It was about 3 a.m., a prime time for this form of entertainment that symbolizes a type of popular nightlife for many Okinawans. The backdrop of Hantabaru in downtown Naha is adorned with dozens of sanshin. The minyo sakaba features one or more professional minyo singers who double as sanshin players. Customers drop in not only to listen to the performances of their favorite singers but also to sing by themselves onstage. Some play sanshin by themselves.
Customers are mostly middle-aged and elderly people.
The minyo sakaba flourished in the 1970s after Okinawa's reversion to Japan. An international marine exposition was held in Okinawa from 1975 to 1976, and the island prefecture came under the spotlight also as an exotic tourist destination. The number of minyo sakaba swelled to around 200 as minyo was enjoying great popularity. But the supply of good singers failed to keep up with the increase of clubs, according to Sadao China, a music producer and singer. He said the quality of new minyo declined at the time.