List of Authors
ADACHI Noriyuki (2)
Born in 1948, in Sakaiminato, Tottori prefecture. Non-fiction writer.
ARAKAWA Akira (1)
Born in 1931, in Nishihara-cho, Okinawa. Journalist. Thinker who raise the theory of anti-Okinawa reversion.
ASHITOMI Junko (2)
Researcher on Okinawan food culture. Born in Okinawa, graduated from Kagawa Nutrition University in 1966. She has been involved in the research and reproduction of Bukubuku tea and Ryukyu dynasty sweets, and has contributed to pass on and develop Ryukyuan cuisine with her mother, the late Masako Niijima, who rediscovered Ryukyuan cuisine. Awarded the Ryukyu Shimpo Prize in 2021.
FUJIMOTO Giichi (1)
Born in 1933, in Sakai, Osaka. Passed away in 2012. Writer and broadcast writer.
FUKAISHI Takashi (1)
Born in 1948, in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Moved to Ishigaki Island in 1977. Author of "Okinawa no Hotaru" (Fireflies of Okinawa) (Okinawa Publishing Co., Ltd., winner of the 45th Sankei Children's Book Award), "Yaeyama Nature Life: Life and Creatures in Sima" (Border-Ink Co., Ltd.), and others.
FURUHASHI Nobuyoshi (4)
Born in 1943, in Tokyo. Scholar of Japanese literature, specialized in ancient literature. Honorary professor of Musashi University in Tokyo.
GAJA Yukio (2)
Ex-director of Naha City Museum of History.
HASHIGUCHI Joji (2)
Born in 1949, in Kagoshima prefecture. Photographer.
HIGA Yasuo (2)
Born in 1938, in Philippines, passed away in 2000. A photographer representing the postwar Okinawa. His works include "Ancient Strata of the Gods" (published by Nirai-sha) which is a record of religious rites in the Ryukyu Arc. Especially, the record of rites of Kudaka Island was a prominent accomplishment of his.
HIJIKATA Akira (1)
Born in 1958, in Tokyo. Worked as a reporter in Ryukyu Broadcasting Corporation from 1982 to 2018. From sports hookup to variety shows or a newscast, appears on a broad-ranged field.
ICHIKI Tetsuo (3)
Born in 1960, in Chiba prefecture. Freelance writer, living in Okinawa.
IKARI Fumiko (1)
Born in 1928 in Shuri, Naha. After working at the office of the University of the Ryukyus and Naha City Hall, became a radio newscaster of Okinawan dialect in 1982, and has given many lectures in Uchinaguchi.
IKEZAWA Natsuki (19)
Born in 1945, in Obihiro, Hokkaido. Novelist and poet. Lived in Okinawa from 1994 to 2004.
IREI Takashi (1)
Born in Minamidaito Village in 1935, he entered the Department of Japanese Literature, Faculty of Letters and Science, University of the Ryukyus in 1954, and published his poem "Sad Puzzling Year" in "University of the Ryukyus Literature" in 1956. Graduated from the University of the Ryukyus in 1958 and worked at Naha City Hall. Major books include "Okinawa: Tsuri no Minzokushi (Fishing Ethnography)" (1997), "Okinawa: Umui no Fudo(Topography of the sea)" (2007), "Chaasuga kunu Okinawa (Uchina) - Iretakashi's Remains" (2010), etc.
KANO Tatsuhiko (2)
Born in 1958, in Naha, Okinawa prefecture. Photographer. His works include "Kūbamisuta Ajimā" (text by Kinjo Tsuyako, Okinawa-Cuba Amity Association), "The Other Uchinā---The Shimanchu Who Sailed Across the Sea" (published by Borderink), "The Traveling Shima" (published by Mirai-sha), and more.
KAWATA San (1)
Horse herder and writer, living with horses on Yonaguni Island since 2009. Started Kadi books and began publishing projects. In 2024, she moved to Kumejima with her partner horse and cat.
KITAMURA Minao (2)
Born in 1942, in Ina, Nagano prefecture. Film director. Representative of Visual Folklore.
KOYAMA Juro (1)
Born in Tokyo in 1933. Doctor of Science, entomologist, and agronomist. Graduated from Tohoku University, Graduate School of Science. Engaged in research on crop pest control at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Akita, Okinawa, and at Kyushu Agricultural Experiment Station of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Shikoku Agricultural Experiment Station of the same Ministry, and the Sericulture and Insect Technology Research Institute of the same Ministry. 1991 retired and lives in Akita City. In1985 received the Japan Scientific Books Award for "Yomigaere ogon no shima(Revive the Golden Island)". In November 2003, he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
KUDAKA Masakazu (1)
Born in 1951, in Higashi village, Okinawa prefecture. Currently living in Kunigami village. Photographer and ecological counselor. Shoots and introduces the nature and the daily culture of Yanbaru from a local point of view, while running the Yanbaru-Kunigami cram school.
