The film production began in the Taisho Era in Okinawa. At first the films were made for stage performances of Rensa-geki, a form of popular entertainment. It consists of a combination of film projection and performance. This type of film presents scenes which cannot be played on the stage. It was introduced into Okinawa from the main islands of Japan. Even after its declines in Japan, Okinawan film makers continued to create and produce their own Rensa-geki.

Gosamaru Seichu Roku (1934) was the first serious feature film in Okinawa, which was also used for the pieces of Rensa-geki. The film was revived in 1951 and was included in the first Rensa-geki after the Second World War. It had a great impact on the films in Okinawa. Under the occupation of the American army, Okinawan theatre companies produced their own films and Rensa-geki. These films included typical Okinawan forms of drama and bore some unique characteristics of such creators as KINJO Tetsuo and TAKAMINE Go. It was Takamine who introduced Rensa-geki into his film Mugen Ryukyu, Tsuru Henry (1999) in the form of a play within a play. Rensa-geki was brought to life in our era through Gosamaru Seichu Roku.