About the Noro (priestess)

Okinawa Motobu Sesoko

About

Kōjirō Uema, 87 at the time of the recording in 1969.

上間幸次郎	‘あんさー だい‐‘いちだい‐ぬ ぬる‐はら‐ぬ はなしー さー‐やー. ʔaɴsaː dai‐ʔiʨidai‐nu nuɾu‐haɾa‐nu hanaɕiː saː‐jaː. "All right then, let's begin with the story of the the first-generation noro [female priest]."

上間幸次郎	あー すく‐ぬ ぬる‐や aː suku‐nu nuɾu‐ja "The noro of Sesoko ... "

上間幸次郎	むかーし たち‐ふゎじまい‐はら‐ぬ …… だいじゅーさんだい‐の しょーけい‘おー じだい ちー mukaːɕi taʨi‐ɸaʥimai‐haɾa‐nu …… daiʥuːsandai‐no ɕoːkeiʔoː ʥidai ʨiː "a long time ago, during the reign of thirteenth King Shō Kei,"

上間幸次郎	こーぎ‐ぬ めいれい‐さい ぬる なてーぬ‐ぐとぅ ‘あいん‐よー, こーぎぬ. koːgi‐nu meiɾei‐sai nuɾu nateːnu‐gutu ʔaiɴ‐joː, koːginu. "by a court decree you see, she became noro, by a decree of the court"

上間幸次郎	‘えー ,すんねー, こーぎ‐や しょーけい‘おー‐や ぐしちゃん‐‘えーかた‐ぬ しゅっしん‐ぬ ばしゅ いぇーとぅ, ʔeː sunneː koːgi‐ja ɕoːkeiʔoː‐ja guɕiʨaɴ‐ʔeːkata‐nu ɕuɕɕiɴ‐nu baɕu jeːtu, "so then, the court, the King Shō Kei, becasue it was the birthplace of Gushichan-Ēkata,"

上間幸次郎	すーく‐‘えーきーぬ にでーめ‐ぬ ふゎーふーじー‐ぬ ばしょ‐をぅてぃ suːku‐ʔeːkiːnu nideːme‐nu ɸaːɸuːʥiː‐nu baɕo‐wuti "at the place of the second-generation ancestor of the Sesoko Ēkī [noble family]"

上間幸次郎	‘うかみんちゅ ‘あつみてぃ きまてーぬ ぐとぅ ‘あいん. ʔukaminʨu ʔaʦumiti kimateːnu gutu ʔaiɴ. "they gathered priests and it was decided"

上間幸次郎	ぬる‐や, しまー‐ぬ ぬろー くーぎ‐ぬる りち ‘うしゅぬ めいれい‐しぇい ぬる ないみそーち, nuɾu‐ja, ɕimaː‐nu nuɾoː kuːgi‐nuɾu ɾiʨi ʔuɕunu meiɾei‐ɕei nuɾu naimisoːʨi, "The noro, the noro of the island was called 'court noro' and became noro by a decree of the king"

上間幸次郎	すく‘えーきー‐ぬ にでーめ‐ぬ ふゎーふじ‐ぬ ちょーれーびー いぇみしぇーたら, ‘まーや わからんしが, sukuʔeːkiː‐nu nideːme‐nu ɸaːɸuʥi‐nu ʨoːɾeːbiː jemiɕeːtaɾa, ʔmaːja wakaɾaɴɕiga, "It's unclear to me if she was a sister of the second-generation ancestor of the Sesoko Ēkī, but ..."

上間幸次郎	‘まー ぬる ない ふゎじまい‐や すく‐‘えーきーぬ くゎー‘まーが いなぐんぐゎ‐はら なち, ʔmaː nuɾu nai ɸaʥimai‐ja suku‐ʔeːkiːnu kʷaːʔmaːga jinaŋguŋgʷa‐haɾa naʨi, "the first to have become a noro was a daughter chosen the descendants of the Sesoko Ēkī,"

上間幸次郎	‘うんちゅー‐が ‘いこつ‐や なま なぴゃ‘うぐゎん‐ねー (‘ある…) ‘あいん‐よー. ʔunʨuː‐ga ʔikoʦu‐ja nama napjaʔugʷaɴ‐neː (ʔaɾu…) ʔaiɴ‐joː. "her remains are now at Napya'ugwan."

上間幸次郎	‘うぬ つぎ‐や また にでーめぬ … ‘あぬ ʔunu ʦugi‐ja mata　nideːmenu … ʔanu "Next, the second-generation ..."