MAKI Kazuhiko (1)
Born in Tokyo. Editor. Visited Okinawa for the first time in 1988.
MAKINO Hirotaka (1)
MAKIOKA Sachiyo (4)
Born in 1961, in Tokyo. Editor.
MAKISHI Michiko (1)
MAKISHI Yoshikazu (2)
Born in 1943, in Naha, Okinawa. Architect. Co-representative of Heiwa Shimin Renrakukai [Assembly of Citizens for Peace].
MAKUTA Satoshi (1)
Born in Ishigaki City in 1955. While a student at Ryukyu University, he belonged to the "Yaeyama Performing Arts Society". He joined the Okinawa Times in 1979 and retired in 2015. His major publications include "Sengo Okinawa no Shinbun-jin(Newspaper People in Postwar Okinawa)" (1999), "Okinawa no Geijutsu to Bunka(Art and Culture in Okinawa: 1999-2009 from the Column "Ogen Kogen)" (2015), "Okinawa no Odori(Okinawan Dance: How to get along with Ryukyuan Dance)" (2019), and others.
MATAYOSHI Eiki (1)
Born in Okinawa in 1947. While working at the Urasoe City Library, he won the Subaru Literary Award in 1980 for "Ginnem Yashiki" and the 114th Akutagawa Award in 1996 for "Hog's Reward. Author of "Pig's Reward," "Kaho wa Umi kara," "Nami no Ue no Maria," "Umi no Madoromi" and many others.
MATSUI Terumi (2)
Born in Kumamoto Prefecture in 1950, he served as editorial director of the Nankai Nichinichi Shimbun until 2018.
MATSUMURA Hiroshi (5)
Born in 1952, in Osaka prefecture. Music clitic.
MATSUOKA Kazuko (1)
MEDORUMA Shun (1)
Born in 1960, in Nakijin village, Okinawa prefecture. Was awarded the 117th Akutagawa Prize in 1997 for his work, Droplets, while working as a language arts teacher in a prefectural high school. Produces works on the nature, climate and history of Okinawa.
MIYAGAWA Mitsuyo (2)
Moved to Okinawa after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Freelance writer.
MIYAGI Kazuno (1)
Born in Okinawa.
MIYAGI Tokumasa (1)
Born in 1939, in Urasoe, Okinawa. Ex-director of Urasoe City Museum. Ex-president of Okinawa Prefectural University of Art. Master of Okinawa Karate, 9 Dan.
MIYAWAKI Shunzo (1)
1926-2003. Born in Saitama Prefecture. Known as a famous editor and travelogue writer, he published many works focusing on railroad travel. His books include "Jikoku-hyo 2man-kilometoru (Timetable 20,000 Kilometers)," "Kisha-tabi 12kagetu (12 Months of Train Travel)," "Jikoku-hyo Showa-shi (Timetable Showa History)," "Shuchaku-eki (The Last Station)," and many others.
MIYAZATO Masako (1)
Born in Okinawa; director of the Urasoe City Museum of Art 2011-2022. Specializes in the history of Okinawan crafts and the history of Southeast Asian lacquer art.
MIYAZATO Senri (11)
Born in 1950, in Naha, Okinawa. Essayist. Recorder of sounds of folk rituals of Okinawa.
MORITA Minako (1)
Born in Naha, Okinawa. Editorial chair of Okinawa Times.
NAGAMINE Tetsunari (8)
Born in 1962 in Naha, Okinawa. Freelance editor and writer, as well as managing Awamori bar Karakara To Chibuguwa in Naha.
NAKA Bokunen (1)
NAKAHODO Masanori (1)
Born in 1943 at Carolinas in Tinian of the Northern Mariana Islands. Graduated from the Department of Japanese Language and Literature, Faculty of Letters and Science, University of the Ryukyus, and received his M.A. in Japanese Literature from the Graduate School of Humanities, Hosei University. In 1973 he became an assistant professor in the College of Law and Literature and in 1985 a professor in the College of Liberal Arts, University of the Ryukyu till 2009 when he retired. His publications include "Hawaii to Okinawa(Hawaii and Okinawa)" (2019), "Himeyuri tachi no Shunju(Spring and autumn of Himeyuri girls)" (2021), "Okinawa bungaku no gaien(The Extent of Okinawan Literature)" (2022), and many others.
