Performing Indigeneity through the Musical Piece “Miti Sunai” on Yonaguni Island, Okinawa

Abstract: Dunan, now known as Yonaguni Island, has a complex political history, stretching from its annexation by the Ryūkyū Kingdom in 1510 to its current marginalization as Japan’s westernmost point. Located near Taiwan, its people have faced international, national, and prenational tensions that have influenced their cultural identity as well as their music and performing arts. This article examines these tensions by focusing on the recurrence of “Miti Sunai,” one of the island’s oldest musical pieces. I propose that “Miti Sunai” serves as a sonic reflection of Dunan Indigeneity, capturing the fluctuations between historical events and contemporary shifts and narrating the island’s intricate sociopolitical stories.