is a Japanese ''

sanshin The is an Okinawan and Amami Islands musical instrument and precursor of the mainland Japanese (). Often likened to a banjo, it consists of a snakeskin-covered body, neck and three strings. Origins Its close resemblance in both appearance a ...

'' player and '' Okinawa min'yō'' (traditional folk songs) singer.

Life and career

Born on

Ishigaki Island , also known as ''Ishigakijima'', is a Japanese island south-west of Okinawa Hontō and the second-largest island of the Yaeyama Island group, behind Iriomote Island. It is located approximately south-west of Okinawa Hontō. It is within the ...

in 1967, Yukito learned folk songs and how to play ''sanshin'' from his father, a singer of ''Yaeyama min'yō''.Folk songs particular to the

Yaeyama Islands The Yaeyama Islands (八重山列島 ''Yaeyama-rettō'', also 八重山諸島 ''Yaeyama-shotō'', Yaeyama: ''Yaima'', Yonaguni: ''Daama'', Okinawan: ''Yeema'', Northern Ryukyuan: ''Yapema'') are an archipelago in the southwest of Okinawa ...

; a subgenre of ''Okinawa min'yō''. He moved to

Naha is the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. As of 1 June 2019, the city has an estimated population of 317,405 and a population density of 7,939 persons per km2 (20,562 persons per sq. mi.). The total area i ...

, the capital of

Okinawa prefecture is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city o ...

, at the age of 18, and began performing live with a band under the name . They first became known for their live album . In 1994, Yukito formed the band Parsha Club, which represented a fusion of folk music (''min'yō''), pop, and jazz. He continues to perform and record today, and takes part in many jazz, world music, and other collaborations.

References and notes

*Kadekawa, Manabu (ed.). ''Okinawa Chanpuru Jiten'' (沖縄チャンプルー事典, "Okinawa Champloo Encyclopedia"). Tokyo: Yamakei Publishers, 2003. p. 25. 1967 births Japanese male singers Japanese folk singers Living people Singers from Okinawa Prefecture Okinawan folk musicians {{japan-musician-stub