Category: Community
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Bukubukū-cha (Bukubuku Tea)
The ample foam rising above the teacup, the savory fragrance … Continued
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Coral Reef
Rachel Carson classified the seashore into three types: (1) a … Continued
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Cornerstone of Peace
In 1995, 50 years after the end of the Battle … Continued
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Divorce Rate and Unemployment
Nothing is less reliable than official statistics in Okinawa. … Continued
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Field Party (Mō-ashibi)
Mō (毛) means “wild field” in the Okinawan language. It … Continued
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Finger-whistling
When the kachāshī starts, anyone there would instantly begin whistling … Continued
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Hachigatsu Odori in Tarama
Tarama Island is located right in-between Miyako and Ishigaki Islands. … Continued
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Harusā and Uminchu
Farmers are called harusā in Okinawa. An Okinawan language, out … Continued
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Hījā (Goat)
Exhausted after the sports day, a bowl of hījā (goat) … Continued
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Hinukan (god of fire)
Hinukan (god of fire) is usually enshrined near the kitchen … Continued
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Immigrants
Many Okinawan immigrants left Okinawa for Taiwan, the Philippines, Borneo, … Continued
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Kani hanriru
To get senile. Okinawa is an island with a reputation … Continued
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Kasutera-kamaboko
A man from Shuri once told me that he didn’t … Continued
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Kuba (Chinese Fan Tree)
It has become harder in city areas like Naha, but … Continued
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Latin American Dishes
Latin Americans are known for their love of music and … Continued
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Minyō-sakaba
A minyō-sakaba is a pub where you can see live … Continued
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Naha Otsunahiki Festival
People are suffering from the heat all over Japan, yet … Continued
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Obaa, Anmaa, Nēnē
The women of Okinawa are powerful. Whether or not this … Continued
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Pineapples
Every year when the old date for the Bon Festival … Continued
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Pōpō (Okinawan Crêpe)
With its outside wooden walls painted a pale, faint blue, … Continued
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Ryūka (Okinawan Poetry)
An assumption says that what was simply called “uta”—song or … Continued
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Ryukyu Ayu-fish
A while back, ayu-fish different from those of mainland Japan … Continued
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The Ryukyuken
Just as there are unchināchu humans—in other words, Okinawans—there are … Continued
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Ryukyu Wild Boar
An outstanding beast among the land animals of Okinawa—Ryukyu wild … Continued
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Sakurazaka
They say that long ago bandits and highwaymen began to … Continued
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Sashiba (Grey-faced Buzzard)
I don’t know who started it; sashiba are sometimes called … Continued
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Sātā-andagī
Made of flour, sugar, egg, and milk — pretty round … Continued
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Sea Grapes (N’kyafu)
Sea grapes’ classical Japanese name is kubiredzuta. In the Miyako … Continued
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Shell Ginger
“Hello,” “Nice to meet you” and hand your business card—a … Continued
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Sotetsu (Sago Palm)
Some hot springs are called “Hell of XXX”.1 A heaven-like … Continued
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Spoils of War
There was a time when the people of Okinawa took … Continued
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Tanetori Festival (Seeds Picking Festival)
Tanetori is an agricultural event in which rice seeds are … Continued
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Tōkachi and Kajimayā
Tōkachi (August 8th on the lunar calendar) is an event … Continued
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Translation Houses
Following the Pacific War, there was a place among the … Continued
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Twunji-bīsa
Twunji-bīsa (winter solstice chill) is the seasonal wind that blows … Continued
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Uchinānchu
An Okinawan. Uchinā is Okinawa, chu is person. It seems … Continued
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Unexploded Ordinance
In the summer, I like to go to outlying islands. … Continued
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U.S. Military Bases
Tu nu yū kara Yamatu nu yū From the Chinese era … Continued
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Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival
In December 1996, the guerilla attack on the official residence … Continued