was a Japanese singer of Okinawan folk songs (mainly Miyako folk songs). He is known as a leading figure in Miyakojima Kayo.

Biography

Kuniyoshi was born in 1930 in Aragusuku, Gusukube, Miyako District,

Okinawa most commonly refers to: * Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost prefecture * Okinawa Island, the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture * Okinawa Islands, an island group including Okinawa itself * Okinawa (city), the second largest city in th ...

(present-day

Miyakojima is the largest and the most populous island among the Miyako Islands of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Miyako Island is administered as part of the City of Miyako Island, which includes not only Miyako Island, but also five other islands. Geogr ...

). He had been fond of singing since he was a child, and he is said to have been a "singing" boy all the time. He joined the Shinshiro Youth Association at the age of 15 in 1945. At the age of 20, he began to perform songs and

sanshin The is a Ryukyu Islands, Ryukyuan 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 The sanshin is believed to have originated fro ...

at local performances. After that, he became president of the Shinshiro Youth Association at the age of 24 and played an active part in the competition in Miyakojima. In 1965, Kuniyoshi decided to live on the path of Miyako folk songs and went to

Naha is the Cities of Japan, 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 people per km2 (20,562 persons per sq. mi.). ...

on the Miyako Maru. The following year, he appeared on the Ryukyu Broadcasting program "Kin no Uta Gin no Uta". He sang the representative love song "Irabu Togany" that is handed down on

Irabu Island ( Miyako: ''Irav''), is an island in Miyakojima, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The island is connected to Miyako Island by a bridge , which was completed in January 2015. Irabu Island is also connected via six bridges to Shimoji-shima. There are ...

in the

Miyako Islands The (also Miyako Jima group) are a group of islands in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, belonging to the Ryukyu Islands. They are situated between Okinawa Island and the Yaeyama Islands. In the early 1870s, the population of the islands was estim ...

. At the 20th

NHK Nodo Jiman , also known by its English title as ''NHK Amateur Singing Contest'', is a long-running TV program broadcast on NHK TV and NHK radio in Japan. History ''Nodo Jiman'' ("Proud of my voice") features amateur singers who live in the locality wher ...

Okinawa District Tournament held on February 13, 1967, he won the folk song division and demonstrated his exceptional talent on the main island of Okinawa. The following month he also participated in national competitions. He made his full-scale debut as a folk singer. He had appeared in the Ryukyu Broadcasting program "New Year Folk Song Kouhaku Uta Gassen" for 25 consecutive years since 1968. This year, he released the first record of Miyako folk songs after the war, following the prewar Tomori Akira decree. Although Kuniyoshi's first recital was held in his hometown of Miyakojima in 1969, the two-day performance schedule was extended to three days because it was too crowded to accommodate. Since then, he had held recitals five times in Miyako. In 1971, he opened a folk song research institute in

and appeared on Okinawa TV's "East and West Folk Song Battle". Since then, he has appeared on the show for 20 consecutive years. In 1990, he held a recital "The World of Genji Kuniyoshi, Forty Years of Performing Arts" to commemorate the 40th anniversary of performing arts, but underwent surgery for

brain tumor A brain tumor (sometimes referred to as brain cancer) occurs when a group of cells within the Human brain, brain turn cancerous and grow out of control, creating a mass. There are two main types of tumors: malignant (cancerous) tumors and benign ...

twice in 1991 and 1993. Six months after his second surgery, he resumed playing in earnest. In 1995, he released his first CD album "Hatsukoi". In 1999, he held a recital to commemorate the 50th anniversary of performing arts, "The World of Genji Kuniyoshi, 50 Years of Performing Arts-The Essence of Miyako Folk Songs in the 20th Century". In 2003, Kuniyoshi was certified as a

Person of Cultural Merit is an official Japanese recognition and honour which is awarded annually to select people who have made outstanding cultural contributions. This distinction is intended to play a role as a part of a system of support measures for the promotion of ...

in Okinawa Prefecture. In the past, he had held executive positions such as the chairman of the Ryukyu Folk Song Association (2nd term), the chairman of the Miyako Comprehensive Performing Arts Association, and the chairman of the Ryukyu Folk Song Preservation Society (2nd term). He served as chairman of the Miyako Folk Song Preservation Society until his death. Kuniyoshi's wife is also Miyako folk singer Yoshiko Kuniyoshi. He died of

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is the neoplasm, uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system below the bladder. Abnormal growth of the prostate tissue is usually detected through Screening (medicine), screening tests, ...

at 3:23 pm on May 4, 2021. He was 90 years old.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuniyoshi, Genji 1930 births 2021 deaths People from Miyakojima, Okinawa Singers from Okinawa Prefecture Japanese male singers Japanese folk singers Deaths from prostate cancer in Japan Persons of Cultural Merit