When you’re full enough, head to Ryukyu Mura to fully experience the Okinawa experience! I’m planning to have my first experience with the three-stringed instrument here, but everyone immediately smiles when I see the Okinawa-themed atmosphere at the entrance. First off, the staff greets us in Ryukyu attire. And the “Okinawa Station Chupuru” located at the entrance is a covered area that can withstand rain, but it replicates the construction of a red-tile village, so the atmosphere is perfect! On the way to the experience zone, there’s a huge sea shell called Ahoan, and Momoto, Kurosaki, and Yokko are there for a photo opportunity as usual.

The three of them have a genuine sense of excitement when they hold the three-stringed instrument for the first time—things like “Wow, I’m excited!” and “It’s my first time playing!”—and they are all very happy with the teacher who is guiding them. The teacher seems more gentle than they imagined, and they secretly feel relieved. When asked what kind of songs they would like to play, they all think for a while. “What kind of songs would we like to play?” They timidly ask, and the answer is “Yes, we can play ‘Shimono’.” After rehearsing “Shimono” for a while, they all decided to play it. Holding down the strings and releasing them—it’s a simple task, but the difference between doing it and watching it is huge. It’s very difficult to produce a clear and beautiful sound. But, as expected, the most serious expression of all during the previous schedule has resulted in a result.