Nēnēs (ネーネーズ) is an Okinawan folk music group formed in 1990 by China Sadao (知名定男).[1] The group name means "sisters" in Okinawan. Nēnēs is composed of four female singers who perform traditional Okinawan folk songs in traditional costume with sanshin accompaniment; they have also performed with a backing band, Sadao China Gakudan. They toured Europe and played New York City in 1994.[2] An independent release, IKAWŪ, landed them a recording contract with Sony Records and a collaboration with Ryuichi Sakamoto.[1] They hold a resident gig at the Live House Shima-Uta club in Naha, Okinawa.[1] [3]
| Nēnēs Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Members 1990–1997 | Yasuko Yoshida Namiko Miyazato Yukino Hiyane | 古謝 美佐子 吉田 康子 宮里 奈美子 比屋根 幸乃 | |
| 1997–1999 | Yasuko Yoshida Namiko Miyazato Yukino Hiyane Eriko Touma | 吉田 康子 宮里 奈美子 比屋根 幸乃 當眞 江里子 | |
| 1999–2003 | Ryōko Koyama Erina Miyagi Kiyoka Ikei Keiko Hirata | 小山 良子 宮城 江利奈 伊計 季代花 平田 桂子 | |
| 2004–present | Ayumi Yonaha [4] Ayano Higa Nagisa Uehara Izumi Kinjō | 與那覇 歩 比嘉 綾乃 上原 渚 金城 泉 | |
| Year | Title | Japanese | Label | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | IKAWŪ | IKAWŪ (行かうー) | Disc Akabana | ||
| 1992 | Yunta | ユンタ | Sony Records | ||
| 1993 | Ashibi | あしび | Sony Records | ||
| 1994 | Koza Dabasa | コザdabasa | Sony Records | ||
| 1995 | Nārabi | なーらび | Sony Records | selections featuring Balinese jegog ensemble "Suar Agung" [5] | |
| 1995 | Natsu – Urizun | 夏 ～ うりずん | Sony Records | ||
| 1996 | Koza – Nēnēs Best Collection | コザ ～ ネーネーズ・ベスト・コレクション | Sony Records | ||
| 1997 | Akemodoro – Unai | 明けもどろ ～ うない | Antinos Records | ||
| 2000 | Okinawa – Memorial Nēnēs | オキナワ ～ メモリアル・ネーネーズ | Antinos Records | ||
| 2002 | Chura Uta | 美らうた | Dig Records | ||
| 2002 | Saudade Okinawa – Healing Selection | サウダージ・オキナワ ～ ヒーリングセレクション | Epic Records Japan | ||
| 2002 | Saudade Uchinā – Nēnēs & Friends Collection | サウダージ・ウチナー ～ ネーネーズ&フレンズ・セレクション | Ki/oon Records | ||
| 2004 | Nēnēs Golden Best | ネーネーズ GOLDEN☆BEST | Sony Records | ||
| 2004 | Shū | 愁 | Dig Records | ||
| 2008 | Sai | 彩 | Dig Records |
Nēnēs also sang in the title track of Talvin Singh's Ok album.