is an Okinawan band that formed in 1977 and helped popularize their homeland's musical forms and traditional Okinawan music starting in 1985, when their first hit, "Arigatou", was released.
Rinken Band was founded by , the son of well-known Okinawan folk music artist . The band fuses Okinawan folk music, pop, and celebratory eisā traditions to make ballads and dance tunes.
Rinken Band's most recent appearance in the United States was a concert in Oahu, Hawaii.Rinken Band in Hawaii - YouTube (01/28/2020) They were featured at the annual Okinawan Festival of 2007.
Members Rinken Band members Teruya Rinken 照屋林賢 sanshin band leader Tomoko Uehara 上原知子 vocals, drums, sanba, sanshin joined in 1988 Katsunori Inafuku 稲福克典 vocals, drums joined in 1993 Naoki Enobi 栄野比尚樹 vocals, drums joined in 2002 Kaoru Yonamine 與那嶺薫 vocals, drums joined in 2006 Akira Uehara 上原顕 bass guitar joined in 1993 Kiyohito Yamakawa 山川清仁 keyboards joined in 1993 Former members Hayato Fujiki 藤木勇人 vocals Yoshimitsu Gakiya 我喜屋良光 vocals, Yoshimi Kuwae 桑江良美 vocals, drums Toyoharu Ookawa vocals, drums Mitsuru Tamaki 玉城満 vocals Kazunari Uechi 上地一成 drums, percussion, vocals Masaaki Uechi 上地正昭 bass guitar, vocals Tsugumi Yonemori 米盛つぐみ keyboards, vocals
Discography Audio CD Year Title (Okinawan) Japanese Label Notes1987 Arigatou ありがとう Sony Records 1990 Nankuru なんくる Wave 1991 Rikka リッカ Sony Records mini album (4 songs) Karahāi カラハーイ Sony Records 1992 Ajimaa アジマァ Sony Records 1993 Rinken Band りんけんバンド Sony Records best selection Banji バンジ Sony Records 1994 gon gon ゴンゴン Sony Records 1995 Cheren チェレン Sony Records 1996 A Star (Hitotsu bushi) 一つ星 Indies Maker 1997 Nachi nu fa 夏ぬ子 Sony Records / Indies Maker 1998 Mantin nu yorokobi 満天ぬ喜び Indies Maker Party (Pārī) パーリー Sony Records / Tristar 1999 Nifee (Nifē) 謝 Indies Maker 2000 Qing-dahmi Qing-dahmi (チンダミ) Indies Maker / The Orchard Rinken Band Best2001 Orinasu hibi 織りなす日々 Indies Maker 2002 Shima-jū shichi-gwachi 島中七月 Indies Maker Rinken Band Eisā Special2003 Eisā EISA (エイサー) Rent Rack Japan Ajimaa no uta あじまぁのウタ Rent Rack Japan Urizun – Rinken Band New Best URIZUN～りんけんバンドニューベスト Sony Records / Gt Music best selection2008 Golden Best – Rinken Band GOLDEN☆BESTりんけんバンド Sony Records / Phantom Sound & Vision best selection2012 Kugani michibushi 黄金三星 Rinken Records
Video / DVD Year Title (Okinawan) Japanese Label Notes1992 Njifa ンジファ Video Maker 2006 release in DVD format1995 Tink Tink Tink ... Primal Pulse ティンクティンク TC Entertainment 2003 release in DVD format2004 Pineapple Tours パイナップルツアーズ PDD (ピーディディ) music for the film Ajimaa no uta, Tomoko Uehara, Tenshi no koe あじまぁのウタ 上原知子 天使の声 Rent Rack Japan 2008 Rinken Band Karahāi Live 2007 Kanzen-ban りんけんバンド カラハーイライブ2007完全版 Video Maker live concert footage from 2007
Sources
External links Rinken Band website YouTube: Rinken Band "Arigatou"