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Documentary: Nuchi nu Miji - Okinawa's Water of Life (2022)

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Documentary: Nuchi nu Miji - Okinawa's Water of Life (2022)

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An award-winning documentary film on Okinawa's U.S. military-related PFAS contamination:
Featuring interviews, archive footage, and documents obtained via the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, the documentary reveals the untold and developing story of the struggle against the contamination.

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Nuchi nu Miji – Okinawa’s Water of Life（English subtitled）

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KBG84（小浜島ばあちゃん合唱団）「Come on and Dance 小浜島」

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Watch KBG84（小浜島ばあちゃん合唱団）「Come on and Dance 小浜島」 - Video Zone on Dailymotion

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Okinawa Peace Prayer Park and Memorial Hall

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Okinawa Peace Prayer Park and Memorial Hall

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The Okinawa Peace Memorial Park, situated on Mabuni Hill, the site where the Battle of Okinawa ended, was created to mourn the loss of close to a quarter of a million people. A 12-meter-high lacquer Buddha, a symbol of peace, can be seen in the the Okinawa Peace Hall, as can an art museum and a series of pictures titled &quot;War and Peace." One of the key features of the park is the Cornerstone of Peace inscribed with the names of some 200,000 individuals, including civilians and Japanese and foreign soldiers, who lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa. The concept of the stone monuments is to remember those who died and to pray for them, to share lessons learned from war and to provide a place for meditation and learning. The vast park is also home to the Peace Memorial Museum, which exhibits testimonials of survivors of the war, a meditation forest and a peace bell.

沖縄平和祈念公園Okinawa Peace Prayer Park and Memorial Hall
Okinawa Peace Memorial Park
444 Mabuni, Itoman City
Tel: 098-997-2765
Hours: 8:00-22:00
Open daily
Admission: Free

Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum
614-1 Mabuni, Itoman City
Tel:098-997-3844
Hours: 9:00-17:00
Closed: Dec. 29-Jan. 3
Admission: Adults ¥300, ages 6-18 ¥150

Okinawa Peace Hall
Tel: 098-997-3011
Hours: 9:00-17:00
Open daily
Admission: Adults ¥450, ages 6-18 ¥350

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Okinawa Peace Prayer Park and Memorial Hall/Okinawa Island Guide

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The Okinawa Peace Memorial Park, situated on Mabuni Hill, the site where the Battle of Okinawa ended, was created to mourn the loss of close to a quarter of a million people. A 12-meter-high lacquer Buddha, a symbol of peace, can be seen in the the Okinawa Peace Hall, as can an art museum and a series of pictures titled "War and Peace."

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Okinawa Prefectural Government D.C. Office

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Okinawa Prefectural Government D.C. Office

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OKINAWA PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT Washington D.C. Office

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OKINAWA PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT Washington D.C. Office

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OKINAWA PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT Washington D.C. Office - Official Site

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Sign up for emails to get the scoop on new seminars, workshops and other opportunities.

Providing K-12 educators with opportunities to deepen their knowledge of East Asia since 1971

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East Asia Resource Center - Jackson School of International Studies

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Providing K-12 educators with opportunities at the University of Washington since 1971 to deepen their knowledge of East Asia.

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National Consortium for Teaching about Asia

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National Consortium for Teaching about Asia

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Quality Programs

NCTA has been offering professional development opportunities for K-12 educators since 1998. Our programming has evolved to meet changes in local, state and national educational policies as well as new economic realities. We have embraced new technology to reach new cohorts of teachers while ensuring the quality of our programming.

Great Resources

Our programs incorporate a multitude of resources for your classroom. Our website features NCTA-created videos and curriculum and is a gateway to quality and up-to-date resources on East Asia, including webinars, books for your students and teaching materials.

Keeping Educators in Mind

As the premier provider of professional development on East Asia, we engage educators through positive dialogue and sharing. Be it in our remote or in-person programs, we value your experience, knowledge and classroom work. NCTA talks with teachers. We look forward to seeing you and your colleagues in our remote or in-person classes. Visit our programs page today to find the best course for you.

Statement on Anti-Asian Racism and Violence

As attacks against Asians and Asian-Americans throughout the country increase, the National Consortium for Teaching About Asia (NCTA) stands in solidarity with and offers its support to all individuals and groups that are being subject to violence and hate-crimes. As an organization dedicated to the teaching and learning about East Asia in elementary and secondary schools nationwide, NCTA strives to develop global citizenship based on the principles of cross-cultural understanding, equality, and justice. Full statement.

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NCT Asia|National Consortium for Teaching about Asia

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NCTA is a multi-year initiative to encourage and facilitate teaching and learning about East Asia in elementary and secondary schools nationwide. NCTA is a premier provider of professional development on East Asia courses.

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Documentary: Our Island's Treasure (2019)

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Documentary: Our Island's Treasure (2019)

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My name is Kaiya, and I am a 17-year old Okinawan American high school student from Portland, Oregon. I recently went back to Henoko because I was frustrated with the  silence of the media around this crisis. I wanted to make a documentary to show the world what's happening. This is my documentary, "Our Island's Treasure," that focuses on the current destruction of the beautiful Okinawan ocean in Henoko and the fight by native Uchinanchu people to protect it. This is an emergency. 

PLEASE SHARE AND SPREAD THE WORD!

私の名前はカイヤです。17歳です。私はウチナーンチュの2世でオレゴン州のポートランドに住んでいます。アメリカでは辺野古のニュースが流れてないので自分でドキュメンタリーを作って世界に辺野古の事を見せようと思い、最近大好きな沖縄に戻りました。「私達の島の宝」と言うドキュメンタリーです。ぜひシェアしてください。宜しくお願いします。

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Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum

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Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum

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Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum

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沖縄県平和祈念資料館のホームページです

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Video Testimony of the Battle of Okinawa

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Video Testimony of the Battle of Okinawa

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Video testimonies of the Battle of Okinawa are available in English and other languages on the website of the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Museum.

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【The Battle of Okinawa】

In 1944, 183,000 American ground combat corps of took part in the Battle of Okinawa. At its peak, including support troops, the total number would reach 550,000, which exceeded the entire Okinawan population (450,000) at that time. The intercepting Japanese army numbered only 100,000, and one third of these were Okinawan, recruited locally to the Home Guard and Student Corps.

US forces were overwhelmingly superior, with 1500 warships, tanks, submarines, and aircraft. It is said that the US capability was 10 times greater than that of Japan. The British also provided significant air and naval power, and carried out an air raid on Miyako and Yaeyama islands.

On March 26, US forces arrived at the Kerama islands, south of the main island of Okinawa. On April 1st, they landed on Yomitan village in the middle of of Okinawa island. The Japanese army avoided confrontation at the landing point, barricading themselves in underground bunkers for a protracted war. US forces were then sent north and south to take the island.

With the North of Okinawa designated as evacuation site for Okinawan residents, only a small percentage of Japanese troops were deployed there; US troops reached Cape Hedo, the northernmost tip of the island, by mid-April. Meanwhile, the largest airport in Asia (at the time) had been constructed by Japanese army on Ie island. Ie Island experienced heavy fighting, with many residents losing their lives.

The US troops deployed to the South encountered stiff opposition from the Japanese army. Fierce combat continued for over 40 days. On May 11th, US troops started a full-on assault of Shuri. At the end of May, the Japanese army suddenly drew off to the southern part and Shuri, including Shuri castle was occupied by American forces.

Japanese forces lost 60,000 soldiers in the fighting to resist US troops' advance from Yomitan to Shuri. At this point, the southernmost area of Okinawa became a battlefield of chaos, with routed Japanese soldiers and local Okinawan refugees jumbled together, and US air raids relentless; the US bombing campaign was later called the "typhoon of steel", as its power was so fierce that it changed the physical landscape of the island.

The battle ended on June 23rd (with other theories arguing for the 22nd), when Japanese general Ushijima's committed suicide. Yet because the Japanese military had not yet officially surrendered, a mopping-up operation was continued until July 2nd, when US forces declared the end of the Battle of Okinawa.

What is most significant about the Battle of Okinawa is the massive civilian loss of life. Far more civilians died than soldiers. As the combat escalated, local Okinawans became victims of not only US and UK indiscriminate artillery bombing, but also of random slaughter by Japanese forces. Others died due to famine, and still others were killed by other residents, while some were sent to US camps. Okinawan people had no way to escape. It was absolute hell on earth. In all, more than 200,000 were killed in the battle including 120,000 Okinawan civilians (94,000) and locally recruited Okinawans.

【About the video of Testimony of the Battle of Okinawa】

The Battle of Okinawa shows the lives of innocent people who were forcefully involved in a battle between two major world powers, wherein they experienced a majority of the violence and suffering. To remember and share the reality and senselessness of war, Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum has documented the testimonies the war survivors from the time of its establishment. Today, the fires of conflict continue to burn around the world. We believe it is important to share these testimonies to people not only within Okinawa and Japan, but also with the world, as a means to inspire them to think about the preciousness of peace and the need for ongoing peace building. Therefore, we have translated this film into multiple languages, and releases those videos here.

【The Philosophy of the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Museum's Establishment】

In late March 1945, a fierce battle such as has rarely been seen in the history took place on these islands. The "Typhoon of Steel" that lasted for 90 days change the landscape, destroyed much of the cultural heritages, and robbed the precious lives of 200,000 people. The Battle of Okinawa was the only ground war in Japan ordered full mobilization of the Okinawan civilians and also one of the largest combat in the Asia-Pacific War. A significant aspect of the Battle of Okinawa is the massive civilian loss of life. More than 100,000 civilian died outnumbered the soldiers. Some were blown to bits, some were driven and forced to commit suicide, some starved to death, some succumbed to malaria, while other fell victim to the retreating Japanese soldiers. Under the most desperate and unimaginable circumstances. We Okinawans experienced the absurdity of the war and atrocities it inevitably brings about. This war experience became the starting point of what is popularly called the "Okinawan Heart" now, we have developed it even in the struggles against the US military occupation for over decades after the war.The "Okinawan Heart" respects human dignity more than anything, denies any act related to war, seeks for peace, and values culture which express humanity.