上間幸次郎	あー にでーめ‐ぬ ぬる‐や また ‘あがり‐ぬ いなぐんぐゎ‐ぬ なてぃ ちー, aː nideːme‐nu nuɾu‐ja mata ʔagaɾi‐nu jinaguŋgʷa‐nu nati ʨiː, "as for the second-generation noro, it is a daughter of the Agari [clan] who assumed the role"

上間幸次郎	‘うんちゅー‐や だー ‘いこつ‐や また ‘あまー めーばるぬ ぬるばか‐ねー ‘あいん‐ばー. ʔunʨuː‐ja daː ʔikoʦu‐ja mata ʔamaː meːbaɾunu nuɾubaka‐neː ʔaim‐baː. "her remains are at the Mēbaru noro tomb."

上間幸次郎	‘いりんやー‐ぬ ちゅー‐ぬー ʔiɾiɴjaː‐nu ʨuː‐nuː "Someone from Irin'yā ..."

上間幸次郎	さんでー‐ぬる‐が ふゎーふじ ‘あー ぬる‐や ‘あが たんめー‐ぬ くゎー いぇーみしぇてーしが, sandeː‐nuɾu‐ga ɸaːɸuʥi ʔaː nuɾu‐ja ʔaga tammeː‐nu kʷaː jeːmiɕeteːɕiga, "The ancestor of ... the third-generation noro was a daughter of our grandfather"

上間幸次郎	‘うれー ‘あー ‘あがり‐ぬ じなん さんなん‐ぬ くゎー やてぃ なてぃしが ʔuɾeː ʔaː ʔagaɾi‐nu ʥinaɴ sannaɴ‐nu kʷaː jati natiɕiga "she was a daughter of the second or third son of the Agari,"

上間幸次郎	‘うんちゅー(や)‐ぬ ‘いこつ‐や なま とーなんびゃー‐ねー ‘いじゃー ‘あいらはじ. ʔunʨuː(ja)‐nu ʔikoʦu‐ja nama toːnambjaː‐neː ʔiʥaː ʔaiɾahaʥi. "and her remains should now be at Tōnanbyā."

上間幸次郎	‘うぬ ぬる なてぃ ひちゃーとぅ とぅじ すーぬ ちゅーや をぅらーぬ しーくに. ʔunu nuɾu nati hiʨaːtu tuʥi suːnu ʨuːja wuɾaːnu ɕiːkuni. "when you become a noro, no-one marries you in Sesoko, so"

上間幸次郎	‘あんさーに ‘あがり‐ぬ ふゎーふじ‐ぬ ‘うらさき‐ぬ なかじゅにー‐り ‘ゆーぬ ちゅー そーてぃちー, をぅとぅー しみーてぃ. ʔaɴsaːni ʔagaɾi‐nu ɸaːɸuʥi‐nu ʔuɾasaki‐nu nakaʥuniː‐ɾi ʔjuːnu ʨuː soːtiʨiː, wutuː ɕimiːti. "an ancestor of the Agari brought a man named Nakasone from Urasaki to be her husband."

上間幸次郎	ひちちゃーとぅ ‘うんちゅー‐とぅ なかじゅに‐ぬる‐とぅ ‘うぬ ぬる‐とぅ‐ぬ なかねー いなぐんぐゎ ちゅい ‘まーりてぃ, hiʨiʨaːtu ʔunʨuː‐tu nakaʥuni‐nuɾu‐tu ʔunu nuɾu‐tu‐nu nakaneː jinaguŋgʷa ʨui ʔmaːɾiti, "Then, Nakasone and the noro had a daughter, and "

上間幸次郎	ひちちゃーとぅ ‘うりー‐や ‘うぬ いなぐんぐゎ‐ぬ また ‘うやー‐ぬ かわい ぬる なてん‐よー. hiʨiʨaːtu ʔuɾiː‐ja ʔunu jinaguŋgʷa‐nu mata ʔujaː‐nu kawai nuɾu nateɴ‐joː. "then, this daughter became a noro, replacing her mother"

上間幸次郎	‘うり‐が あー さんでー… あー ゆでー‐めぬ ぬる. ʔuɾi‐ga aː sandeː… aː judeː‐menu nuɾu. "That's the third-generation ... no, the fourth-generation noro."