NAKAMURA Kiyoshi (1)
Born in Osaka in 1958. Second generation Okinawan (Uchinanchu). Writer and visiting professor at the University of Okinawa. Moved to Naha City in 1996. Author of many books, including "Honne no Okinawa Mondai", "Shimaneko to Aruku Naha Sujigusuku" ,"Okinawa-gaku", "Honto wa Kowai Okinawa" "Kieyuku Okinawa", and many others.
NAKAMURA Kyoji (11)
Born in 1939 in Amami Oshima. After working for the Nankai Nichinichi Shimbun, he joined the Ryukyu Shimpo in 1972. After working as a reporter, he served as chief of the Miyako and Yaeyama bureaus, desk chief of the Culture Department, and head of the Publications Department before retiring in 1999. He is an essayist. Works include the novel "Sukunari" (winner of the 22nd Kyushu Art Festival Literature Award) and the essay collection "Ryukyu Arc: Amakuma Narrative.
NAKASONE Masaji (1)
Born in 1935, in Hirara city, Okinawa. Ex-director of Hirara City General Museum. Member of Committee of Miyako local history research.
NAKAZATO Masayuki (1)
Born in 1957. Executive managing director of Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting Corporation [QAB].
NISHI Tomoko (1)
Born in Imari City, Saga Prefecture. Studied at the University of Okinawa as an exchange student while studying at Tsuda University, and has lived in Okinawa since 1994. After working as a civic activist for women's and children's human rights, she is currently working at a psychiatric hospital as a mental health worker.
NOZATO Yo (3)
Born in 1942 in Kanazawa, Ishikawa. Started his career at Ryukyu Shinpo in 1967 and became a managing director of it at the end.
OGUMA Eiji (1)
Born in 1962, in Tokyo. Sociologist. Professor of Keio University in Tokyo. Guitarist.
OKUNO Shuji (1)
Born in Osaka Prefecture. Journalist and nonfiction writer. 2006 winner of the Kodansha Nonfiction Award and the Souichi Oya Nonfiction Award for "Natsuko: Queen of Okinawa Smuggling". He has also written numerous other books. He promotes the "Tida Kids Project," which invites children affected by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami to stay with host families in Okinawa.
ONO Masako (1)
Born in Kagoshima prefecture, living in Okinawa. Being in charge of deciphering ancient documents at Naha City Museum of History.
OSHIRO Tatsuhiro (3)
1925～2020. Born in Nakagusuku-son, Okinawa. Novelist. Awarded the Akutagawa Prize in 1967 for "Cocktail Party".
OTA Kazuto (1)
Born in Itoman, Okinawa. Manage a private museum named CAMP TALGANIE artistic farm, after retiring from Naha City Hall.
OTAKE Akiko (9)
Born in 1950, in Tokyo. Graduated from Sofia University, specialized in the literature. Non-fiction writer, essayist, photography critic.
OTA Masahide (2)
1925〜2017. Born in Kumejima, Okinawa. Ex-Member of the House of Councilors. Honorary professor of Ryukyu University. Ex-governor of Okinawa prefecture.
OTA Shizuo (1)
Born in Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture in 1948. After working at Ishigaki City Library, Ishigaki City Yaeyama Museum, held the post as the Director of the Cultural Division of Ishigaki City Board of Education, until retiring in 2008. His books include "Yaeyama Postwar History" and "Performing Arts in Yaeyama" (both published by Hirugisha) and "Yaeyama no Senso" (War in Yaeyama) (published by Nanzansha).
SAITO Jun (14)
Born in 1954, in Morioka, Iwate prefecture. Travel writer.
SAKI Ryuzo (3)
1937〜2015. Born in Onsŏng County in North Hamgyong Province of old Korea ruled by Japan. Novelist.
SAWACHI Hisae (2)
Born 1930, Tokyo. Non-fiction writer. Awarded the Asahi Prize in 2008 for her "Non-fiction Work Examining the Realities of the Showa Period Leading Up to the War" has received numerous awards.
SAWANO Hitoshi (4)
Born in 1944, in Aichi prefecture. Illustrator, writer.
SHIINA Makoto (2)
Born in 1944, in Tokyo. Novelist. Essayist. Film producer and director.
SHIMADA Katsuya (1)
Born in 1961, in Okinawa city, Okinawa. Reserch fellow of area studies and a part-time lecturer at Okinawa University, teaching "Media and Marketing", etc.
SHIMOJIMA Tetsuro (1)
Born in 1941, in Ueda, Nagano prefecture. Non-fiction writer. Painter.
SHINJO Kazuhiro (11)
Born in 1963, in Naha, Okinawa. Editor of Border Ink, a publishing company in Naha. Essayist.
