VILLA

Do you know that Ryuichi Sakamoto who was the world-famous composer had strong concern about Okinawan music and peace issues?

3 years ago he joined the charity concert conducted at Ginowan city as the year of 75 years later of the end of war, and the earnings from the concert was donated to "Himeyuri Peace Museum".

I introduce you a beautiful song Ryuichi Sakamoto and his old friend Misako Koja made for nature and peace of Okinawa.

Ryuichi Sakamoto collaborated with Unaigumi, an Okinawan folk music group composed of four women.

After "Undercooled" was originally released, Koja, singer of Unaigumi and old music friend of Sakamoto and her producer/husband reached out to him to write lyrics and a song in Okinawan over the track.

The title, "undercooled" came in response to the heated political situation in the world after the 9.11 attacks and during the ensuing Iraq war. Sakamoto's message was clear: "the world needs to cool down." A different, but equally important situation has been simmering in Okinawa around the new construction of an American military base from Futenma to Henoko.

Thus the new version of "undercooled" was created to restate the original message to "cool off." Sakamoto and Unaigumi created this new version of "undercooled" with the hope of creating a peaceful Okinawa, Japan, and the world at large using the power of music and song.

The word "Miruku Yugafu" is an ancient Okinawan term meaning "an ideal, peaceful, and prosperous world which the Maitreya will bring."

The lyrics, sung in the Okinawan dialect, praise of nature and evoke the pathos of war.

In the interlude, the listener is presented with singer, UA, and her children speaking about humans and the universe.

All proceeds, excluding the fees and expenses of the label, will be donated to the Henoko Fund* to support the ongoing struggle of the local citizens affected by the construction of the new replacement military base.

https://youtu.be/OQNTcoayZ3E

Lyrics

The beauty of the sea, the beauty of the blue sea

The eternal treasure, eternal treasure of our island

The depth of the sky, the depth of the blue sky

Forever, forever our Okinawa

The beauty of a flower, the pure song of a bird

I can hear the feelings, I can hear the feelings of a beautiful island

The splendor of human, the splendor of it's soul

Soul of truth, the spirit of life, the sprit of life

It is Okinawa, where the gods dwell

Please protect, protect the peace of the world

The feelings of the wave, the feelings of the sun and wind

I can hear the sorrow, I can hear the sorrow of the war-torn world

The sorrow of the war-torn world, which we can never forget

Let it be told, let it be told to the children

The light of the star, the light of our earth

Make a wish, make a wish for the utopia

(The world map) does not show this small island

The feelings of peace are very deep, very deep

Human life are the grace from heaven

The treasure of life, the treasure of life is eternal

The shape of the earth will not change easily

What changes are the minds of the people, the minds of the people

Stop fighting between people and people

Let's sing and hope our true feelings for the peace of the world