上間幸次郎	‘うちまぬ ぶっぱー, ‘うぬ ‘うちま‐ぬ ぶっぱー やしーが, ʔuʨimanu buppaː ʔunu ʔuʨima‐nu buppaː jaɕiːga, "She was an old Uchima lady, and this Uchima lady ..."

上間幸次郎	‘うんちゅー(が)‐やー あー どーこーじゅー‘いちねん‐ぬ かぬとぅ‐ぬ‐‘うーぬ とぅし‐ねー ‘まーりてぃ． ʔunʨuː(ga)‐jaː aː doːkoːʥuːʔiʨineɴ‐nu kanutu‐nu‐ʔuːnu tuɕi‐neː ʔmaːɾiti． "she was born in the year Dōkō 11, the year of the Metal Rabbit [of the sexagenary cycle]."

上間幸次郎	たいしょー、 たいしょーさんねん‐がやー taiɕoː, taiɕoːsanneɴ‐gajaː "In the year of Taishō ... 3rd year of Taishō I think ... "

上間幸次郎	さんねん‐ぬ とぅら‐るしぬ さんぐゎち … けーまーち ひちちゃーしが, sanɴen‐nu tuɾa‐ɾuɕinu saŋgʷaʨi … keːmaːʨi hiʨiʨaːɕiga, "3rd year, the year of the Tiger, on March ... She suddenly passed away"

上間幸次郎	ちょーど ぱちじゅーし‐ぬ とぅし‐ねー まーしみそーちん‐ばー ʨoːdo paʨiʥuːɕi‐nu tuɕi‐neː maːɕimisoːʨim‐baː "she passed away when she was exactly 84 years old."

上間幸次郎	‘うぬ ちゅー‐が まーち ひちちゃーとぅ また ‘あがり‐ぬ ʔunu ʨuː‐ga maːʨi hiʨiʨaːtu mata ʔagaɾi‐nu "When she passed away, from the Agari,"

上間幸次郎	ひちでーめ‐ぬ ふゎーふじ‐ぬ ちょーじょ, めーぬやー‐ぬ ぶっぱー‐が ないみそち, hiʨideːme‐nu ɸaːɸuʥi‐nu ʨoːʥo, meːnujaː‐nu buppaː‐ga naimisoʨi, "an old Mēnuyā lady who was the eldest daughter of the seventh-generation ancestor became noro, but ..."

上間幸次郎	‘うん ちゅー‐が ばす‐ねー‐や ‘うーふじゅくとぅ ‘あらすいん ‘いじてぃん‐よー ぬる‐ぬ. ʔun ʨuː‐ga basu‐neː‐ja ʔuːɸuʥukutu ʔaɾasuiɴ ʔiʥitiɴ‐joː nuɾu‐nu. "in her time, there was also a dispute with the Uhujuku you see, about the noro."

上間幸次郎	‘うふじゅく‐ぬ たち‐ふゎじまい やとぅ ‘うれー しまぶく げん‘いちろー‐さん‐が ‘うり さーに ʔuɸuʥuku‐nu taʨi‐ɸaʥimai jatu ʔuɾeː ɕimabuku geɴʔiʨiɾoː‐saɴ‐ga ʔuɾi saːni  "It started with the Uhujuku so Gen'ichirō did something"

上間幸次郎	‘あらしー ‘いじーてぃ, ‘うふじゅく‐ぬ くゎーまーが‐はら るく… ‘うぬ ʔaɾaɕiː ʔiʥiːti, ʔuɸuʥuku‐nu kʷaːmaːga‐haɾa ɾuku… ʔunu "and there was a dispute, one of the descendants of the Uhujuku, sixth ... I mean"

上間幸次郎	あー ‘うちま ぬる‐ぬ ぶっぱー‐が ‘あとぅ‐や るくでーめ‐や ‘いじたん‐ばー. aː ʔuʨima nuɾu‐nu buppaː‐ga ʔatu‐ja ɾukudeːme‐ja ʔiʥitam‐baː. "after the old Uchima lady, six generations of noro succeeded"

上間幸次郎	みーぐゎーやー‐ぬ しぇんたろー‐が とぅじ, ‘うふじゅく‐ぬ げんたろー‐り ‘いーみしぇん ちゅー‐ぬ しーじゃ…ぬ ‘いじーてぃ, miːgʷaːjaː‐nu ɕentaɾoː‐ga tuʥi, ʔuɸuʥuku‐nu gentaɾoː‐ɾi ʔiːmiɕen ʨuː‐nu ɕiːʥa…nu ʔiʥiːti, "It was the wife of Sentarō of Mīgwāyā; the [inaudible] of Gentarō of the Uhujuku; …"