In order to contribute for establishing a lasting peace, we mourn for all those who died during the war, pass on this historical lesson of the Battle of Okinawa correctly to next generation, send our message to the people around the world, display the whole range of the individual war experiences of Okinawa and establish the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum

1975 (partially revised April 1, 2000) Okinawa Prefecture

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The memories of the war The Video Testimony of the War Survivors in Multi-language

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The memories of the war The Video Testimony of the War Survivors in Multi-language

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Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum

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Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum

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沖縄県立博物館・美術館（おきみゅー）のウェブサイトへようこそ！おきみゅーは那覇市おもろまちにある総合博物館・美術館です。沖縄の歴史・考古・自然・民俗・美術工芸・アートから「あなたの沖縄」に出会えます。

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We use JavaScript in this page, but Javascript is in a condition of OFF now in environment of visitor.
Reading of site does not have any problem, but recommends that we turn on Javascript to use more comfortably.

Please read before your visit.

Shurijo Castle Park is situated atop a small hill that is 120 to 130 meters in altitude.
The hill overlooks the neighborhoods of Naha and this hill in Shuri was revered by the people.
As the grounds of the Shurijo Castle Park are restored and maintained as it was during the period of the Ryukyu Kingdom era, there are numerous hills, steps, and stone-paved paths. On your visit, we recommend you wear comfortable footwear.

On Using Mobile Devices While Walking

It is very dangerous to walk while using your smartphone or mobile phones. We ask you to refrain from suddenly stopping to operate or talk on your mobile devices.
We appreciate your cooperation.

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首里城公園は、古都首里の風土を形成している地形、水質、植生等の保存を配慮し、人々が寄り集まり、語らい、共感する新しい空間の創出をめざす歴史的な都市公園です。

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国立劇場おきなわ - Home

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国立劇場おきなわのホームページです。

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Amakuma Ryukyu - '...to widely communicate the culture, entertainment, history, society, and nature of Okinawa in English and Japanese.

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Amakuma Ryukyu - '...to widely communicate the culture, entertainment, history, society, and nature of Okinawa in English and Japanese.

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Amakuma Ryukyu - Here is a gate to travel deep in Okinawa! We present essays by novelists, essayists, and specialists of many fields, referring to keywords to know and understand the whole Okinawa,with plenty of pictures, hoping to add sounds and videos eventually.New keywords will be added every month.

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”Amakuma” comes from “Amahai Kumahai” in the Okinawan language which means “here and there.” Ryukyu is the older name for Okinawa, once an independent nation; from the Amami Islands to the south as far as Okinawa are thus, referred to as the Ryukyu Islands sharing the same cultural background. Wishi…

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Bingata - Okinawan stenciled dyeing technique

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Bingata - Okinawan stenciled dyeing technique

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VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN | Official Okinawa Travel Guide

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History of traditional bingata

The art of bingata is unique to Okinawa, based on ancient Ryukyu dyeing culture with techniques borrowed from neighboring countries. Bingata-dyed fabrics typically feature vivid floral patterns, as well as fish, water, and other motifs of Okinawan nature.

Traditionally, bingata used natural dyes such as Ryukyu indigo and fukugi tree dye, as well as expensive pigments imported from China. For this reason, bingata-dyed garments were reserved for royalty and the samurai class to express social status. Nobles wore larger patterns, while the samurai wore smaller patterns. Yellow was the highest-ranking color, and other colors were classified according to rank, age, and gender.

During the Ryukyu Kingdom period, Chinen, Shiroma, and Takushi were known as the three bingata families who served the samurai and competed with each other in craftsmanship. Bingata was almost completely destroyed during World War II, but craftsmen such as Eiki Shiroma and Sekko Chinen succeeded in reviving the art.

Bingata in contemporary society

Today, bingata uses natural and chemical pigments and dyes to permanently color patterns on natural materials such as silk, cotton, or hemp. The glue is made with glutinous rice flour, rice bran and salt, soybean juice helps the dyes to adhere, and dried tofu is used as the underlay for mold engraving.

Bingata prints on festive ryuso for performing arts and casual items combine classic patterns with modern style that still represents the deep history and popularity of bingata designs in contemporary Okinawan society.

Since 2019, the Ryukyu Bingata Preservation and Expansion Consortium has dedicated itself to preserving, promoting, protecting, and licensing this traditional art form through collaborations between industry, government, and academia. Art competitions and exhibitions foster creative expressions by individual artists and spread wider appreciation for bingata techniques. Current promotional efforts include collaborations with fashion designers and dyeing sustainable fabrics made from bashofu banana fibers or sugar cane bagasse.

Dyeing at Chinen Bingata Laboratory

Sadao Chinen founded the Chinen Bingata Laboratory in Naha City to introduce new bingata methods and artworks while preserving traditional techniques.

Inside, long fabrics undergoing the dyeing process are stretched across the room while more fabrics dry overhead. Toma Chinen, 10th generation of the Shimogiho Chinen family, applies special glue over a stencil pattern he has designed and cut. Women seated at the fabrics use two brushes: one pointed and one shorter and stiffer to rub in the colors. Pigments are traditionally made by mixing natural mineral pigments with soybean juice, but Chinen dyes vary in ingredients according to a desired depth of hue, background or foreground, and more. Steam is used to set the colors, and then the dyeing process is repeated several times. Finally, the glue is washed off the fabric, leaving the vividly colored pattern.

Toma says that the other day, a young woman following Chinen Bingata Laboratory on Instagram had made the special effort to fly all the way to Okinawa in order to visit their studio in Naha City and select a design to commission a customized obi. He is convinced that bingata can appeal directly to younger generations through contemporary designs and custom items while attracting international admirers of Okinawa's original fine art of stencil dyeing.

Bingata patterns and prints can be applied to a wide range of customized items as a very personal way to express Okinawan culture through casual wear on special occasions. Ryukyu bingata is both an ancient tradition and a revival craft, which bridges Okinawa's historical past and its dynamic present.

Learn More

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Ryukyu Bingata, Okinawa's flamboyant dyeing tradition | VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN | Official Okinawa Travel Guide

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Discover the natural dyeing technique of Ryukyu bingata and its vivid colors and natural motifs, an ancient Okinawa tradition revived into a contemporary craft.

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VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN | Official Okinawa Travel Guide

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Okinawa's traditional pottery, , blends influences and techniques from China, mainland Japan, and Korea. While yachimun was practiced in various regions throughout Okinawa, in 1682 pottery kilns were relocated to Tsuboya, in Naha, giving rise to Tsuboya ware (Tsuboya-yaki), one of Okinawa's most enduring styles of pottery.

Tsuboya ware is as practical as it is beautiful. It is made with regional clay, and can be divided into two broad categories: arayachi and joyachi. Arayachi pieces are rustic, unglazed works such as sake flasks and water jugs. Joyachi works are artfully glazed in bright colors, and range from casual tableware to works of art.

Although Tsuboya is still a hub for pottery, the yachimun tradition has spread further. In 1972 Jiro Kinjo, a potter honored as a Living National Treasure of Okinawa, opened a studio in Yomitan. With an abundance of high quality clay in the area, many artisans followed, and the Yomitan Pottery Village (Yachimun no Sato) was founded. An annual Yachimun Fair is held in October or November in Yomitan, and in November in Tsuboya.

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Traditional Okinawan Arts | VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN | Official Okinawa Travel Guide

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Discover the roots of some of Okinawa's representative traditional arts and culture.

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Explore Okinawa: Art, Culture and Cuisine from the Ryukyu Islands (2022) Japan Society

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Explore Okinawa: Art, Culture and Cuisine from the Ryukyu Islands (2022) Japan Society

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Okinawa Prefecture is a chain of islands that forms an arc off the southwestern tip of the Japanese archipelago. Located near the center of East Asia, Okinawa has developed a unique culture through its tropical climate and trading with other Asian countries since the 14th century. In this program, participants have the chance to delve into the strikingly unique culture of the tropical islands of Okinawa. Takao Kadekaru, Senior Executive Director of the Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau, introduces the Okinawan way of life through history and local culture. Hiroko Shou, Professor Emeritus of the University of the Ryukyus and a specialist in nutrition, speaks about Okinawan cuisine and its relationship with longevity. Textile artist Hiroshi Jashiki discusses Okinawan arts and crafts, including the vibrantly colored bingata textiles. Moderated by Susan Hamaker, freelance writer and President of the Okinawa American Association in NY.
This event originally took place on November 3, 2015. Learn about upcoming talks at Japan Society.
Okinawan Vibes Talks+ Programs were co-organized by Okinawa prefectural government. Food Talk series is sponsored by Kikkoman Corporation. In the 2015-2016 Season, Talks+ Programs at Japan Society were generously sponsored by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG). United Airlines was the exclusive U.S. Airlines sponsor of Talks+ Programs at Japan Society. Additional support was provided by Chris A. Wachenheim and the Sandy Heck Lecture Fund.

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Explore Okinawa: Art, Culture and Cuisine from the Ryukyu Islands

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Explore Okinawa: Art, Culture and Cuisine from the Ryukyu Islands

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The History of The Ryukyu Kingdom and Its Culture by Okinawa Prefecture (Google Arts & Culture)

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The History of The Ryukyu Kingdom and Its Culture by Okinawa Prefecture (Google Arts & Culture)

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The History of The Ryukyu Kingdom and Its Culture - Google Arts & Culture

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Okinawa's Traditional "Ryukyu Cuisine," "Awamori," and "Performing Arts" That Have Continued Without Interruption from the Ryukyu Kingdom Era

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The Legacy of the Ryukyu Kingdom by Okinawa Prefecture (Google Arts & Culture)

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The Legacy of the Ryukyu Kingdom by Okinawa Prefecture (Google Arts & Culture)

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Much of the tangible and intangible heritage from the Ryukyu Kingdom era has been lost through modernization and war, but you can still explore the culture through these reproductions of historic artifacts.

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The Legacy of the Ryukyu Kingdom - Google Arts & Culture

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Google Arts & Culture features content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute to bring the world's treasures online.

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CEAS Webinar (11/14/22) 'Okinawan History, Contemporary Issues, and Culture'

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CEAS Webinar (11/14/22) 'Okinawan History, Contemporary Issues, and Culture'

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Please e-mail fcceas@fivecolleges.edu with the webinar title/s and presenter name/s.

