I feel like I'm writing something akin to an obituary for the group Nenes, though Sadao China, the group's mentor, composer, sanshin player and the man whose idea the group was in the first place, wouldn't agree.
Nevertheless, the last time the four current singers will be performing is next month in Tokyo and Okinawa. After that they will be replaced by four young singers mostly still in their early 20s, and barring one, with no experience or training in Okinawan minyo or sanshin.
According to Yasuko Yoshida, one of the original members, all four leaving simultaneously has nothing more to do than with it being "a good time for a change.