上間幸次郎	ぐるくにん ひちちゃーとぅ ‘あん‐が ‘いじーぬ むのー ‘あらぬ りち， ‘あれー くとぅわってぃ ちー guɾukuniɴ hiʨiʨaːtu ʔaɴ‐ga ʔiʥiːnu munoː ʔaɾanu ɾiʨi， ʔaɾeː kutuwatti ʨiː "after five or six years had passed, she said that she wouldn't be the noro; she refused, and so"

上間幸次郎	ひちちゃーとぅ, ‘あま‐ぬ ぬる‐‘うまーや ひちでーめ‐ぬ ぬる‐や また ‘あがり‐ぬ hiʨiʨaːtu, ʔama‐nu nuɾu‐ʔumaːja hiʨideːme‐nu nuɾu‐ja mata ʔagaɾi‐nu "the seventh generation noro, from the Agari again,"

上間幸次郎	かぐろーさん‐が ちょーじょ‐ぬ ‘いじたん‐ばー. kaguɾoːsaɴ‐ga ʨoːʥo‐nu ʔiʥitam‐baː. "the eldest daughter of Kagorō became noro you see"

上間幸次郎	‘あま げんざい ‘あり‐が ぬる なてぃ ちーしが， ʔama genʣai ʔaɾi‐ga nuɾu nati ʨiːɕiga， "Currently, she is the noro, but"

上間幸次郎	よんだいめ‐の ぬる‐や jondaime‐no nuɾu‐ja "the fourth-generation noro "

上間幸次郎	(‘うつぃま ‘あぬ) ぬるるんち‐やーしき‐ねー やー ふち ‘めんせーてーしが. (ʔuʦima ʔanu) nuɾuɾunʨi‐jaːɕiki‐neː jaː ɸuʨi ʔmeɴseːteːɕiga. "had a thatched house at the Norodonchi grounds; …"

上間幸次郎	‘うぬ やー‐や (たっ…） ふきたて‐ごや, ‘あな‐やー ʔunu jaː‐ja (tat…） ɸukitate‐goja, ʔana‐jaː "this house, a small thatched house,"

上間幸次郎	ちゅくてぃ めんしぇーてーし(が), … なてぃてぃ ちー ちゃーとぅ ‘うぬ ‘あなやー‐ぬ ʨukuti meɴɕeːteːɕi(ga), … natiti ʨiː ʨaːtu ʔunu ʔanajaː‐nu "she built, but as for this house"

上間幸次郎	しら‘あいぬ かーてぃ, ‘なー てーふー ふきば をぅーとぅらん‐ぐとぅ なってぃ ちー ちゃー…, さんなん いきがんぐゎ そーてぃちー ɕiɾaʔainu kaːti, ʔnaː teːɸuː ɸukiba wuːtuɾaɴ‐gutu natti ʨiː ʨaː…, sannaɴ jikigaŋgʷa soːtiʨiː "it was being eaten by termites, and she couldn't stay there anymore when there was a typhoon, so she took her third son with her"

上間幸次郎	‘うかみ‐ぬ めー‐ねー なー ‘ういとぅま しれみそーり りち ぐしー ‘うさぎてぃ, ʔukami‐nu meː‐neː naː ʔuituma ɕiɾemisoːɾi ɾiʨi guɕiː ʔusagiti, "to make an offering to ask the gods to let her take her leave [from being the noro], and"

上間幸次郎	‘あんし ‘うぬ やー ‘うん ばす‐ねー ‘うん(ば) ひー‐ねーむる こんちぇん‐ばー. ʔaɴɕi ʔunu jaː ʔuɴ basu‐neː ʔuɴ(ba) hiː‐neː muɾu konʨem‐baː. "then, on that day, they demolished the whole house."

