![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/電照菊-1-1024x683.jpg)
Category: Society
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/電照菊-1-1024x683.jpg)
As you drive down Yanbaru or the southern part of … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/nature_beniimo-2-1024x682.jpeg)
Beniimo (Purple yam)
Beniimo is a type of sweet potato that is popular … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/culture_bukubukucha-1024x668.jpeg)
Bukubukū-cha (Bukubuku Tea)
The ample foam rising above the teacup, the savory fragrance … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/nature_coralreef1-1-1024x683.jpeg)
Coral Reef
Rachel Carson classified the seashore into three types: (1) a … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/history_cornerstoneofpeace_thumbnail-1024x1024.jpg)
Cornerstone of Peace
In 1995, 50 years after the end of the Battle … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/sosciety_rikonritsu_thumbnail-1024x1024.jpeg)
Divorce Rate and Unemployment
Nothing is less reliable than official statistics in Okinawa. … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/culture_manzamou-1-1024x683.jpg)
Field Party (Mō-ashibi)
Mō (毛) means “wild field” in the Okinawan language. It … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/指笛-1-1024x683.jpg)
Finger-whistling
When the kachāshī starts, anyone there would instantly begin whistling … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/society_kinmonclub-1.jpg)
Golden Gate Club
The American study abroad program by the Government Aid and … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/culture_tarama-1-1024x683.jpeg)
Hachigatsu Odori in Tarama
Tarama Island is located right in-between Miyako and Ishigaki Islands. … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/ハルサー-1-1024x689.jpg)
Harusā and Uminchu
Farmers are called harusā in Okinawa. An Okinawan language, out … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/history_highcommissioner_thumbnail.jpg)
The High Commissioner
In colonies and trusteeships, the man in charge of rule … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/food_hija-2-1024x961.jpeg)
Hījā (Goat)
Exhausted after the sports day, a bowl of hījā (goat) … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/culture_hinukan-1024x755.jpg)
Hinukan (god of fire)
Hinukan (god of fire) is usually enshrined near the kitchen … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/community_immigrants_thumbnail-1024x1024.jpg)
Immigrants
Many Okinawan immigrants left Okinawa for Taiwan, the Philippines, Borneo, … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/謝花昇-1024x683.jpg)
JAHANA Noboru
The eldest son of Jahana Katsutaro, Jahana Noboru was born … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/language_kanihanriru-1024x1024.jpg)
Kani hanriru
To get senile. Okinawa is an island with a reputation … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/culture_kanzashi-768x1024.jpeg)
Kanzashi (Ornamental Hairpin)
At the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom (before the abolition … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/food_kasuterakamaboko-1024x768.jpeg)
Kasutera-kamaboko
A man from Shuri once told me that he didn’t … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/nature_kibinago-1-1024x683.jpeg)
Kibinago (Silver-stripe Round Herring)
Kibinago, the silver-stripe round herring, is called sururu in Okinawa. … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/community_kousaidoori_thumbnail-1024x1024.jpeg)
Kokusai Dōri
Kokusai Dōri in Naha is a street with a unique … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/nature_kuba_1-1-1024x999.jpeg)
Kuba (Chinese Fan Tree)
It has become harder in city areas like Naha, but … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/food_latinamericandishes-1-1024x683.jpg)
Latin American Dishes
Latin Americans are known for their love of music and … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/transport_lightrailway-1-1024x683.jpeg)
Light Railway
Okinawa is the only prefecture in Japan without a railway. However, … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/nature_medaka-1-1024x768.jpg)
Medaka (Rice Fish)
As its English name indicates, medaka (rice fish) is a … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/nature_mibae-1024x683.jpg)
Mibae (Fruit Flies)
“Do you know mibae (fruit flies)?” If you ask the … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/society_gunsagyo_thumbnail-1.jpg)
Military Labour
Working in the military bases is called “military labor” in … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/society_minyousakaba-1-1024x768.jpeg)
Minyō-sakaba
A minyō-sakaba is a pub where you can see live … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/culture_miyako_thumbnail-1-1024x1024.jpeg)
Miyako Jōfu
The history of Miyako jōfu textiles goes back four centuries. … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/society_tsunahiki-1-1024x685.jpeg)
Naha Otsunahiki Festival
People are suffering from the heat all over Japan, yet … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/community_obaa_anmaa_neenee_thumbnail-1-1024x1024.jpeg)
Obaa, Anmaa, Nēnē
The women of Okinawa are powerful. Whether or not this … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/OIKOMIRYO-1024x677.jpg)
Oikomi Ryō
A fishing technique unique to Okinawa for which the fisherman … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/society_hawaiiokinawa_thumbnail-1.jpeg)
