the begining
Rio and Yuu were childhood friends who lived on the island of Ishigaki in Okinawa. After graduating from high school, the two, who were both in the music proffession, entered school at Osaka (the music style taught there was different [from what they wanted to do], but...). Because they'd never lived away from their families they quickly began to feel homesick. It was that kind of loneliness that drove the two to make the music for their debut album "Aoi Takara". With that music, they won a school audtion, which prompted others to help them form the group. Yanawaraba is a 2 person unit with the vocals and sanshin of Ishigaki Yuu, and the vocals and accoustic guitar of Aizatou Rio.

the name
The name "Yanawaraba" is taken from two separate Okinawan words. The word "yana" means "no good" (ダメ). And the word "warabaa" means "kid." So Yanawaraba would come out to something like "a bad/no good kid" (悪ガキ). But it's more like supposed to give off the michevous feeling, rather than a "bad" feeling. In the dialect of the island the two grew up on, it would have been said "Yanafaanaa," but they chose the main Okinawan language way of saying it ("Yanawarabaa") because it was easier to remember.

All lyrics are romanized by me. Please email me for any corrections
All information taken from Ya-na.net