上間幸次郎	こんち しじみてぃ ちーちゃーとぅ, ‘うぬ ゆるー‐や ‘うぬ さんなん‐ぬる やー ‘いじ konʨi ɕiʥimiti ʨiːʨaːtu, ʔunu juɾuː‐ja ʔunu sannaɴ‐nuɾu jaː ʔiʥi "The night after demolishing the house, at the house of her third son"

上間幸次郎	どぅーぬ また‘まーが, ‘あぬ duːnu mataʔmaːga, ʔanu "with her great-grandchildren"

上間幸次郎	ほんけ‐ぬ また‘まーが, ‘あー めーなち ゆふいみそち, ひちちゃーとぅ ‘うぬまま ちゃーまーし. hoŋke‐nu mataʔmaːga, ʔaː meːnaʨi juɸuimisoʨi, hiʨiʨaːtu ʔunumama ʨaːmaːɕi. "great-grandchildren of the main branch of her family there, she rested and she passed away right there."

上間幸次郎	‘うかみ‐ねー ‘うゆび すたぬ ゆるー まーしみそーち, ʔukami‐neː ʔujubi sutanu juɾuː maːɕimisoːʨi, "She passed away in the night after getting leave from the gods"

上間幸次郎	なーちゃー‐や さんぐゎち‐ぬ じゅーぐるくにち‐ぐる やらんがやー, ひー‐やー ‘うびらんしが たしかに さんぐゎち とぅらどぅし やしが, naːʨaː‐ja saŋgʷaʨi‐nu ʥuːguɾukuniʨi‐guɾu jaɾaŋgajaː, hiː‐jaː ʔubiɾaɴɕiga taɕikani saŋgʷaʨi tuɾaduɕi jaɕiga, "I believe the day after was March 15 or 16. I don't remember the date, but I'm sure it was March in the year of the Tiger"

上間幸次郎	‘あー たいしょー さんねん‐がやー とぅら‐どぅし． ʔaː taiɕoː sanneɴ‐gajaː tuɾa‐duɕi． "which was the 3rd year of Taishō, I believe, the year of the Tiger I mean"

上間幸次郎	まーしぬ… ひちちぇーせ, ふんとー ‘おかみ‐ん めんしぇーさーり ‘うむてぃ しんじらりん‐よー. maːɕinu… hiʨiʨeːse, ɸuntoː ʔokami‐m meɴɕeːsaːɾi ʔumuti ɕinʥiɾaɾiɴ‐joː. "She passed away [inaudible]… That that happened does make you believe that there really are gods."

上間幸次郎	‘なー にんじん‐ぬ ‘おかみ‐ぬ めーれーら ‘なー ぬる ‘ういとぅま しみそーり りちー やー しじみてぃ ひちちゃーとぅ ‘うぬ まーまー まーちゃん‐り ‘いーね ʔnaː ninʥin‐nu ʔokami‐nu meːɾeːɾa ʔnaː nuɾu ʔuituma ɕimisoːɾi ɾiʨiː jaː ɕiʥimiti hiʨiʨaːtu ʔunu maːmaː maːʨaɴ‐ɾi ʔiːne "When you think about how a human passed away right after going against the command of the gods by asking them to let her take her leave from being the noro and demolishing the house, "

上間幸次郎	なんだか ふんとー ‘うかみ‐ん めんしぇーさやー りち ‘うむてぃ しんじらってぃちー nandaka ɸuntoː ʔukami‐ɴ meɴɕeːsajaː ɾiʨi ʔumuti ɕinʥiɾattiʨiː "it does make you believe that there really are gods"

上間幸次郎	‘あんち しまー‐や むかし‐はら しじだかーさぬ ʔanʨi ɕimaː‐ja mukaɕi‐haɾa ɕiʥidaka:sanu "also, since always, the island has been rich in spiritual forces"

上間幸次郎	ふゎなりや すくぬ ‘うたき ‘うかみ‐ぬ ‘えんがにん ‘うがまりーし, ‘うりん ひちゃしが, ɸanaɾija sukunu ʔutaki ʔukami‐nu ʔeŋganiɴ ʔugamaɾiːɕi, ʔuɾiɴ hiʨaɕiga, " and it's possible to worship the Enganī deity at the utaki [sacred places] of Sesoko; she did this, too, but…"

上間幸次郎	‘うりー なま ‘うがまらん なってぃ, ‘うれー ぬる‐ぬ‐どぅ ‘うっとぅる りちぬ ふゎなし‐ん ‘あてぃっちー ひちゃーしが, どぅーなー‐てぃん ‘えんがにー ‘うがみん‐でぃ ʔuɾiː nama ʔugamaɾan natti, ʔuɾeː nuɾu‐nu‐du ʔuttuɾu ɾiʨinu ɸanaɕi‐ɴ ʔatitʨiː hiʨaːɕiga, duːnaː‐tiɴ ʔeŋganiː ʔugamin‐di "but now, it's not possible to worship it anymore, perhaps because it is said that the noro is stricking the bell. We too, we tried to whorship Enganī"