Okinawan Society in Hawaii
It is well-known that the people of Hawaii are from … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/culture_okinawaculturalarchive_thumbnail.jpg)
Okinawa Prefectural Archives
Tell a taxi driver “please take me to the Prefectural … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/clothes_ooshimatumugi-683x1024.jpg)
Ōshima Tsumugi
A type of fabric. Albeit the fact that it is … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/history_otamasahide_thumbnail-1-1024x1024.jpg)
ŌTA Masahide
“Is Okinawa part of Japan?” shouted (then) Okinawa Governor Ōta … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/nature_pineapple-1-1024x768.jpeg)
Pineapples
Every year when the old date for the Bon Festival … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/culture_popo-1-1024x683.jpeg)
Pōpō (Okinawan Crêpe)
With its outside wooden walls painted a pale, faint blue, … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/society_kosetsuichiba_thumbnail-1-1024x1024.jpeg)
Public Market
There is no formal name for the Naha public market. … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/culture_ryuka-1-768x1024.jpeg)
Ryūka (Okinawan Poetry)
An assumption says that what was simply called “uta”—song or … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/nature_ryukyuayu-1.jpg)
Ryukyu Ayu-fish
A while back, ayu-fish different from those of mainland Japan … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/nature_ryukyuken-1-589x1024.jpeg)
The Ryukyuken
Just as there are unchināchu humans—in other words, Okinawans—there are … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/life_ryukyuwildboar.jpg)
Ryukyu Wild Boar
An outstanding beast among the land animals of Okinawa—Ryukyu wild … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/culture_sakurazaka-1-768x1024.jpeg)
Sakurazaka
They say that long ago bandits and highwaymen began to … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/nature_sashiba-1-1024x575.jpg)
Sashiba (Grey-faced Buzzard)
I don’t know who started it; sashiba are sometimes called … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/202301サーターアンダギー-1-1024x683.jpg)
Sātā-andagī
Made of flour, sugar, egg, and milk — pretty round … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/nature_nkyafu-1-1024x683.jpeg)
Sea Grapes (N’kyafu)
Sea grapes’ classical Japanese name is kubiredzuta. In the Miyako … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/politics_senagakamejiro-683x1024.jpeg)
SENAGA Kamejiro
(1907~2001) Senaga Kamejiro, who was nicknamed “Kame-san (Mr. Turtle)” by … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/geography_senkakushoto_thumbnail-1.png)
Senkaku Islands
The Senkaku Islands is a group of islands located north-northwest … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/202301サンニン-1-768x1024.jpg)
Shell Ginger
“Hello,” “Nice to meet you” and hand your business card—a … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/history_shuricastle_thumbnail-1024x1024.jpg)
Shuri Castle
As its name suggests, the castle is located in Shuri … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/nature_sotetsu_1-1-1024x768.jpeg)
Sotetsu (Sago Palm)
Some hot springs are called “Hell of XXX”.1 A heaven-like … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/community_southwestairline-1024x576.jpeg)
Southwest Air Lines
In a connecting bus at the Haneda Airport, some young … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/history_senka-1.jpg)
Spoils of War
There was a time when the people of Okinawa took … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/culture_tanetorisai-1-768x1024.jpeg)
Tanetori Festival (Seeds Picking Festival)
Tanetori is an agricultural event in which rice seeds are … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/community_kumesanjurokusei-1024x682.jpg)
Thirty-six Families of Kume
The Thirty-six Families of Kume are the Chinese people, and … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/society_tokachikajimaya-1-1024x683.jpg)
Tōkachi and Kajimayā
Tōkachi (August 8th on the lunar calendar) is an event … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/history_translationhouse-1-1024x768.jpg)
Translation Houses
Following the Pacific War, there was a place among the … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/nature_tunjibisa-1-1024x683.jpg)
Twunji-bīsa
Twunji-bīsa (winter solstice chill) is the seasonal wind that blows … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/society_uchinanchu_thumbnail-1-1024x1024.jpg)
Uchinānchu
An Okinawan. Uchinā is Okinawa, chu is person. It seems … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/history_fuhatsudan-1-1024x684.jpg)
Unexploded Ordinance
In the summer, I like to go to outlying islands. … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/afterreversion_militarybases_thumbnail-1-1024x1024.jpg)
U.S. Military Bases
Tu nu yū kara Yamatu nu yū From the Chinese era … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/society_worldwideuchinanchufestival_thumbnail-1024x1024.jpg)
Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival
In December 1996, the guerilla attack on the official residence … Continued
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/culture_yaeyamajohu_thumbnail-1024x1024.jpg)
Yaeyama Jōfu
If the Yūki-tsumugi is the acme of silk textile, then … Continued