indicates their origin, Kyoto. The other is that its founder was named . The fact that their origin had been obscured by the early 18th century suggests that they came from mainland Japan a long time ago. Based on modern-day Shuri Kubagawa-chō (part of the capital Shuri), they performed puppet plays, chanted () on celebratory occasions and sang nembutsu songs as a funeral service. For these reasons, they were also called ( prayer) or ( chanter). It is uncertain if the performed from the very beginning or learned later from a different group. Unlike Taichū's followers, they wandered around Okinawa Island. The spread of from mainland Japan was not limited to Okinawa. In the Yaeyama Islands, Bon dance is usually called and is accompanied with songs. The Amami Islands also have songs, but at least some of them may belong to a tradition different from Okinawa's . Note that these traditions are not identified with . is considered specific to the Okinawa Islands. Pre-World War II traditions It is not clear when songs spread to central Okinawa, which later played a central role in transforming . According to an oral tradition, was introduced to Kamiyama, Ginowan in the Meiji period, when a wealthy farmer invited performers from Shuri and made them teach Bon dance to young villagers. The community of Ganeko, Ginowan has a similar oral history. It appears that spread to northern Okinawa from the late Meiji period to the early Shōwa period. Several communities in northern Okinawa believe that was introduced from Sesoko, Motobu, a supplying center of seasonal workers. In modern Okinawa, has gradually changed itself into popular entertainment by incorporating non-Buddhist folk songs and by adding visually appealing choreography although the dance still began with songs such as , (), and . It has also developed regional variants. Kobayashi Yukio, a researcher of Okinawan folk songs, classified various forms of into four groups: : mainly performed in central Okinawa. A parade is led by male drummers and is followed by female or mixed dancers. A dozen songs are performed in a mid-tempo. : distributed in Uruma of midwestern Okinawa. A parade led by hand drummers and followed by a mixed group of men and women. A dozen songs are performed in an unhurried tempo. Drumless : typical of the Motobu Peninsula (Nago, Motobu and Nakijin) in northern Okinawa. Men and women line up in a circle