上間幸次郎	‘あっち ひち ʔatʨi hiʨi "walked"

上間幸次郎	ぺーちんやー‐にーてぃ ‘えんがにー ‘うがーり しーねーや peːʨiɴjaː‐niːti ʔeŋganiː ʔugaːɾi ɕiːneːja "intending to worship the Enganī at the Pēchin'yā"

上間幸次郎	‘あんまり なー ‘あちら … しーねー (‘うふ ‘うぬ) ‘うゆみ しにぐぬ‐ばー ʔammaɾi naː ʔaʨiɾa … ɕiːneː (ʔuɸu ʔunu) ʔujumi ɕinigunu‐baː "... at the time of the Shinugu festival"

上間幸次郎	‘うちぐしく‐までぃ なん ちゅい ぬぶいみしぇーたん‐よー やまんみーち. ʔuʨiguɕiku‐madi nan ʨui nubuimiɕeːtaɴ‐joː jamammiːʨi. "she climbed up Mt. Uchigushiku by herself, into the mountains."

上間幸次郎	‘あまー‐じ ‘うむいがち しーみしぇんばー. ʔamaː‐ʥi ʔumuigaʨi ɕiːmiɕembaː. "That's where she would worship."

上間幸次郎	なー ‘うむいがちや ちゃんちが しーがすーら, naː ʔumuigaʨija ʨanʨiga ɕiːgasuːɾa, "I don't know how she would worship, but…"

上間幸次郎	ひち ‘あり‐が ‘めんそーち, hiʨi ʔaɾi‐ga ʔmeɴsoːʨi, "after that, she went"

上間幸次郎	めーぬ‐ぺーちん‐やー‐ち ‘めんそーち, とー やがーてぃ ‘うぬ meːnu‐peːʨiɴ‐jaː‐ʨi ʔmensoːʨi, toː jagaːti ʔunu "So, she went to the Pēchin'yā from before, and they said: 'very soon ..."

上間幸次郎	かねー ‘うがまりーとぅ むる しじかに ひちゅーりよーやーり ‘いーば, kaneː ʔugamaɾiːtu muɾu ɕiʥikani hiʨuːɾijoːjaːɾi ʔiːba, " 'the bell will ring, so all be quiet'"

上間幸次郎	‘いちゅーてぃ しみせーたしが, ‘あんち しーば すぐ ‘うがまりたん‐よー. ʔiʨuːti ɕimiseːtaɕiga, ʔanʨi ɕiːba sugu ʔugamaɾitaɴ‐joː. "then, the bell rang right away."

上間幸次郎	‘あんとぅ ‘うれー また ぬる‐ぬ‐どぅ ‘うっとぅる りちーぬ ふゎなしー ‘あいたしが ふれー ふんとー ʔantu ʔuɾeː mata nuɾu‐nu‐du ʔuttuɾu ɾiʨiːnu ɸanaɕiː ʔaitaɕiga ɸuɾeː ɸuntoː "Now, it has been said that the noro is striking it, but"

上間幸次郎	ぬる‐ぬ‐が ‘うっとぅたら, また ‘うかみ‐が‐が ‘うちみしぇーたら, なー まー‐や たしかみららん‐ばー どぅーなー‐ぬ. nuɾu‐nu‐ga ʔuttutaɾa, mata ʔukami‐ga‐ga ʔuʨimiɕeːtaɾa, naː maː‐ja taɕikamiɾaɾam‐baː duːnaː‐nu. "…it can't be ascertained whether the noro really struck it, or whether the deity struck it."

上間幸次郎	だー ‘うれー なー どぅーなー‐ぬ ‘うがらりば‐る わかい‐る. daː ʔuɾeː naː duːnaː‐nu ʔugaɾaɾiba‐ɾu wakai‐ɾu. "We would find out if we would go worship it ourselves."

上間幸次郎	すーしが ‘うぬ ‘あとぅ‐はら‐や なー ぜったい うがまらん. suːɕiga ʔunu ʔatu‐haɾa‐ja naː ʣettai ugamaɾaɴ. "However, after that it absolutely couldn't be worshipped anymore."