All About Korea, Presenter: Ann Martin Bowler, author

The Art of Taiwanese Puppet Theater, Presenter: Dr. Robin Erik Ruizendaal, director, Taiyuan Asian Puppet Theater Museum

Background for the Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: A Chronology, Presenter: John Frank, Center Grove High School

Buddhism Along the Silk Road, Presenter: Richard Taupier, UMass Amherst

Chinese Characters and the Stories They Tell, Presenter: Megan Ferry, Union College

Cultural Encounters: Teaching Japan in World History, Presenter: Catherine Higbee Ishida, University of Colorado Boulder and Catherine Mein, Ballard High School

Culture Day in Japan: Living National Treasures & Tangible Cultural Properties, Presenter: Anne Prescott, Five College Center of East Asian Studies

The Culture of Genji, Presenter: Anne Prescott, Five College Center for East Asian Studies

DISTANT VOICES: 19th Century American Diplomats, Missionaries, and Adventurers in East Asia, Presenter: John Frank

Education in South Korea, Presenter: Soo Kim, Smith College

Elementary School Life in Japan, Presenter: Willamarie Moore, Musum of Fine Arts Boston

Footbinding in China, Presenter: Professor Paola Zamperini, Amherst College

Getting a Hold on Contemporary Chinese Cities, Presenter: Kristin Stapleton, University at Buffalo, SUNY

The Great Wave of Hokusai and the Great Wave of 3-11: Japanese Artists' Responses to Nature, Presenter: Willamarie Moore, Museum of Fine Arts Boston

The Impact of the 3/11 Triple Disaster on Folk Arts in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, Presenter: Emily Mukai

Introduction to the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia, Presenter: Anne Prescott, Five College Center for East Asian Studies

Japanese Aesthetics: from Ma to Kata, Presenter: Anne Prescott, Five College Center for East Asian Studies

Japanese Tea Ceremony, Presenter: Yuko Eguchi, University of Pittsburgh

Japan's Textbook Controversy, Presenter: Ethan I. Segal, Michigan State University

Korean Reunification: Party of Six? Your Table is Ready, Presenter: Mark Patterson, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School

Korean Reunification: A Bitter Taste of Paradise, Presenter: Jacques Fuqua, Auburn University Montgomery

Korean Samulnori, Presenter: Anne Prescott, Five College Center for East Asian Studies

Life in Shikoku: Noodles, Pilgrimage, and More, Presenter: Midori Tagawa, The Williston Northampton School

Musical Geography of Japan, Presenter: Anne Prescott, Five College Center for East Asian Studies

October 10 in Taiwan and Japan, Presenter: Anne Prescott, Five College Center for East Asian Studies

Okinawa, Presenter: Anne Prescott, Five Colelge Center for East Asian Studies

O-Shogatsu: Japanese New Year's Traditions Explained, Presenter: Anne Prescott, Five College Center for East Asian Studies

Other Voices in Japan: South Asia, Presenter: Abida Adnan, Smith College

Out of the Shadows: The Ainu of Japan, Presenter: Justin Hunter, University of Hawaii

Pacifism in Japan: Kagawa Toyohiko, Presenter: Tom Hastings, Japan ICU Foundation

Playing in Japan: An Introduction to Noh, Kabuki and Bunraku, Presenter: Mariko Anno, Tokyo University of the Arts

Rikuzentakata Two Years Later: An Update from the Field after the 3/11 Disaster, Presenter: Amya Miller

Sakura in Japanese Culture, Presenter: Anne Prescott, Five College Center for East Asian Studies

Samurai Monogatari: An Illustrated Tale of the Samurai, Presenter: Willamarie More, Museum of Fine Arts Boston

A Summary of Mongolian History and Culture, Presenter: Richard Taupier, UMass Amherst

Teaching about March 11 and Japan's Recovery, Presenter: Kerianne Panos, MCMLConsulting and Robert Fish, Japan Society

Through Children's Eyes: Hiroshima, Presenter: Willamarie Moore, Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Yokohama Yankee: A Conversation with author Leslie Helm, Presenter: Leslie Helm, author

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Please e-mail fcceas@fivecolleges.edu with the webinar title/s and presenter name/s.

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9 World Heritage Sites to Explore in Okinawa

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9 World Heritage Sites to Explore in Okinawa

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Shurijo Castle Before the Fire by Okinawa Prefecture (Google Arts & Culture)

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Shurijo Castle Before the Fire by Okinawa Prefecture (Google Arts & Culture)

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The Kingdom of Ryukyu was a monarchial state that existed for 450 years, from 1429 to 1879. Shurijo Castle flourished as the kingdom's center of politics, diplomacy, and culture. On October 31, 2019, a fire engulfed Shurijo Castle, and eight structures were destroyed.

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Shurijo Castle Before The Fire - Google Arts & Culture

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Google Arts & Culture features content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute to bring the world's treasures online.

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A Virtual Tour of Shurijo Castle by Okinawa Prefecture (Google Arts & Castle)

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A Virtual Tour of Shurijo Castle by Okinawa Prefecture (Google Arts & Castle)

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A Virtual Tour of Shurijo Castle - Google Arts & Culture

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After the fire, Shurijo Castle Park is gradually being re-opened to the public. Explore the current highlights in a virtual tour.

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Digitally Reconstructing Shurijo Castle by Okinawa Prefecture (Google Arts & Culture)

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Digitally Reconstructing Shurijo Castle by Okinawa Prefecture (Google Arts & Culture)

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Digitally Reconstructing Shurijo Castle - Google Arts & Culture

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After a fire destroyed Shurijo Castle, 3,000 people sent their photos and memories to a project that used them to digitally reconstruct the building

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Reconstructing Shurijo Castle (Google Arts & Culture)

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Reconstructing Shurijo Castle (Google Arts & Culture)

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Then and Now: Shurijo Castle from the Sky by Okinawa Prefecture (Google Arts & Culture)

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Then and Now: Shurijo Castle from the Sky by Okinawa Prefecture (Google Arts & Culture)

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Then and Now: Shurijo Castle From The Sky - Google Arts & Culture

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Shurijo Castle was the majestic center of politics, diplomacy, and culture of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Trace the memory of the land through this collection of aerial imagery

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The Chinese and Japanese Influence in Ryukyuan Architecture by Okinawa Prefecture (Google Arts & Culture)

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The Chinese and Japanese Influence in Ryukyuan Architecture by Okinawa Prefecture (Google Arts & Culture)

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The Chinese and Japanese Influence In Ryukyuan Architecture - Google Arts & Culture

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Google Arts & Culture features content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute to bring the world's treasures online.

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'Soil to build new US airbase on Okinawa contains remains of war dead', The Guardian (2021)

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'Soil to build new US airbase on Okinawa contains remains of war dead', The Guardian (2021)

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Soil to build new US airbase on Okinawa ‘contains remains of war dead’

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Volunteers searching for the remains of those killed in the 1945 Battle of Okinawa demand Japan’s defence ministry call a halt to work

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Connecting the green dots to protect Okinawa’s environment

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PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)

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PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)

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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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Introduction

What Are PFAS?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large, complex group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in consumer products around the world since about the 1950s. They are ingredients in various everyday products. For example, PFAS are used to keep food from sticking to packaging or cookware, make clothes and carpets resistant to stains, and create firefighting foam that is more effective.

PFAS molecules have a chain of linked carbon and fluorine atoms. Because the carbon-fluorine bond is one of the strongest, these chemicals do not degrade easily in the environment.

How can I get tested for PFAS?

Through a project funded by NIEHS, the Silent Spring Institute created a fact sheet that explains the process for testing blood for PFAS levels.

How Are People Exposed to PFAS?

Human exposure to PFAS is widespread but variable by geography and occupation. PFAS are used in the aerospace, automotive, construction, and electronics industries. Over time, PFAS may leak into the soil, water, and air.

People are most likely exposed to these chemicals by consuming PFAS-contaminated water or food, using products made with PFAS, or breathing air containing PFAS. Because PFAS break down slowly, if at all, people and animals are repeatedly exposed to them, and blood levels of some PFAS can build up over time.

One report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), found PFAS in the blood of 97% of Americans. 1 Another NHANES report suggested blood levels of PFOS and PFOA in people have been reduced since those chemicals were removed from consumer products in the early 2000s. However, new PFAS chemicals have been created and exposure to them is difficult to assess.

NIEHS conducts or funds research that aims to understand more about PFAS exposures and any subsequent health effects.

Why Be Concerned About PFAS?

Multiple health effects associated with PFAS exposure have been identified and are supported by different scientific studies. Concerns about the public health impact of PFAS have arisen for the following reasons:

Widespread occurrence. Studies find PFAS in the blood and urine of people, and scientists want to know if they cause health problems.

Numerous exposures. PFAS are used in hundreds of products globally, with many opportunities for human exposure.

PFAS are a group of nearly 15,000 synthetic chemicals, according to a chemicals database (Growing numbers. CompTox) maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Persistent. PFAS remain in the environment for an unknown amount of time.

Bioaccumulation. People may encounter different PFAS chemicals in various ways. Over time, people may take in more of the chemicals than they excrete, a process that leads to bioaccumulation in bodies.

Because there are many types of PFAS chemicals, which often occur in complex mixtures and in various everyday products, researchers face challenges in studying them. More research is needed to fully understand all sources of exposure, and if and how they may cause health problems.

What Is NIEHS Doing?

Fact Sheets

NIEHS supports research to characterize and better understand the possible health effects of exposure to PFAS chemicals.

This work is conducted in three main ways:

NIEHS funds research grants primarily at universities, but also non-profit research centers and a few small businesses.

Some NIEHS scientists conduct PFAS research at in-house laboratories.

NIEHS also collaborates with federal partners.

Current research areas at NIEHS include:

How, where, and the extent to which people are exposed to PFAS.

How PFAS can affect organs and systems in the body.

How and where PFAS move through the environment, such as through water, air, and dust.

Determining ways to identify, detect, and measure PFAS in the environment.

Development of technologies and devices to get rid of or destroy PFAS.

Determining effective ways to tell people about PFAS risk and what they can do to prevent or reduce their exposure.

NIEHS research is used by federal and state regulatory, environmental, and public health agencies to develop new standards to protect the health of people throughout the world. NIEHS is not a regulatory agency.

Other federal agencies, such as EPA and CDC, also conduct research related to PFAS.

PFAS science continues to evolve. There is still much to be learned, particularly in assessing human health effects of exposure to PFAS.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program are supporting research to better understand the potential health effects of exposure to PFAS.

NIEHS offers a publicly available, searchable database of published scientific papers about PFAS. Filters provide ability to create a specific query of this database: NIEHS-supported Publications on Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance.

