About Folklore Storytellers

We would like to show our gratitude by listing storytellers' names on this page.

The basis of the minwa on this website is Ms. Sadoyama’s book (2000), published specially for children. However, the original minwa texts on this website were actual narratives told by local storytellers and collected by the Miyako Minwa no Kai group in the 1970s. The group actively travelled around the Miyako Islands to record minwa, then transcribed and translated them into Japanese. Ms. Seiko Sadoyama is one of the original members. We owe these storytellers our gratitude for preserving so many generous rich minwa; however, nearly all of them have now passed away. Therefore, we would like to show our gratitude by listing their names on this page.

Ikimonogatari

51. / Kamado Yonahara
52. / Zaigi Maezato
53. / Kanimega Hanashiro
54. / Kani Sawada
55. / Keikou Shimoji
56. / Zaigi Maezato (same as 52)
57. / Zenei Sadoyama
58. / Tokusei Maedomari
59. / Tokusei Maedomari
60. / Zaigi Maezato (same as 52,56)
61. / Shunyou Tokumine
62. / Kani Sawada

Yuraibanashi

63. / Kankyou Karimata
64. / Tokusei Maedomari (same as 58)
65. / Mega Maedomari
66. / Zaigi Maezato (same as 52,56,60)
67. / Zaigi Maezato (same as 52,56,60,66)
68. / Kani Sawada (same as 54,62)

Onitomuzumannohanashi

69. / Kamado Hanashiro
70. / Zaigi Maezato (same as 52,56,60,66,67)
71. / Kamado Sunakawa
72. / Zaigi Maezato (same as 52,56,60,66,67,70)
73. / Zaigi Maezato (same as 52,56,60,66,67,70,72)

Iruikoninnohanashi

74. / Houei Nishihara
75. / Kamado Hanashiro (same as 69)
76. / Kani Sawada (same as 54,62,68)
77. / Kanigame Sunakawa
78. / Kamado Shimoji

Kanseisetsuwa･Nihonkanseisetsuwa

79. / Seikichi Uechi
80. / Yama Sunakawa

Mamakobanashi

81. / Kani Sawadasame as (54,62,68,76)
82. / (Unknown)
83. / Matsu Okumatsu
84. / Kame Taira
85. / Keiyuu Taira

Yuureibanashi

86. / Haruo Nishihara
87. / Haruo Nishihara
88. / Takeshi Sadoyama
89. / Taiichi Uehara

Kyoukunbanashi

90. / Shigeichi Sugama
91. / Zaigi Maezato (same as 52,56,60,66,67,70,72,73)
92. / Taishin Sunakawa

Yomoyamabanashi

93. / Matsukama Ishimine
94. / Matsu Sadoyama
95. / Shunkai Zukeyama
96. / Kani Sawada (same as 54,62,68,76)

Densetsu

97. / Kani Sawada (same as 54,62,68,76,96)
98. / Kin Uechi

Tonchibanashi

99. / Hideko Shiokawa
100. / Matsu Nishihara

Without their lively narratives, this website would not be possible. We hope these Miyako minwa tales will be read by the next generation as the common treasure of the Miyako Islanders.

Seiko Sadoyama and Sachiyo Fujita-Round

About folklore storytellers

About Folklore Storytellers