上間幸次郎	はに‐や ‘うん ちゅーまりー, ‘あんちぬ むのー ‘うがまってぃ． hani‐ja ʔun ʨuːmaɾiː, ʔanʨinu munoː ʔugamatti． "She was the last person to worship something like that, with the bell."

上間幸次郎	‘うん ちゅー‐が まーち ひち‐はら ‘うがまらんんしが ʔun ʨuː‐ga maːʨi hiʨi‐haɾa ʔugamaɾanɴɕiga "It couldn't be worshipped anymore after she passed away, but"

上間幸次郎	はんち‐ぬ りとー‐や すびてぃ ‘あんち‐ぬ ‘あー しじらかーさぬ ‘うりやしが hanʨi‐nu ɾitoː‐ja subiti ʔanʨi‐nu ʔaː ɕiʑiɾakaːsanu ʔuɾijaɕiga "isolated islands like this one are all rich in spiritual forces like that."

上間幸次郎	しまー‐ぬ ぬろー なま‐まりー ちょーろ ひちだい なてぃ ちーしが ɕimaː‐nu nuɾoː nama‐maɾiː ʨoːɾo hiʨidai nati ʨiːɕiga "There have been exactly seven generations of noro on the island so far"

上間幸次郎	‘うかみん‐ちゅ むる きまたし‐や じゅーさんだい‐ぬ そーけいうぉーじだい, ʔukamiɴ‐ʨu muɾu kimataɕi‐ja ʥuːsandai‐nu soːkeiwoːʥidai "I believe all the priests, during the reign of the thirteenth king, King Shō Kei;"

上間幸次郎	ぐしちゃん‐‘えーかた‐ぬ じだい‐ねー きまてぃーらり ‘うみん わぬや. guɕiʨaɴ‐ʔeːkata‐nu ʥidai‐neː kimatiːɾaɾi ʔumiɴ wanuja. " were decided on. During the time of Gushichan-Ēkata, I personally believe"

上間幸次郎	‘うぬまんぐら‐や (‘いくち) ‘いくちー むんちゅー‐ぬ しーく‐に ‘あたーが‐り ‘いーねー‐や ʔunumaŋguɾa‐ja (ʔikuʨi) ʔikuʨiː munʨuː‐nu ɕiːku‐ni ʔataːga‐ɾi ʔiːneː‐ja "If you wonder how many munchū [clans] there were on Sesoko:"

上間幸次郎	むとぅーま‐ぬ むんちゅー‐ぬ ‘あいん‐よー. mutuːma‐nu munʨuː‐nu ʔaiɴ‐joː. "there are six munchū."

上間幸次郎	‘うふじゅく‐むんちゅー ‘うり‐はら なから‐むんちゅー, なかふる‐むんちゅー ʔuɸuʥuku‐munʨuː ʔuɾi‐haɾa nakaɾa‐munʨuː, nakaɸuɾu‐munʨuː "The Uhujuku clan, then the Nakada clan, the Nakahodo clan"

上間幸次郎	‘うり‐はら ひちゃんふゎた‐むんちゅー ‘うり‐はら ‘あがりぬ‐むんちゅー ‘うくばる‐むんちゅー ‘うぬ むとぅ‐ま‐ぬ あー むんちゅー‐ぬ めんしぇーてん. ʔuɾi‐haɾa hiʨaɴɸata‐munʨuː ʔuɾi‐haɾa ʔagaɾinu‐munʨuː ʔukubaɾu‐munʨuː ʔunu mutu‐ma‐nu aː munʨuː‐nu meɴɕeːteɴ. "then the Hichanhwata clan, then the Agari clan, and the Okubaru clan; there were six different clans"

上間幸次郎	すびてぃ いなぐがみ‐や ‘うぬ むとぅま‐ぬ くゎー‐‘まーが‐はら subiti jinagugami‐ja ʔunu mutuma‐nu kʷaː‐ʔmaːga‐haɾa "All the female priests have been descendants from those clans"

上間幸次郎	なま わーが むぬ ‘うむてぃ‐はら わなー なー やー むる ちじん‐ばー. nama waːga munu ʔumuti‐haɾa wanaː naː jaː muɾu ʨiʥim‐baː. "now, I have been the inheritor of the whole household from as early as I can remember."