SOMA Masakazu (1)
Born in 1949 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. A ceramic artist in Okinawa. In 1971, he moved to Okinawa to study under the late Ikuo Takaesu (contemporary master for crafts and traditional arts) of Tsuboya ware; he became independent in 1975 and was accredited as a traditional artisan in 2002.
SUNAGAWA Tomoko (1)
Born in 1963, in Otsu, Shiga prefecture. Photographer. Mango farmer, Representative of the company "Rakuen no Kajitsu [Fruits of Paradise]".
SUGAMA Asao (2)
1943〜2008 Born in Okinawa. Architect. Graduated from Nagoya Institute of Technology and established Takumi Sekkei in 1972. Yuntanzagama, which he built with potters in Yomitan Yachimun-no-Sato, won the 25-year award of the Japan Institute of Architects in 2011.
SUGIYAMA Toru (8)
Born in 1938, in Niigata city. Essayist.
SUZUKI Ruriko (1)
Born in Amami Oshima. Chairman of "Shimayumuta Tsutaeru Kai" which aims to pass on Amami's unique language, Shimaguchi. She also has a deep knowledge of Amami's traditional local cuisine and strives to pass it on.
SUZUKI Takashi (1)
TAIRA Tsugiko (1)
Born in 1962 in Okinawa. Director of the Haebaru Cultural Center.
TAKAGI Nobuko (2)
Born in 1946, in Yamaguchi prefecture. Novelist.
TAKAHASHI Osamu (6)
Born in 1929, in Chiba Prefecture; passed away in 2015. Novelist and playwright. Received the Naoki prize in 1983 for "Hiden".
TAKARA Ben (3)
1949 born in Nanjo-shi, Okinawa. Poet.
TAKARA Kurayoshi (7)
Born in 1947, in Izena-son, Okinawa. Honorary professor of Ryukyu University, specializing in Ryukyu history. Lieutenant governor at the era of Governor Masahiro Nakaima.
TAKEDA Chiyoko (3)
Born in 1957, in Tokyo. Editor in chief of "Coralway", the inflight magazine of Japan Transocean Air.
TARUMI Kengo (1)
Born in Nagano Prefecture. Studied at Kuwasawa Design School and worked in Bungeishunju's photography department before becoming a freelance photographer. Moved to Okinawa in the mid-1980s and currently resides in Naha City. He has lived in Okinawa for over 40 years. He has been walking around the islands of Okinawa through photography for JTA's in-flight magazine "Coralway," and continues to photograph various places and people in Japan and around the world. He holds the title of "Southern Photographer. He has held many solo exhibitions.
TENGAN Daisuke (3)
Born in 1959, in Tokyo. Screenwriter, film director. His first visit to Okinawa was in 1979.
TOMA Hayashi (1)
Born in 1966, in Naha, Okinawa. Film director.
TOMITA Megumi (5)
Born in 1973, in Yaese-cho, Okinawa. Stage director, radio personality, narrator, master of ceremonies, actress.
TSURUMI Yoshiyuki (1)
1926〜1994. Born in Los Angels, U.S.A.. Scholar of Asian studies, anthropologist.
UENO Chizuko (1)
Born in 1948, in Toyama prefecture. Feminist, sociologist.
UEYAMA Hiroko (1)
Born in Osaka in 1945. In 1980, moved to Ooshittai in Nago, where she started a permaculture combined farming with livestock. 1993, established and run the Ryukyu indigo dyeing company "Yamaai Kobo".
URASAKI Eitoku (1)
He is the advisor of the Yaese-cho Gushichan History and Folklore Museum in Yaese-cho, Okinawa Prefecture. He has a deep knowledge of the history and culture of Kochinda-cho (now Yaese-cho), compiling the town history and supervising the publication of books.
WAKAI Yasuhiko (1)
Born in 1946 in Chiba prefecture. Urban planner. Politician.
YAMASHITA Kinichi (1)
1929-2021. Born on Amami Oshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japanese folklorist, cultural anthropologist, literature scholar, and professor emeritus at Kagoshima International University. He was a leading scholar of Amami folklore and Yuta studies. Author of "Shamanism of Amami", "Study of Amami Setsuwa", and many other books.
YANO Teruo (3)
1925-1999. Born in Ehime prefecture. Professor at Okinawa Prefectural University of Art.
YASUMA Shigeki (2)
Born in 1944, in Inner Mongolia, China. Doctor of Agriculture specialized in Mammalian Ecology.
YOSHIKAWA Hiroya (1)
YUKAWA Yutaka (7)
Born in 1938, in Niigata city. Editor, clitic, essayist. Ex-managing director of Bungeishunju, a publishing company in Tokyo.