About folklore storytellers

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.

Please note the numbers of tales are followed by Ms. Sadoyama’s book, therefore, the tale 51 is the tale 1 on this website.

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