上間幸次郎	すーとぅ ‘うかみ‐‘あらすい‐ん むかーし‐はら ‘あてぃちぇーしが むる ‘うり ちー suːtu ʔukami‐ʔaɾasui‐m mukaːɕi‐haɾa ʔatiʨeːɕiga muɾu ʔuɾi ʨiː "So, there have been disputes about the gods since long ago, but"

上間幸次郎	‘あー やてーしが ‘うぬ ぬる ‘うかみん‐ちゅ‐や すびて ‘うぬ くゎー‐‘まーが‐はら むる ‘いじーてぃ, ひち, ʔaː jateːɕiga ʔunu nuɾu ʔukamin‐ʨu‐ja subite ʔunu kʷaː‐ʔmaːga‐haɾa muɾu ʔiʥiːti, hiʨi, "it was the case, all the noro, all the priests, have come from among their descendants, and…"

上間幸次郎	ぬる‐や ‘あがり‐ん くゎー‐‘まーが, にがみ‐や ‘うふじゅく‐ぬ くゎー‐‘まーが, ‘うちがみ‐や あー なかふる‐むんちゅー nuɾu‐ja ʔagaɾi‐ɴ kʷaː‐ʔmaːga, nigami‐ja ʔuɸuʥuku‐nu kʷaː‐ʔmaːga, ʔuʨigami‐ja aː nakaɸuɾu‐munʨuː "from among the descendants of the Agari, negami [female priests] from among the descendants of the Uhujuku, okitegami [female priests] from the Nakahodo munchū"

上間幸次郎	‘うり‐はら ‘うぬ たちがみ りち ‘まーにが ‘うふゆみ しぬぐ‐ねー ぬいし‐や ʔuɾi‐haɾa ʔunu taʨigami ɾiʨi ʔmaːniga ʔuɸujumi ɕinugu‐neː nuiɕi‐ja "and the ones called 'tachigami' that ride a horse to the Uhuyumi Shinugu [ceremony]"

上間幸次郎	‘あー なかふる‐むんちゅー, ‘うくばる‐むんちゅー ‘あがりぬ‐むんちゅー‐はら むる ‘いじーてぃ ‘あんち つぁっくぬ‐ぐとぅ ‘あいん‐り. ʔaː nakaɸuɾu‐munʨuː ʔukubaɾu‐munʨuː ʔagaɾinu‐munʨuː‐haɾa muɾu ʔiʥiːti ʔanʨi ʦakkunu‐gutu ʔaiɴ‐ɾi. "from the Nakahodo munchū, the Okubaru munchū, and the Agari munchū."

上間幸次郎	‘あんとぅ ふれー しま‐や むかし‐はら ‘うかみ‐ぐに りち, ʔantu ɸuɾeː ɕima‐ja mukaɕi‐haɾa ʔukami‐guni ɾiʨi "That's why this island has been called a land of gods since long ago;"

上間幸次郎	むかし‐ぬ ‘うた‐ねー ‘うしれーくぶしねー ‘あいん‐よー. mukaɕi‐nu ʔuta‐neː ʔuɕiɾeːkubuɕineː ʔaiɴ‐joː. "in an old usudaiko [drum] song, the following is said: …"

上間幸次郎	「しすく てるしまや だんす とぅゆまりる しるくち‐や ‘うたき なか‐や ‘えぐに」 ɕisuku teɾuɕimaja daɴsu tujumaɾiɾu ɕiɾukuʨi‐ja ʔutaki naka‐ja ʔeguni "The shining island Sesoko, prosperous and flourishing; utaki around, a rich land in the middle"

上間幸次郎	しるくち‐や しゅーいさい はっちぇーらり ‘うむいん. ɕiɾukuʨi‐ja ɕuːisai hatʨeːɾaɾi ʔumuiɴ. "I believe the word 'shirukuchi' is written [using the characters of] 'shūi' ['perimeter']."

上間幸次郎	すーい‐や ‘うたき, しるくち りち suːi‐ja ʔutaki, ɕiɾukuʨi ɾiʨi "Utaki around', 'shirukuchi';"

上間幸次郎	‘あんち‐ぬ くとぅー‐ぬ ‘あいとぅ, えーとぅ ‘うかみ‐ぐとー ‘うっかり ひちー‐や ならん‐さー‐りばー. ʔanʨi‐nu kutuː‐nu ʔaitu, eːtu ʔukami‐gutoː ʔukkaɾi hiʨiː‐ja naɾaɴ‐saː‐ɾibaː. "because there are things like that, we mustn't be careless when it comes to the gods."

上間幸次郎	なー ‘うっさー. naː ʔussa:. "That's all."