachi (The rice this year)

7. Sunchā Manchā manman mansaku (Has grown into a rich harvest)

8. Nī dikiduti, (In accordance with our prayers)

9. Ari ga uhachi ya, kōten ganashi ni, (First we'll give it in offering to the gods.)

10. Kahei usagiti, usagiti yu nukui, (The remainder)

11. Kura ni chinchiki, asagi ni chinchiki chin, (we'll pile it up in the storehouse, pile it up in the barn)

12. Amasōti tu, washita wakamunu, (There's still some left? We young people)

13. Amazaki Karazaki taririduti,(We'll make lots of sake)

14. Nudē ashibusa (Drink it and party)

 

References:

1. www.hidekatsu.sakura.ne.jp/hidekatsu/ (日出克　ミュージシャン・プロデューサー )

2. http://www.matsuridaiko-tokyo.com/aisatsu-e/  (Leader’s Greeting Ryukyu Budan Shoryu Matsuri Daiko Miki Yajima.)

3. https://cooljapan-videos.com/en/articles/qf239sk8 (The Eisa of Ryukyu Budan Shoryu Matsuri Daiko!) 

4. https://www.okistyle.com/a2z/?p=2289 (Hidekatsu on Okistyle)

5. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25501574 (Treasures of the Island People: Tradition and Modernity in Yaeyaman Pop Music. Matt Gillan. Asian Music, Vol. 39, No. 1, [Popular Music in Changing Asia] (Winter - Spring, 2008), pp. 42-68. University of Texas Pres.)