Federal Coordination

NIEHS participates in the government-wide approach led by the White House to advance clean drinking water and reduce pollutants. This collaboration works to identify routes of PFAS exposure, understand associated health risks, and reduce the public's dietary exposure to PFAS.

The federal government's approach to reducing exposure to PFAS is outlined in the following:

What We Have Learned So Far

When looking for possible human-health effects of chemical compounds, it is important to understand that they are hard to study, especially with thousands of variations in PFAS chemicals. Much PFAS research has been supported or led by NIEHS.

The research conducted to date reveals possible links between human exposures to PFAS and adverse health outcomes. These health effects include altered metabolism, 2 fertility, 3 reduced fetal growth and increased risk of being overweight or obese, 4 increased risk of some cancers, and reduced ability of the immune system to fight infections. 5

National Toxicology Program

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) is an interagency testing program headquartered at NIEHS. In 2016, based on evidence from prior studies, NTP concluded that PFOA and PFOS were a hazard to immune system function in humans. 6

NTP is leading multi-faceted toxicology studies to evaluate and identify the adverse effects of PFAS chemicals, such as:

A systematic literature review of six PFAS chemicals-PFNA, PFHxS, PFHxA, PFDA, PFOS, PFBS-to determine whether they weaken the body's response to vaccinations.

Animal studies, including a two-year study on PFOA and 28-day studies on these seven PFAS chemicals: PFBS, PFHxS, PFOS, PFHxA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA.

NIEHS-funded Research

Time-sensitive studies such as PFAS exposures in residents near Colorado Springs whose water was contaminated with the PFAS known as perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and contamination of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina by GenX.

Long-term epidemiological studies of health effects of PFAS exposures, some beginning before birth, including a study on more than 300 children in the Faroe Islands. 7

In children's environmental health research, a study examined associations between prenatal and childhood PFAS exposure with cognitive test results in children. The findings were inconsistent highlighting need for further research on the ways in which PFAS may act on the developing brain. 8

Another long-term study showed a link between PFAS exposure and increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in women. 9

Researchers are also studying the health effects of PFOA and a PFOA replacement (GenX) on the offspring of exposed mice. 10

The NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) funds the search for practical applications to protect the public from exposures to hazardous substances. Examples include:

The Sources, Transport, Exposure, and Effects of PFASs (STEEP) project, at the University of Rhode Island, is identifying sources of PFAS contamination, assessing human health effects, and educating communities on ways to reduce exposure. 11

The Michigan State Superfund Research Center is developing energy-efficient nanoreactors capable of breaking the carbon-fluorine bond that keeps PFAS from degrading.

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, are working on options to contain aqueous film-forming foams used for firefighting, a major source of PFAS contamination.

The Brown University Superfund Research Center has developed databases that exploit land use data to identify cities and towns at high risk for PFAS exposure. 12

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grantee CycloPure, Inc., has developed a new way to remove hazardous PFAS from water. The water pitcher-based filters should be an affordable option for people concerned about PFAS exposure where they live or work.

A team at the North Carolina State University SRP Center is studying alligators living in PFAS-contaminated water to understand possible effects on the immune system. They also developed a new high-throughput tool to quickly characterize how PFAS may be transported within the body and potentially cause harm.

Another SBIR project by EnChem Engineering, Inc. is developing an innovative technology to speed up removal of PFAS at Superfund sites.

SRP-funded small business AxNano developed a portable tool that relies on nanoparticles to quickly detect PFAS in samples. Their method is more affordable and efficient than traditional mass spectrometry.

Further Reading

Stories from the Environmental Factor (NIEHS newsletter)

Additional Resources

National Academies Sciences Engineering Medicine Consensus Study Report Highlights - Guidance on PFAS Exposure,Testing, and Clinical Follow-Up. NIEHS, and the Agency for Toxic Substances, and Disease Registry (ATSDR) supported this study to evaluate the most current evidence on the human health effects associated with PFAS exposure and to provide information for ATSDR to consider in their advice for clinicians about PFAS testing and how test results should inform clinical care.

PFAS Blood Testing: What You Need to Know - this fact sheet was created, in 2022, by a NIEHS-funded project at the Silent Spring Institute.

PFAS Collection 2022 - Published between 2018 and 2022, these Environmental Health Perspectives papers demonstrate the diverse areas where skillfully designed PFAS-related epidemiological research and modeling is occurring.

PFAS Contamination Map - A nationwide map of PFAS contamination was created by the Environmental Working Group.

PFAS Exchange - The Silent Spring Institute provides many fact sheets and other resources to help you protect your health.

PFAS Strategic Roadmap: EPA's Commitments to Action 2021-2024 - PFAS contamination poses unique challenges. The actions outlined in the roadmap may lead to more enduring and protective solutions.

Reducing PFAS in Drinking Water (1MB) - In the Cincinnati area, NIEHS-funded researchers discovered high levels of a specific PFAS chemical, called perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), in young girls. This research translation story shows how they worked with local water departments to implement water filtering techniques that resulted in a 40-60% reduction in PFOA levels in the girls and other residents.

Related Health Topics

This content is available to use on your website.

Please visit NIEHS Syndication to get started.

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to Top

How can I get tested for PFAS?

Through a project funded by NIEHS, the Silent Spring Institute created a fact sheet that explains the process for testing blood for PFAS levels.

NIEHS funds research grants primarily at universities, but also non-profit research centers and a few small businesses.

Some NIEHS scientists conduct PFAS research at in-house laboratories.

NIEHS also collaborates with federal partners.

How, where, and the extent to which people are exposed to PFAS.

How PFAS can affect organs and systems in the body.

How and where PFAS move through the environment, such as through water, air, and dust.

Determining ways to identify, detect, and measure PFAS in the environment.

Development of technologies and devices to get rid of or destroy PFAS.

Determining effective ways to tell people about PFAS risk and what they can do to prevent or reduce their exposure.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program are supporting research to better understand the potential health effects of exposure to PFAS.

NIEHS offers a publicly available, searchable database of published scientific papers about PFAS. Filters provide ability to create a specific query of this database: NIEHS-supported Publications on Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance.

A systematic literature review of six PFAS chemicals-PFNA, PFHxS, PFHxA, PFDA, PFOS, PFBS-to determine whether they weaken the body's response to vaccinations.

Animal studies, including a two-year study on PFOA and 28-day studies on these seven PFAS chemicals: PFBS, PFHxS, PFOS, PFHxA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA.

Time-sensitive studies such as PFAS exposures in residents near Colorado Springs whose water was contaminated with the PFAS known as perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and contamination of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina by GenX.

Long-term epidemiological studies of health effects of PFAS exposures, some beginning before birth, including a study on more than 300 children in the Faroe Islands. 7

In children's environmental health research, a study examined associations between prenatal and childhood PFAS exposure with cognitive test results in children. The findings were inconsistent highlighting need for further research on the ways in which PFAS may act on the developing brain. 8

Another long-term study showed a link between PFAS exposure and increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in women. 9

Researchers are also studying the health effects of PFOA and a PFOA replacement (GenX) on the offspring of exposed mice. 10

The Sources, Transport, Exposure, and Effects of PFASs (STEEP) project, at the University of Rhode Island, is identifying sources of PFAS contamination, assessing human health effects, and educating communities on ways to reduce exposure. 11

The Michigan State Superfund Research Center is developing energy-efficient nanoreactors capable of breaking the carbon-fluorine bond that keeps PFAS from degrading.

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, are working on options to contain aqueous film-forming foams used for firefighting, a major source of PFAS contamination.

The Brown University Superfund Research Center has developed databases that exploit land use data to identify cities and towns at high risk for PFAS exposure. 12

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grantee CycloPure, Inc., has developed a new way to remove hazardous PFAS from water. The water pitcher-based filters should be an affordable option for people concerned about PFAS exposure where they live or work.

A team at the North Carolina State University SRP Center is studying alligators living in PFAS-contaminated water to understand possible effects on the immune system. They also developed a new high-throughput tool to quickly characterize how PFAS may be transported within the body and potentially cause harm.

Another SBIR project by EnChem Engineering, Inc. is developing an innovative technology to speed up removal of PFAS at Superfund sites.

SRP-funded small business AxNano developed a portable tool that relies on nanoparticles to quickly detect PFAS in samples. Their method is more affordable and efficient than traditional mass spectrometry.

National Academies Sciences Engineering Medicine Consensus Study Report Highlights - Guidance on PFAS Exposure,Testing, and Clinical Follow-Up. NIEHS, and the Agency for Toxic Substances, and Disease Registry (ATSDR) supported this study to evaluate the most current evidence on the human health effects associated with PFAS exposure and to provide information for ATSDR to consider in their advice for clinicians about PFAS testing and how test results should inform clinical care.

PFAS Blood Testing: What You Need to Know - this fact sheet was created, in 2022, by a NIEHS-funded project at the Silent Spring Institute.

PFAS Collection 2022 - Published between 2018 and 2022, these Environmental Health Perspectives papers demonstrate the diverse areas where skillfully designed PFAS-related epidemiological research and modeling is occurring.

PFAS Contamination Map - A nationwide map of PFAS contamination was created by the Environmental Working Group.

PFAS Exchange - The Silent Spring Institute provides many fact sheets and other resources to help you protect your health.

PFAS Strategic Roadmap: EPA's Commitments to Action 2021-2024 - PFAS contamination poses unique challenges. The actions outlined in the roadmap may lead to more enduring and protective solutions.

Reducing PFAS in Drinking Water (1MB) - In the Cincinnati area, NIEHS-funded researchers discovered high levels of a specific PFAS chemical, called perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), in young girls. This research translation story shows how they worked with local water departments to implement water filtering techniques that resulted in a 40-60% reduction in PFOA levels in the girls and other residents.

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large, complex group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in consumer products around the world since about the 1950s. They are ingredients in various everyday products. For example, PFAS are used to keep food from sticking to packaging or cookware, make clothes and carpets resistant to stains, and create firefighting foam that is more effective.

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Japan slowly wakes up to health risks of PFAS 'forever chemicals' Japan Times (2023)

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Japan slowly wakes up to health risks of PFAS 'forever chemicals' Japan Times (2023)

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Japan slowly wakes up to health risks of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’

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Residents in western Tokyo have been testing themselves to measure their exposure, with results showing levels of the chemicals that could bring long-term health risks.

