Role of Social Media in Contemporary Shimauta Culture in the Amami Islands

Abstract

This paper explores the role of social media in contemporary Shimauta culture in the Amami Islands in Japan. Shimauta is Amami Islands' iconic style of folk music that has been practiced by local people for many centuries on various occasions. It has undergone many changes in accordance with the transitions of society, while incorporating in different influences and new transmission methods. The use of social media is adopted as a new space of Shimauta participation in contemporary Shimauta culture. I conducted an online survey and interviews to examine how social media is integrated into today's Shimauta transmission. Based on the results, social media plays a significant point of entry to broader and deeper Shimauta experiences. As it has become one of the most popular sources of information in modern Japanese society, social media is expected to attract more Shimauta participants from young generations and people who are at distance from the Amami Islands. Social media is adopted as an important new aspect that helps sustain Shimauta culture, and it also provides opportunities to get involved in in-person Shimauta experiences.