Chijin: Drumming Out Heritage and Identity in the Amami Soundscape

• In Event: The Other Ryukyus

Abstract

The chijin is a drum that has a distinct identity in the Amami islands. This type of drum is unique to the Amami islands, although the name “chijin” is also used in Okinawa, where it usually refers to a slightly different type of drum. In Amami, the chijin has a particular historical connection with the folk performing arts where it is performed as a hand drum and usually while the player is dancing. In contemporary culture, the chijin is also played on a stand and might take on a percussive role similar to some other types of Japanese drums.

This paper examines the cultural heritage of the chijin in Amami. Particular attention is given to the changing role of the instrument and the ways it carries cultural identity as an emblem of Amami in the present day. While the chijin is found in different settings and numbers across the Amami islands, it is often used on occasions that represent the islands more broadly, including ritual, heritage and tourism contexts. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in Amami, this paper offers a history, geography and cultural study of the place of the chijin in modern-day island life. The paper shows how this small percussion instrument has an important role in present-day Amami culture, both in terms of its place in the soundscape of the islands and its significance in cultural heritage and identity construction.

Author

• Henry Johnson, University of Otago