Category: All Articles
Amami Rabbit
February 23rd 1995, Amami rabbits, Amami jay, and others—both special … Continued
Artificially-Lighted Chrysanthemum
As you drive down Yanbaru or the southern part of … Continued
The Battle of Okinawa
It began on March 26th 1945, when the United States … Continued
Beniimo (Purple yam)
Beniimo is a type of sweet potato that is popular … Continued
Bull Fighting
Unlike Spanish bullfighting, in Okinawa, two bulls push each other … Continued
CHINA Sadao
During the Okinawan music boom in the early 1990s, there … Continued
Cornerstone of Peace
In 1995, 50 years after the end of the Battle … Continued
Divorce Rate and Unemployment
Nothing is less reliable than official statistics in Okinawa. … Continued
Finger-whistling
When the kachāshī starts, anyone there would instantly begin whistling … Continued
Folk Music Labels
The Ryukyu archipelago has walked history on a different path … Continued
Giant Clams
The first time anyone sees any member of the giant … Continued
Golden Gate Club
The American study abroad program by the Government Aid and … Continued
Harusā and Uminchu
Farmers are called harusā in Okinawa. An Okinawan language, out … Continued
The High Commissioner
In colonies and trusteeships, the man in charge of rule … Continued
Hinukan (god of fire)
Hinukan (god of fire) is usually enshrined near the kitchen … Continued
Immigrants
Many Okinawan immigrants left Okinawa for Taiwan, the Philippines, Borneo, … Continued
Iriomote Yamaneko
The Iriomote yamaneko is a small wild cat found only … Continued
JAHANA Noboru
The eldest son of Jahana Katsutaro, Jahana Noboru was born … Continued
Kagiyadefū
Kagiyadefū is regularly played and danced at the opening of … Continued
Kami Asagi
In general, a building where the noro (priestess) performs religious … Continued
Kani hanriru
To get senile. Okinawa is an island with a reputation … Continued
Kasutera-kamaboko
A man from Shuri once told me that he didn’t … Continued
Kerama Deer
My father's home island is a small island called Geruma. … Continued
Kibinago (Silver-stripe Round Herring)
Kibinago, the silver-stripe round herring, is called sururu in Okinawa. … Continued
Kokusai Dōri
Kokusai Dōri in Naha is a street with a unique … Continued
Kudaka Island
An island situated 6 km to the east of the … Continued
Legislature
The legislative branch of the Ryukyu Islands government was called … Continued
Martial Arts
Many different types of martial arts are practiced in Okinawa … Continued
Mass Suicides
Mass deaths that occurred on the violent battlefields during the … Continued
Medicinal Herbs
On a corner along the building of the Public Market … Continued
Memorial Day
This is the story of when a certain minister of … Continued
Military Labour
Working in the military bases is called “military labor” in … Continued
Minyō-sakaba
A minyō-sakaba is a pub where you can see live … Continued
Miyako Jōfu
The history of Miyako jōfu textiles goes back four centuries. … Continued
Nicolai Aleksandrovich Nevsky
A Russian scholar of Japan and the Orient (1892-1937). In … Continued
Nifēdēbiru
The Okinawan language can be very roughly divided into three … Continued
Niraikanai
A world different from ours, where the gods live, an … Continued
Nuchi du takara
“Nuchi du takara” means “your life is a treasure,” and … Continued
Obaa, Anmaa, Nēnē
The women of Okinawa are powerful. Whether or not this … Continued
Oikomi Ryō
A fishing technique unique to Okinawa for which the fisherman … Continued
Okinawa Bunko (Okinawa Library)
Okinawa Bunko is a series of mini encyclopedias about Okinawan … Continued
Okinawan Cinema
Movies shot in Okinawa, movies set in Okinawa, movies about … Continued
Okinawan Rock
That descending glissando guitar riff from the Ventures spread the … Continued
Okinawan Society in Hawaii
It is well-known that the people of Hawaii are from … Continued
Okinawa Prefectural Archives
Tell a taxi driver “please take me to the Prefectural … Continued
Ōkuni Rindō
A multi-purpose forestry road located in the northern part of … Continued
Orion Beer
Beer produced in Okinawa. It owns a one and only … Continued
Ōshima Tsumugi
A type of fabric. Albeit the fact that it is … Continued
ŌTA Masahide
“Is Okinawa part of Japan?” shouted (then) Okinawa Governor Ōta … Continued
Praying for Rain
In Okinawa, typhoon and drought are two natural phenomena that … Continued
Public Market
There is no formal name for the Naha public market. … Continued
Rising Sun
Just before dawn, the sky is a shade darker. On … Continued
The Ruddy Kingfisher
In Kijoka—known as the village of bashōfu fabric—in Ogimi there … Continued
Ryukyu Disposition
The expression “Ryukyu Disposition”' has two different senses. In a … Continued
Ryukyu Glassware
Also called “Okinawan glass,” this glassware is lightly colored with … Continued
Ryukyu Lacquerware
In Okinawa, lacquerware is called nuimun. The three most common … Continued
Ryukyu Limestone
Rock created by the coral reefs that rose from the … Continued
Ryukyu Murasaki
Countless varieties of butterflies can be found on Okinawa Island … Continued
Ryukyu Wild Boar
An outstanding beast among the land animals of Okinawa—Ryukyu wild … Continued
Sakurazaka
They say that long ago bandits and highwaymen began to … Continued
Sātā-andagī
Made of flour, sugar, egg, and milk — pretty round … Continued
Satsuma Invasion
In 1609, the Ryukyu Kingdom was invaded by the Shimazu … Continued
SENAGA Kamejiro
(1907~2001) Senaga Kamejiro, who was nicknamed “Kame-san (Mr. Turtle)” by … Continued
Senkaku Islands
The Senkaku Islands is a group of islands located north-northwest … Continued
The Shadai Party
More properly the Okinawa Shakai Taishū-tō (Okinawa Social Mass Party), … Continued
Shell Ginger
“Hello,” “Nice to meet you” and hand your business card—a … Continued
Shīmī (Qingming Festival)
“We had shīmī yesterday.” … Continued
Shuri Castle
As its name suggests, the castle is located in Shuri … Continued
Southwest Air Lines
In a connecting bus at the Haneda Airport, some young … Continued
Spoils of War
There was a time when the people of Okinawa took … Continued
Subtropics
Generally speaking, the Ryukyu Archipelago is considered to be subtropical—anettai. … Continued
Sugarcane Field
“I’m off~” … Continued
Thirty-six Families of Kume
The Thirty-six Families of Kume are the Chinese people, and … Continued
Tōkachi and Kajimayā
Tōkachi (August 8 on the lunar calendar) is an event … Continued
Tōtoganashi
In the Amami Islands, people pray to their ancestors at … Continued
Turtleback Tombs
Kikkoubaka, the turtleback tomb, was named after its exterior shape … Continued
Twunji-bīsa
Twunji-bīsa (winter solstice chill) is the seasonal wind that blows … Continued
Uchinānchu
An Okinawan. Uchinā is Okinawa, chu is person. It seems … Continued
Unexploded Ordinance
In the summer, I like to go to outlying islands. … Continued
U.S. Military Bases
Tu nu yū kara Yamatu nu yū … Continued
War-time Malaria
As the organized resistance by the Japanese military was about … Continued
Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival
In December 1996, the guerilla attack on the official residence … Continued
Yaeyama Jōfu
If the Yūki-tsumugi is the acme of silk textile, then … Continued
Yamakunibū
“About yamakunibū…” … Continued
Yonagunisan
Yonagunisan (Attacus atlas ryukyuensis) is one of the biggest moths … Continued