A few months ago when I was on a flight to Okinawa, I caught a wild, hyperactive music video with the sound off and wondered what the heck was going on. The credits at the end of the video mentioned the Okinawa Shuzō Kumiai (沖縄酒造組合, Union of Okinawa Distilleries). Later, I googled it and eventually found the music video I had seen during the flight.

The song was written and performed by Kiyama Shōten (きいやま商店), a trio of brothers hailing from the island of Ishigaki where one of my favorite awamori, Seifuku (請福泡盛) is produced. According to Wiki, the three were living in the Kantō area, but returned to their hometown the wedding of a relative, where they played a number of songs. So popular was their performance, the guests encouraged them to continue recording and pursue music as a career.

Kampai Shanshan (乾杯しゃんしゃん) is, I believe, the second song they have written for the awamori industry in Okinawa. It’s quite a fun little ditty that will surely have you singing along. I will translate the lyrics in coming days, so stay tuned!

歌/Song：きいやま商店/Kiiyama Shōten

作詞/Lyrics：きいやま商店/Kiiyama Shōten

作曲/Composed by：きいやま商店//Kiiyama Shōten

嬉しい時には集まって

At happy times, we gather

みんなで泡盛飲みましょう

And let’s drink awamori together

ゆがゆがふーふー　ゆがゆがふー

Yuga yuga fūfū yuga yuga fū
Note: ゆがふ（世果報）とは、沖縄の方言で豊年満作「世の中が豊かで平和でみんなが幸せでありますように」という意味. Yugafu is Okinawan for hōnenmansaku (豊年万作) which literally means an abundant year, bumper crop, but in a general sense means that times are peaceful, everyone has enough and is happy.

あっぱりしゃんしゃん　乾杯しゃんしゃん

Note: 八重山地方では、美しいとか綺麗の事を「あっぱりしゃん！」といいます。他は、可愛い、美しい、素晴らしいという意味。 沖縄本島地方では「美らさん」といいますね. In the Yaeyama archipelago, something or someone that is beautiful is apparishan. Similarly on the Okinawan mainland, they say churasan. So, they are singing “How wonderful! Cheers!”

ボトルを開けたらうさげましょう
まずは先祖にありがとう

After opening the bottle, let’s drink. (I need to check this. I think usagemashō is omeshiagarimashō, but I need to double check this .)

But first we give thanks to our ancestors.

ゆがゆがふーふー　ゆがゆがふー
あっぱりしゃんしゃん　乾杯しゃんしゃん

銘柄たくさん迷っちゃうだけど
やっぱり地元の酒がいい

There are so many brands, you can’t decide,

Still, the best alcohol is local

ゆがゆがふーふー　ゆがゆがふー
あっぱりしゃんしゃん　乾杯しゃんしゃん

とぅじにワジられ家を出て
したたか飲んでまたワジられた

Note: とぅじは奥さん、妻という意味。日本の古語で言う「刀自」（とじ）がなまったもの。沖縄の言葉には古墳期から江戸時代までの古い日本語がベースになっているものが非常に多い。意外に格調高い言葉である。Tuji means one’s wife. Many Okinawan words have their roots in the ancient Japanese of the Kofun Period (3rd to 7th century).

ワジられた means to make someone angry. おばーに怒られた時に、「おばーにワジられたさー」という使いかたもできます。When your grandmother is angry with you, you can say “Obā-ni wajirareta sā.”

My wife got angry with me, so I left the house,

Drank hard and she got angry again.

ゆがゆがふーふー　ゆがゆがふー
あっぱりしゃんしゃん　乾杯しゃんしゃん

おじーがちぶるー擦りむいた
クースー(古酒)かけたら毛が生えた

Note: ちぶるー means 頭 or head and can be used for both people and animals. チブルワッサン　means 頭がわるい; someone is stupid. Kūsū (クースー) written 古酒 is awamori that has been aged for more than three years.

Grandpa scraped his head,

When he put kūsū on it, his hair began to grow.

ゆがゆがふーふー　ゆがゆがふー
あっぱりしゃんしゃん　乾杯しゃんしゃん

世界の国からめんそーれ
飲んで歌って踊りましょう

Note: めんそーれ (mensōre) is one of the most commonly known regionalism. When you arrive at Naha Airport, there is a sign that welcomes you with a big Mensōre!. Okinawans tell me, though, that they don’t really say it. In standard Japanese, it means irasshaimase (いらっしゃいませ). You can also say, んじめんそーれ which means いってらっしゃい or まったん　めんそーれ (Please come again.) んじちゃーびら means 行ってきます or さようなら.

Welcome people from all over the world,

Let’s drink and dance together.

ゆがゆがふーふー　ゆがゆがふー
あっぱりしゃんしゃん　乾杯しゃんしゃん

朝から一日お疲れさん
家族が待つ家帰りましょう

It's been a long tiring day, thanks

Let’s go home where our family is waiting.

ゆがゆがふーふー　ゆがゆがふー
あっぱりしゃんしゃん　乾杯しゃんしゃん
ゆがゆがふーふー　ゆがゆがふー
あっぱりしゃんしゃん　乾杯しゃんしゃん

でーじ泡盛ちゃーだ泡盛
なーてぃちたーちみーち乾杯しゃんしゃん

Note: でーじ means 大変 which can mean a lot of things from really, extremely, awful, serious, tough to a lot, a great deal. ちゃーだ, I believe, means どうだ which also has a lot of different meanings such as How about . . ? or What’s with . . . ? How was . . . ? and so on. なーてぃちたーちみーち in the second line, is one, two, three . . . So, . . .

A lot of awamori, how ‘bout some awamori?

One, two, three, cheers!

でーじ泡盛ちゃーだ泡盛
なーてぃちたーちみーち乾杯しゃんしゃん
でーじ泡盛ちゃーだ泡盛
なーてぃちたーちみーち乾杯しゃんしゃん
あっぱりしゃんしゃん　乾杯しゃんしゃん
あっぱりしゃんしゃん　乾杯しゃんしゃん