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'Okinawans file mass lawsuit over U.S. base noise pollution' The Asahi Shimbun (2022)

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'Okinawans file mass lawsuit over U.S. base noise pollution' The Asahi Shimbun (2022)

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Okinawans file mass lawsuit over U.S. base noise pollution | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

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NAHA--In the largest lawsuit of its kind, more than 35,000 residents in Okinawa Prefecture announced Jan. 28 they are seeking 91.6 billion yen ($795 million) for deafening noise pollution from aircraft operating out of the U.S. Kadena Air Base.

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Okinawa Collection from George Washington University

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Okinawa Collection from George Washington University

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Welcome to the George Washington University Okinawa Collection

Established in June 2015 with generous support from the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG), the Okinawa Collection is part of the Japan Resource Center in the GW Libraries' Global Resources Center. This rapidly growing collection features scholarly materials on Okinawa from the past to the present from multiple perspectives.

Okinawa Collection Updates
January 26, 2023
Vice Governor Yoshimi Teruya and his delegation from the Okinawa Prefectural Government visited the Okinawa Collection. After viewing exhibits and touring the GRC, they browsed the collection and discussed the scope of the materials.
February 24, 2023
The Okinawa Collection co-hosted a webinar with the Okinawa Prefectural Government DC titled "50 Years After the Reversion: Present Okinawa and Its Future." The webinar included a talk given by Dr. Annmaria Shimabuku (New York University) and moderated discussion with Dr. Steve Rabson (Professor Emeritus, Brown University).
March 9, 2023
The Quincy Institution, Okinawa Prefectural Government DC, and Okinawa Collection co-hosted the Okinawa Symposium 2023 in the National Churchill Leadership Center on March 9, 2023. The symposium featured a keynote speech by Governor Tamaki and a discussion with Dr. Mike Mochizuki (GW) and Dr. Michael Swaine (Quincy Institute). Prior to the start of the symposium, Governor Tamaki and his delegation visited the Okinawa Collection.
March 24, 2023
In collaboration with the Okinawa Prefectural Government DC, the Okinawa Collection hosted a special screening of Jon Mitchell and Shimabukuro Natsuko's Nuchi nu Miji: Okinawa's Water of Life. The documentary covers contamination of Okinawa's water supply with PFAS chemicals from military bases.
March 27, 2023
We welcomed journalist and documentary filmmaker, Jon Mitchell, to the collection for a tour and to browse our materials. It was an honor to meet Jon as he has generously donated invaluable FOIA materials that are open source for all patrons.

Recent Acquisitions

Stay up-to-date on our newest additions to the Okinawa Collection on our Recent Acquisitions Guide.

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Established in June 2015 with generous support from the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG), the Okinawa Collection is part of the Japan Resource Center in the GW Libraries' Global Resources Center. This rapidly growing collection features scholarly materials on Okinawa from the past to the present from multiple perspectives.

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Book: 'Islands of Protest: Japanese Literature from Okinawa' Davinder L. Bhowmik and Steve Rabson, eds. (2015)

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Book: 'Islands of Protest: Japanese Literature from Okinawa' Davinder L. Bhowmik and Steve Rabson, eds. (2015)

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Home / Book / Islands of Protest: Japanese Literature from Okinawa

About the Book

Literature is an important vehicle to further knowledge of other cultures, and English translations of Okinawan literary works have had a major impact on the field of Okinawan studies. Yet the riches of Okinawa's literature have yet to be adequately mined. Islands of Protest attempts to address this lacuna with this new selection of critically acclaimed modern and contemporary works in English.

The anthology includes poetry, fiction, and drama, drawing on Okinawa's distinct culture and subtropical natural environment to convey the emotions and tensions present in everyday life. Tōma Hiroko's poem "Backbone" juxtaposes the natural environment of aquamarine beaches and subtropical flora and fauna with the built environment of America's military bases. Stories by two of Okinawa's most dynamic contemporary authors display wide breadth, from the preservation of island dances and burial practices in Sakiyama Tami's "Island Confinement" and "Come Swaying, Come Swinging" to the bold, disquieting themes of violence and comfort women in Medoruma Shun's "Hope," "Taiwan Woman," and "Tree of Butterflies." The crown jewel of the anthology, Chinen Seishin's play The Human Pavilion, is based on an infamous historical incident in which Okinawans were put on display during a 1903 industrial exhibition in Osaka. In his 1978 masterpiece, Chinen depicts the relentless pressure on Okinawans to become more Japanese.

Given the controversial presence of U.S. military forces in Okinawa, this book is particularly timely. Disputes between the United States and Japanese governments over construction of a new marine airbase at Henoko have led to the resignation of Japan's prime minister, the election of an anti-base governor, and repeated protests. Islands of Protest offers a compelling entrée into a complex culture, one marked by wartime decimation, relentless discrimination, and fierce resistance, yet often overshadowed by the clichéd notion of a gentle Okinawa so ceaselessly depicted in Japan's mass media.

About the Author(s)

Contributors

Steve Rabson

Carolyn Anne Morley

Amy C. Franks

Shi Lin Loh

Aimee Mizuno

Takuma Sminkey

Kyoko Selden

Alisa Freedman

Victoria Young

Masaki Kinjo

Jon Holt

Robert Tierney

Supporting Resources

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Islands of Protest: Japanese Literature from Okinawa

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Literature is an important vehicle to further knowledge of other cultures, and English translations of Okinawan literary works have had a major impact on the field of Okinawan studies. Yet the riches of Okinawa's literature have yet to be adequately mined. Islands of Protest attempts to address this lacuna with this new selection of critically...

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VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN | Official Okinawa Travel Guide

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The history of karate

For 450 years from 1429 to 1879, the islands of Okinawa were an independent nation, the Ryukyu Kingdom. The kingdom found great success as a bridge between nations. It traded with neighboring countries, and the various influences of its trading partners blended, and evolved to form the unique culture of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Shaped gradually over the centuries, karate is an aspect of this culture.

The exact origins of karate are not recorded, but the art is very closely connected to ti, an ancient Okinawan form of self defense. Ti is written with the Japanese character for "hand," and shares this with the "te" in karate.

Karate is believed to have evolved from ti, and its centuries-long evolution likely began when trade was established with China, and martial arts from across Southeast Asia were introduced to Okinawa. During the reign of the Ryukyu King Sho Shin (1477-1526), ti flourished. It was practiced by members of the ruling classes from all across the islands, who lived in the capital, Shuri. And this cemented ti as an integral part of the culture across the kingdom.

In 1609, forces from the Satsuma Domain (present-day Kagoshima) invaded the Ryukyu Kingdom, and a ban was placed on citizens of the Ryukyu Kingdom from carrying weapons. It is following this that ti is thought to have taken the shape of karate, which is written with characters meaning "empty hand."

Sokon Matsumura, Kanryo Higaonna, and Kosaku Matsumora are considered some of the earliest karate masters, each practicing a slightly different style of martial art. These early forms of karate were known as Shuri-te, Naha-te, and Tomari-te.

After the dissolution of the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1879, by the Meiji government of Japan, new schools of karate developed, and the art became further diversified. Around this time, karate masters such as Anko Itosu are credited with modernizing the martial art and making it more accessible to the general public. As Okinawa integrated into Japan, karate gained popularity on the mainland and overseas.

With the spread of karate, it became more localized and diversified and many new styles developed. In Okinawa, the three main schools that developed were Shorin-ryu (derived from Shuri-te and Tomari-te), Goju-ryu (from Naha-te), and Uechi-ryu (influenced by Pangai-noon kung fu and founded by Kanbun Uechi).

After WWII, rules regarding styles and the establishment of dojos became more flexible. Dojos could be set up more independently and freely, and karate spread quickly. Students of Okinawa karate practitioners set up dojos on mainland Japan, and Americans who studied karate while stationed on military bases in Okinawa took their new skills back home. There was significant emmigration from Okinawa to North America, South America, and Europe around this time, and emigres from Okinawa took karate skills with them. Many of these dojos from other areas of Japan and from around the world maintain strong connections with Okinawa, karate's spiritual home.

In recent years there has been an increase in the popularity of kumite (sparring), and kata (going through karate forms) debuted at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. There has also been an increase in the number of karate practitioners, or karateka, traveling to Okinawa to visit the birthplace of the art.

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The Birthplace of Karate | VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN | Official Okinawa Travel Guide

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Discover the history of karate, Okinawa's enduring martial art.

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CNN: 'In the 'land of the immortals': Japan's centenarian pop band (2018)

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CNN: 'In the 'land of the immortals': Japan's centenarian pop band (2018)

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In the ‘land of the immortals’: Japan’s centenarian pop band | CNN

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What’s the secret to Okinawans’ long life? Experts argue that though a combination of good genes and healthy lifestyles helps, there’s no specific formula. The members of one senior pop band attribute their energy levels to “ikigai,” or a “sense of life.”

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The islands at the southern end of Japan have historically been known for longevity, once called the land of immortals. Okinawans have less cancer, heart disease and dementia than Americans, and women there live longer than any women on the planet.

Perhaps their greatest secret is a strong dedication to friends and family. They maintain a powerful social network called a "moai," a lifelong circle of friends that supports people well into old age. Okinawans also have a strong sense of purpose in life, a driving force that the Japanese call "ikigai."

Read more below about the lessons that Okinawa, Japan can teach you about longevity

Videos From Okinawa, Japan

Despite years of hardship, Okinawans have established a lifestyle and environment to live long, healthy lives. Follow these common centenarian practices to promote your own longevity.

Embrace an ikigai.

Older Okinawans can readily articulate the reason they get up in the morning. Their purpose-imbued lives gives them clear roles of responsibility and feelings of being needed well into their 100s.

Rely on a plant-based diet.

Older Okinawans have eaten a plant-based diet most of their lives. Their meals of stir-fried vegetables, sweet potatoes, and tofu are high in nutrients and low in calories.

Goya, with its antioxidants and compounds that lower blood sugar, is of particular interest. While centenarian Okinawans do eat some pork, it is traditionally reserved only for infrequent ceremonial occasions and taken only in small amounts.

Get gardening.

Almost all Okinawan centenarians grow or once grew a garden. It's a source of daily physical activity that exercises the body with a wide range of motion and helps reduce stress. It's also a near-constant source of fresh vegetables.

Eat more soy.

The Okinawan diet is rich in foods made with soy, like tofu and miso soup. Flavonoids in tofu may help protect the hearts and guard against breast cancer. Fermented soy foods contribute to a healthy intestinal ecology and offer even better nutritional benefits.

