Ayu (pop song) - Ayu

...Many of these songs have a strong historical character, praising worldly heroes, praying for bountiful harvests and blessings in advance, praying for safe voyages, and singing about aspects of the lives of the common people, such as weaving. In the Yaeyama Islands, they are also called "ayu" or "ayuu," and are sung at agricultural ceremonies, voyage safety, housewarmings, and other celebratory occasions. As for the dance, Tamagusuku Seiju, a famous Okinawan dancer and actor, choreographed a dance for the finale of a Nakamo play around 1897, setting the Okinawan countryside youth's mou (field play) custom to the tune of the Miyako folk song "Kuichaaagu."...

*Some of the terminology that refers to "Ayu (pop song)" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…現世的英雄をたたえる史歌的性格の強いもの，作物の豊穣祈願と予祝，航海安全祈願，機織等民衆生活の場をうたったものが多い。八重山列島では〈アユ〉〈アユウ〉とも呼ばれ農耕祭儀や航海安全，新築祝などの祝儀の場でうたわれる。踊りとしては，沖縄の著名な舞踊家であり芝居役者であった玉城盛重（たまぐすくせいじゆう）が，1897年ころ仲毛（なかもう）芝居で沖縄の田舎の若者の習俗である毛（もう）(野)遊びを宮古民謡の《クイチャーアーグ》の曲にのせて芝居のフィナーレ用の踊りとして振りつけたもの。…

※「アユ（歌謡）」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報