Maintain a moai.

The Okinawan tradition of forming a moai provides secure social networks. These safety nets lend financial and emotional support in times of need and give all of their members the stress-shedding security of knowing that there is always someone there for them.

Enjoy the sunshine.

Vitamin D, produced by the body when it's exposed on a regular basis to sunlight, promotes stronger bones and healthier bodies. Spending time outside each day allows even senior Okinawans to have optimal vitamin D levels year-round.

Stay active.

Older Okinawans are active walkers and gardeners. The Okinawan household has very little furniture; residents take meals and relax sitting on tatami mats on the floor. The fact that old people get up and down off the floor several dozen times daily builds lower body strength and balance, which help protect against dangerous falls.

Plant a medical garden.

Mugwort, ginger, and turmeric are all staples of an Okinawan garden, and all have proven medicinal qualities. By consuming these every day, Okinawans may be protecting themselves against illness.

Have an attitude.

A hardship-tempered attitude has endowed Okinawans with an affable smugness. They're able to let difficult early years remain in the past while they enjoy today's simple pleasures. They've learned to be likable and to keep younger people in their company well into their old age.

This is an excerpt from Blue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From The People Who've Lived The Longest by Dan Buettner, copyright 2008, all rights reserved.

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Okinawans have less cancer, heart disease and dementia than Americans, and women there live longer than any women on the planet.

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Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu

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Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu

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Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu

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Five hundred years of Ryukyuan history (12th-17th century) are represented by this group of sites and monuments. The ruins of the castles, on imposing elevated sites, are evidence for the social structure over much…

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Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island

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Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island

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Outstanding Universal Value
Brief synthesis
Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, the northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island is a terrestrial serial property covering 42,698 ha comprised of five component parts on four different islands (with Tokunoshima Island having two component parts). Influenced by the Kuroshio Current and a subtropical high-pressure system, the property has a warm and humid subtropical climate and is covered mainly with evergreen broadleaved subtropical rainforests.

The formation of the Okinawa Trough in late Miocene resulted in the separation of a chain from the Eurasian Continent, forming an archipelago of small islands. Terrestrial species became isolated on these small islands and evolved to form unique and rich biota. The islands included in the property support many examples of endemic species of terrestrial vertebrate groups and plants that were not able to cross between these islands or adjoining landmasses.

Thus, the property is of high global value for the protection of many endemic and globally threatened species, and contains the most important and significant remaining natural habitats for in-situ conservation of the unique and rich biodiversity of the central and southern part of the archipelago.

Criterion (x): The property contains natural habitats of outstanding importance for in-situ conservation of the unique and diverse biodiversity of the central and southern part of the archipelago in which the property is located. The five component parts constituting the property are located in one of the 200 ecoregions considered most crucial to the conservation of global biodiversity. The subtropical rainforests of the property are the largest remaining in the region and harbour a very rich flora and fauna, boasting at least 1,819 vascular plants, 21 terrestrial mammals, 394 birds, 267 inland water fish, 36 terrestrial reptiles and 21 amphibians. These include approximately 57% of the terrestrial vertebrates of the biodiversity hotspot of Japan, including 44% of species endemic to Japan as well as 36% of Japan's globally threatened vertebrates.

Among species listed on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species are the Amami Rabbit, only found on Amami-Oshima and Tokunoshima Islands and the only species in its genus, with no close relatives anywhere in the world, and the flightless Okinawa Rail, endemic to the Northern part of Okinawa Island. Spiny rats form an endemic genus consisting of three species endemic to each of the respective three islands, and the Iriomote Cat, which only inhabits Iriomote Island.

Speciation and endemism are high for many taxa. For example, 188 species of vascular plants and 1,607 insect species are endemic within the four islands of the property. Rates of endemism among terrestrial mammals (62%), terrestrial reptiles (64%), amphibians (86%), and inland water crabs (100%) are also high. Twenty species are identified as Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species, including the Okinawa Spiny Rat, Ryukyu Black-Breasted Leaf Turtle, and Kuroiwa's Ground Gecko.
Integrity
The property is the best representation of the archipelago in which it is located and contains the richest biota in Japan, one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. The boundaries of the five component parts have been carefully selected to ensure that the entire property is strictly protected and that they capture the key values and demonstrate a generally high degree of connectivity, wherever it is possible to achieve this. It will be crucial to ensure that buffer zones are actively managed to support the attributes of the property's OUV and that activities such as logging do not create adverse impacts.

The four islands that host the property consist of mountains and hills with intact and contiguous subtropical rainforests that secure particularly stable habitats for approximately 90% of native species, endemic species and globally threatened species of the central and southern part of the archipelago. There are important naturally functioning freshwater systems, but with some natural values that have been impacted by hard, engineered infrastructure and which could be restored to a more natural function.

The five component parts of the property have intact subtropical forests and other habitats, including many areas of substantial size. These are selected to include the most important current and potential distributional areas of endemic species and threatened species, and are key attributes expressing the Outstanding Universal Value of this property.
Protection and management requirements
The property is under the strictest protection in the Japanese system of nature conservation areas, and its component parts are designated as Special Protection Zones or Class I Special Zones managed by the Ministry of the Environment and/or Preservation Zones of Forest Ecosystem Reserves managed by the Forestry Agency. In addition, the property is designated as a National Wildlife Protection Area and Natural Monument Protection Area. The property thus receives adequate management resources and appropriate long-term protection. Some of the endemic species and/or threatened species of the property, such as the Amami Rabbit, three species of the Spiny Rat, Okinawa Rail and Iriomote Cat, have been designated and legally protected as National Endangered Species and/or National Natural Monuments.

The four islands of the property are inhabited, with residential areas and industrial activities located close to the habitats for endemic and threatened species. Buffer zones are included adjacent to the property, mainly in the Class II Special Zone of a national park and/or the Conservation and Utilization Zone of a Forest Ecosystem Reserve. In addition, Surrounding Conservation Areas encompassing the property and the buffer zones are designated under the Comprehensive Management Plan.

Administrations at all levels, i.e. the Ministry of the Environment, the Forestry Agency, the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Kagoshima and Okinawa Prefectures, and 12 municipalities, have established a Regional Liaison Committee to facilitate and coordinate management of multilayered protected areas and the protection of designated species. They manage the property according to a Comprehensive Management Plan, which covers conservation measures not only in the property but also in the buffer zones and surrounding conservation areas.

Key threats to the property include potential impacts from tourism, posing significant threats to wildlife in some areas, including Iriomote Island. Further threats include impacts from invasive alien species such as the small Indian Mongoose and cats, wildlife roadkill and the illegal collection of wild rare and threatened species. In order to address these threats, the risks to the property are prevented or mitigated by various measures implemented through collaboration among related administrative agencies, private organizations and local communities. In recent years, the tourism industry has increased and sustainable levels of tourism need to be fully assessed and continuously monitored. Invasive alien species and roadkill, especially the potentially critical impact of traffic on endangered species including the Iriomote Cat, need to be kept at an absolute minimum and strictly monitored, and illegal collection of wild rare and threatened species prevented. There is the need to develop a comprehensive river restoration strategy in order to transition wherever possible from hard infrastructure to employ nature-based techniques and rehabilitation approaches. Activities in the buffer zones, including very limited traditional timber extraction that takes place, also require continued vigilance and to be strictly limited and monitored.

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Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island

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Encompassing 42,698 hectares of subtropical rainforests on four islands on a chain located in the southwest of Japan, the serial site forms an arc on the boundary of the East China Sea and Philippine Sea whose ...

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～慰霊の日に沖縄に行こう～

平和の礎

平和の礎目次

平和の礎とは

沖縄といえば...何をイメージしますか？

きれいな海と空...白い砂浜！南国のリゾート地というところでしょうか？

沖縄県の人の方言に 「イチャリバーチョーデー」(会えばみんな兄弟) という言葉があるように、陽気でゆったりとした、沖縄時間の中で過ごすことをイメージする人も多いであろう。

しかし、沖縄は昔、世界的にも大規模で悲惨な戦争の地上戦が起きた場所という悲しい過去もある。その悲しい過去は、慰霊の日として知られ、今も語り継がれている...

平和の礎(いしじ)は、沖縄の方言でという為である。

平和の礎の特徴である、屏風型のデザインにも、「平和の波永遠になれ」(世界にも平和の波が広がるように...)という願いが込められています。

約２５万人の名前を刻むことができるように作られたとのこと...２５万人以上の太平洋戦争での戦没者が存在していると考えると......

世界の平和を願い、国籍や軍人・民間人の区別をする事なく、沖縄戦などで亡くなった全ての人々の氏名を刻んだ祈念碑 である。

1995年（平成7年）6月に太平洋戦争・沖縄戦終結50周年を記念して建立された。

海岸線を見渡す平和の広場に建てられており、屏風型の花崗岩に銘が刻まれる。現在も追加刻銘を受け付けている。 (平和祈念公園　紹介文より)

令和4年現在、 241,686人の刻銘者 が刻まれている。

平和の礎の周りには、大きな葉っぱの「コバテイシの木」が立ち並び、ちょうど梅雨が明けた時の暑い日差しの沖縄に、日陰を作り風を送ってくれる。

静寂の中に、ザワザワと吹く心地よい風が平和の礎に吹く。

礎には、離島、県外、北部、中部、南部と地域でわかれている。

内訳は 沖縄県民　149,584　県外都道府県　77,458
米国　14,010　　英国　82　　台湾　34　　北朝鮮　82　大韓民国　382

刻銘ゾーンは、メイン通路の左側が沖縄出身者、右側が他の都道府県出身者、右手のサブ園路には、外国出身者のゾーンと分かれている。

刻銘者の名前が分からずとも...○○の子などと記されている刻銘もある。

そう記した背景には、名前は分からずともその方々が生きておられたという証と考えてのことである。

慰霊の日には平和を願いながら、家族、親戚の名前を探し、花やごちそうを手向け、線香を焚いて手をあわせるのである。

近年は、戦争体験者も高齢化が進み語り手が少なくなっている。

おじぃやおばぁも、なかなか足が運べない代わりに、 後継者である子ども達が手を合わせに行くこと もあるようである。

今後も、後世に繋ぐ行事となることを願う。

平和記念公園

沖縄県営平和祈念公園

平和の礎の場所は、 沖縄県営平和祈念公園 にあります。

平和の礎は、平和祈念財団が指定管理者となっている。

どうしてその公園にあるのか？

それは、平和祈念公園は、本島南部糸満にあります。「沖縄戦終焉の地」である

摩文仁の丘が見える場所に位置し、公園整備は、琉球政府時代から始まったといわれている。

平和の礎の他にも、 沖縄戦の写真や遺品などを展示している平和祈念資料館、戦没者の鎮魂と平和の尊さを祈る平和祈念館 などがある。

平和の礎のメイン通路を進むとそこには平和の広場があり、海が見渡せる。また、このメイン通路は、 6月23日の日の出の方位 に合わせて設置されている。

平和の広場には、 「平和の火」が設置されている 。平和の火は、沖縄戦で米軍が最初に上陸した座間味村の阿嘉島の火を採取して作られたとのこと。

また、広島の「平和の灯」長崎の「誓いの火」から分けてもらい作ったものである。

修学旅行生や沖縄県の中高生も、平和学習で多く訪れる場所 でもある。

また、広い芝生、青々と茂る木が並び、ダイナミックに作られたアスレチック遊具がある、休日はそこで家族連れが賑わう。(名称)

こいのぼり飾り

ゴールデンウィークには、日本一大きなこいのぼりや、各地域の保育園、幼稚園から集められた手作りのこいのぼりが飾られ、子ども達の健やかな成長と子ども達の未来の平和を願う行事が開催されている。

クリスマスから大晦日、お正月には、平和祈念堂で、新年に向けて平和の決意を込めて、慰霊のたいまつを掲げ、午前０時に鎮魂の大聖火を焚く行事、平和の丘にサーチライトで平和の光の柱を灯す。

また、平和の丘から、式典広場までの園路にペットボトルキャンドル点灯も行われている。

(近年はコロナ禍で、行事が中止になっていることもあるので参加される際には問い合わせをした方がよい)

悲しい過去の歴史と、現在の平和な日常とそれを継いでいこうとする様子が混在する風景がそこにはある。

慰霊の日だけではなく、年中世界の平和を願い、平和を考える行事が行われている。

6月２３日　慰霊の日　戦没者追悼式典で行われること

沖縄には、 「慰霊の日を境に梅雨が終わる」 という言い伝えがある。

言い伝えの由来は、様々である...

慰霊の日に、雨天であったことは記憶の中でも少ない気がする。

沖縄県主催の元、内閣総理大臣も迎えて追悼式が行われる。

沖縄県知事や他３００人ほどの参列者と共に、正午を迎える時に１分間 の黙祷をささげる。

県知事による「平和宣言」や、総理大臣による挨拶が述べられる。

沖縄県警車両や、武装した多くの警官が警護に当たっている。

また、米軍基地反対派団体なども集まり、抗議なども行われ...物ものしい雰囲気が漂う。

そんな慰霊の日には、陽気でのんびりしている沖縄時間とは、少し違う空気が流れているように感じる。

また毎年、県内の小中高生の作品から選ばれた「平和の詩」の朗読が作者によって行われるのである。

令和４年度は「こわいを知って、平和がわかった」と小学校２年生が述べた 。

以前には「へいわってなんだろう」と詠んだ詩もあり、こちらは絵本となり出版され、販売されている。

各小学校、保育園、幼稚園に配られ、慰霊の日には読み聞かせが行われている。

また、令和四年度から始まった新たな取り組みとして、２３日に向けて行われるのが平和の礎に記されている刻銘者の読み上げである。

２４万人以上の刻銘者を読み上げるため、１１日間かけて国内外から１５００人の方が参加し、オンラインを活用しながらリレー方式で、連日午前５時から午前３時まで読み上げが行われ、その様子は「YouTube」でその様子を見ることができる。

「さとうきびのうた」の曲と共に、心を込めて読み上げられている様子は戦没者を大事に思うことが伝わってくる。

参加者の中には、高校生や大学生もいる。また、沖縄戦で命を落とした親族の名前を読み上げ、声を震わせる人もいる。

当日２３日は、平和祈念公園に会場を設け、現地で読み上げに参加ができる。

この取り組みが始まったのは、戦争体験者や遺族が高齢化が進み、戦争の記憶や慰霊の場を引き継ぎ、新たな形で哀悼の意を示そうと、県民らで作る実行委員会が企画している。

実行委員は「刻銘者をよみあげることで、一人ひとりの人生があったこと...、平和の礎に刻銘されている事で。また名前に命を与えたい」と語っている。

この新たな取り組みに、刻銘者名簿作成やフリガナ作成などの補助スタッフも募集し、取り組んだとのことである。

このように多くの取り組みが慰霊の日に向けて行われ、沖縄戦を学び、第二次世界大戦が風化せず...世界の平和を願う機会が各地で広がるように沖縄戦体験者や親族、後継者が紡いでいるのかもしれない。

沖縄にとって ６月２３日 は特別な日である。

公立の保・幼・小・中・高校、県庁、市役所などは休日となり、平和を祈り、命の尊さを考える日である。

沖縄県、各市町村では、慰霊の日を県民の休日と条例に定めている。

しかし本土復帰して後は、民間企業が休日を返上し通常営業を行う。そのため、保育園や幼稚園も開園し、働く保護者のため子ども達を受け入れる所もある。

慰霊の日の文化や伝統が、薄れている状況も感じる。

戦没者の名前が刻まれた「平和の礎」を訪れ、手を合わせ平和を祈る人たち

毎年、慰霊の日の追悼式がテレビで放送されるがあれは、ほんの一部...一瞬である。

沖縄県民、沖縄の子ども達は慰霊の日がある一週間前から毎年...

小学生は、学校で第二次世界大戦の話を紙芝居や絵本で学び、平和の歌を口ずさむようになる。
「僕たちは　わかっているよ　　平和が一番大切ということを 　僕たちに　教えてほしい　　　どうしたら　平和が訪れるの 沖縄から　平和のうたを届けたい　　声をそろえて...　」 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(沖縄から平和のうたを　より)
中・高生は、平和祈念公園の資料館へ行き戦争体験者から聞き、今も尚、様々な場所に残されている不発弾や米軍基地のことを学ぶのである。

そして、慰霊の日を迎える。

慰霊の日には、 家族で平和の礎に刻まれているご先祖様に手を合わせる 。

そこで、おじいやおばあが「ねぇねぇ！」(姉)「おとぉ～」(父)「○○にぃにぃ」(従兄弟)と親戚、親族の名前を呼び、涙を流し手を合わせる後ろ姿を見て、子ども達もまた手を合わせる...

その様子は、胸に刺さるものがある。

近年は、戦争体験者も高齢化が進み語り手が少なくなっている。

おじぃやおばぁも、なかなか足が運べない代わりに、 後継者である子ども達が手を合わせに行くこともある ようである。

今後も、後世に繋ぐ行事となることを願う。

平和の礎とは何なのか？

慰霊の日とは...を沖縄で考え、いつもと違う沖縄の風景を見て、平和を願いながら沖縄旅をするのもいいのかもしれない。

アクセス

沖縄県営平和祈念公園

沖縄県立　平和祈念公園　　沖縄県糸満市摩文仁４４４番地 　　　　　　　　　　　　　098-997-2765 バス利用の場合　　①　那覇バスターミナル→糸満線 　　　　　　　　　　　バス番号　８９番　　片道５８０円 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　バス番号　８２番　　片道４８０円 タクシー利用の場合　那覇バスターミナル→糸満摩文仁 　　　　　　　　　距離　１８０キロ　　料金　約３５００円(片道) ・慰霊の日に訪問する場合、多くの県民、マスコミ、警察官がいるため、 ②　乗り継ぎ　糸満バスターミナル→玉泉洞線
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Japanese Afrikaans Albanian Amharic Arabic Armenian Azerbaijani Basque Belarusian Bengali Bosnian Bu

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CNN 'Thousands rally against U.S. bases in Okinawa' (1995)

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CNN 'Thousands rally against U.S. bases in Okinawa' (1995)

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CNN - Thousands rally against U.S. bases - Oct. 21, 1995

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October 21, 1995 Web posted at: 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT) From Correspondent May Lee OKINAWA, Japan -- Tens of thousands took to the streets of Okinawa Saturday, brought out by outrage over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl by U.S. service members.

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Chiburu: Anthology of Hawai'i Okinawan Literature, edited by Lee A. Tonouchi

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Chiburu: Anthology of Hawai'i Okinawan Literature, edited by Lee A. Tonouchi

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CHIBURU: Anthology of Hawai'i Okinawan Literature

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Edited by Lee A. Tonouchi, CHIBURU: Anthology of Hawaiʻi Okinawan Literature brings together stories from an inspiring new wave of Okinawan storytellers and quintessential Uchinānchu writers into a singular publication. This compelling anthology advocates for recognition of the Okinawan American identity because, simpl

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Children's Literature - Pichah Dis Chree (The Hawai'ian Herald)

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Children's Literature - Pichah Dis Chree (The Hawai'ian Herald)

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The Hawaii Herald - Hawaii's Japanese American Journal

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Lee A. Tonouchi Special to Da Hawai'i Herald Ever since I had childrens, I been trying really hard for get dem as many Okinawan-themed children's picture books written in English that I could find. My first set of reviews of da books I tracked down came out in da Jan.

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Okinawan Coral Politics, Henoko Bay Construction and a Japanese Political Strategy of Political Ignorance (The Asia-Pacific Journal - Japan Focus, 2021)

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Okinawan Coral Politics, Henoko Bay Construction and a Japanese Political Strategy of Political Ignorance (The Asia-Pacific Journal - Japan Focus, 2021)

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Abstract: On July 28, 2021, Okinawa Prefecture's governor authorised coral transplantation at the construction site of the controversial Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF) in Henoko. Two days later, he revoked this authorisation. The coral have become a contested political issue, linked to the larger conflict between the Japanese government and Okinawa Prefecture. Diving into the waters of Ōura Bay and the history of the base issue, this article explores how Japanese authorities have ignored Okinawan protest, science, and the life of other species during the construction. This political strategy of ignorance aims at frustrating opposition and framing the FRF as inevitable. Keywords: Okinawa, Henoko, Ōura Bay, Coral, Dugong, Protest, Ignorance "As humans reshape the landscape, we forget what was there before ... Our newly shaped and ruined landscapes become the new reality (Gan et al. 2017: G6)." The Coral of Ōura Bay
It is hard to describe the feelings one has when first seeing the coral of Ōura Bay. Looking down from the railing of a boat, they are covered by a turquoise veil of shimmering waves, blurring the different species into one. It is beautiful, but it makes it difficult to envision what it really looks like down there. To get a real understanding you need to jump into those turquoise waters. So let's jump in and dive down!
Coral of Ōura Bay close to the construction site.
Seen from above, their diversity is hard to grasp, © Palz 2021.
Beneath the surface, a new colour spectrum discloses itself in front of your eyes. Different shades of blue remain the dominant colour, but the coral also form a mix of greens, yellows and even reds stretching their arms in all directions or forming cloud-like structures, some larger than a small car. Others form round tables, big enough for sea turtles to take refuge beneath. Different species of Achropora, Poritidae and Montipora form the dominant coral in this part of Ōura Bay, but there are places where much rarer species such as blue coral ( Heliopora coerulea) grow as well. Fish in shimmering silver, orange and purple chase each other, others barely move, hiding in this forest of colours. Blue parrotfish are crunching on the coral beneath you. A black and white striped sea snake winds itself to the surface and goes down again, disappearing in one of the many cracks and holes. Where coral thrive, other species do too. Jumping into Ōura Bay is like jumping onto a painter's palette, one in which the colours are filled with life.

It is not just the richness of coral that makes Ōura Bay ecologically significant. It also brings together many other environmental features, such as mangrove forests, tidal flats, sandy beaches, and waters up to thirty meters deep. With over 5,300 different species, including 263 endangered ones, the Bay is a hotspot of biodiversity (Okinawa Prefectural Government Washington D.C. Office). Some of these species have only been confirmed in the bay, such as small crabs ( Paralbunea takedai) and shrimp ( Rayllianassa rudisculcus) (Daibingu chīmu snakku snafukin 2015: 113). Also, the critically endangered Okinawan dugong, a charismatic marine mammal, used to visit the bay in the past although recently there have been no confirmed sightings.

Lively coral in the northern part of Ōura Bay, © Palz 2021.
Diving down makes one realise the richness of Okinawan waters.
I had come to Okinawa as an anthropologist researching the changing relationship between the Okinawan dugong and the human inhabitants of the Ryūkyū Islands. Living in Ōura Village, I not only swam in the waters of the bay, but I also interviewed many of its (human) inhabitants and scholars regarding questions of environmental change. In the last decade, the largest of these changes has been the construction of a new military base known as the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF) in the waters of Henoko Village. The new base is supposed to replace the dangerous Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, situated in the densely populated city of Ginowan, where noisy helicopters and accident prone MV-22 Osprey aircraft fly over apartment blocks, universities and elementary schools on a daily basis, often ignoring night flight curfews or even causing accidents. ¹ The Government of Japan insists that adjoining the FRF to existing Camp Schwab in Henoko is the only solution for closing the base in Futenma. However, for many Okinawans - including the current Prefectural Government - the construction of the FRF at Henoko is intolerable, not just because it destroys the precious and unique marine life of Ōura Bay but also because the new base would imprint the American military presence onto Okinawa for decades to come. A finished base in Henoko would also mean that large military vessels could enter the deep waters of the bay. This would be an upgrade to the current air station in Futenma, which is lacking access to the sea.

To make all this happen the waters around Henoko have to be land filled. Waters similar to those we explored in the opening section. Enclosed by a floating line of orange buoys, the construction site itself is off limits. Nobody except personnel authorized by the Okinawan Defense Bureau (ODB) is allowed to dive where landfill is being planned. Although much soil has been dumped into the ocean already, there is still a lot of work to be done. According to the Okinawa Times, only around 5% of landfill work has been completed by April 2021 (Okinawa taimusu 2021). On the northern side of the construction site, where the sea floor has been found to be as soft as "mayonnaise" (see Lummis 2018), it remains to be seen whether the project is even possible. What is certain is that construction would be lengthy, costly and destructive. Here, where construction has not yet commenced, that colourful coral is still alive.

Although my academic focus is not coral per se, as a fundamental part of the ecosystem of Ōura Bay, coral was ever-present during my research. In 1962 and 1969 the coral reef of Ōura Bay was blasted, to enable military drills (Ryūkyū Asahi Broadcasting & Norimatsu 2010: 4). At that time, the U.S. military already was planning to build a base with a military port and runways at the tip of Cape Henoko. However, the war in Vietnam consumed too much of the defence budget. The project was thus shelved, but it was not forgotten (McCormack & Norimatsu 2012: 93). Today, soil for landfill is brought through this opened up reef by ship all the way from the Motobu Peninsula on the other side of Okinawa Main Island. Older generations in particular also reported how in other parts of the island coral reefs and their inner shallow waters (referred to as Inō in the native language of Uchināguchi) were filled in to create infrastructure and housing projects, or to construct seawalls. As a result, according to Giovanni Diego Masucci and James D. Reimer, both marine researchers at the University of the Ryūkyūs, already 63% of Okinawa's coastline has been altered by humans, cutting the remaining 37% into fragments (2019: 8). Not all of these developments have destroyed coral, but many have. The Henoko project will continue the pattern.

Much has been written about the protest movement against American military presence in Okinawa and the new base in Henoko (see for example Tanji 2006; McCormack & Norimatsu 2012; Inoue 2017) and some of it will be mentioned on the following pages. However, in this article I would like to explore how the Government of Japan reshapes imagined possible futures of Ōura Bay's residents through what I call a political strategy of ignorance. Thinking with the coral of Ōura Bay in this context not only helps to understand how the central government employs ignorance to exercise power over the opposition, but also how the construction of official knowledge by the state is used to justify questionable environmental harm mitigation methods.

Coral Politics
Lively coral in the northern part of Ōura Bay, © Palz 2021.

To mitigate the adverse effects of the landfill project in Ōura Bay the Japanese government proposes to move roughly 40,000 coral colonies, replanting them in areas outside of the construction site. When transplanting coral, smaller fragments are taken from the colony and moved to a different place, where they are attached to rocks with cages, wires and hooks. If the conditions are right, the relocated coral can thrive again. Many privately and publicly funded coral restoration programs in the Okinawan islands and beyond do exist (see Claus 2020: 183).

The current Okinawan Prefectural Government, which opposes the base construction, withheld its authorisation for replanting the coral colonies until it was forced through by the Japanese Supreme Court in July, 2021 in compliance with orders from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The Supreme Court's decision was based on the grounds that governor Tamaki Denny is abusing his power if he does not give his authorisation. It is important to mention, however, that the court's decision was a close one as two of five justices sided with Tamaki (Abe 2021) in the protracted legal confrontation between Okinawa Prefecture and the central government. The Okinawa Prefectural Government was left with little choice but to comply, asserting certain conditions, such as the promise to avoid moving the coral during the hot summer months. Hot water temperatures during summer make coral prone to bleaching a widely known issue in coral science (Okubo et al. 2005: 340). Coral get their colour from microscopic algae with which they live in symbiosis. If water temperatures get too high or other stress factors occur, coral expel the algae and turn white. In case of hot water temperatures over a long period of time, the coral eventually die. Another factor that has to be taken into account is that coral reproduction is much higher for coral transplanted in February then for those transplanted in July (Okubo et al. 2009: 444f). Also, a manual published by Okinawa Prefecture as early as 2008 explicitly states that the summer month are not suitable for coral transplantation not only because of high water temperatures, but also because typhoons during this time of year are likely to damage the fragile replanted coral (Okinawaken bunka kankyōbu shizen hogoka 2008: 12). Examples of these effects already exist in Okinawa. During maintenance work on the Taketomi southern sea route ( taketomi minami k ōro) coral were transplanted in August and September 2014. Due to hot water temperatures during these months over 30% of the transplanted coral colonies died of bleaching, while only 4% of untouched coral were affected (Tamaki et al. 2021: 4).

In spite of the Prefectural Government's asserted conditions, after gaining authorisation from the governor on July 28, the ODB immediately started the replanting process on July 29, whereupon Tamaki immediately revoked his authorisation the following day. Ignoring the will of the Okinawan Prefectural Government as well as the tenets of basic science accurately reflects a long history of ignoring the voice of a majority of Okinawa's citizens and is consistent with the flawed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted in preparation of the base construction.
At the construction site in Ōura Bay, © Palz 2021.
Every weekday ships and trucks bring soil for landfill. A Political Strategy of Ignorance

In his work on forest fires and the state in Mexico, anthropologist Andrew S. Mathews explains that "state power may depend upon a management of ignorance and of knowledge by officials and their clients (Matthews 2005: 796)." In his study Matthews examines different forms of ignorance by mid-level and field-level forest service officials in dealing with forest fires to be able to navigate conservationist state policies and strengthen local networks among communities that conduct swidden agriculture. By concealing local forest fires used in a controlled way from their superiors and the state, these officials manage to balance state policies and realities on the ground. It is important to notice, however, that this navigation is only necessary because the federal government condemns the use of fire by rural groups in the first place. Focusing their argument on the damage from forest fires, the government and high-ranking forest service officials ignore the interest of local farmers and cater to urban Mexicans who make up the most influential political constituency. In so doing they exercise power by ignoring alternative worldviews, such as traditional and controlled use of fire in swidden agriculture. Several levels of officials on local and state level have employed similar strategies of ignorance towards alternating worldviews in the Henoko context to frustrate the coral preservationist and anti-base sentiments of local inhabitants.

In 1997, then mayor of Nago City Higa Tetsuya (Liberal Democratic Party, LDP) originally opposed the base construction in Henoko. However, after pressure was applied by the central government (Hashimoto cabinet) to accept the base he ignored the outcome of a municipal referendum opposing it by 52%, making way for the construction. In 2019, the central government again ignored a prefectural referendum in which 72% of participating Okinawan citizens opposed the construction. Now, in its attempts to replant coral amidst high water temperatures of the summer months and with typhoons approaching, the ODB has again violated basic science.As an outsider looking at these practices of ignoring, I am not surprised that some of the inhabitants of Ōura Bay who are not active in the anti-base movement but opposed construction in the referendums, convey a deep feeling of powerlessness against a decision that was made over their heads between the governments of Japan and the United States. Some have even started to question Japan's constitutional democracy. Talking to one of my interviewees (a regular citizen of the Ōura Bay region who is not involved in the protest movement) about the potential threat of Chinese aggression ² and therefore on the legitimation of U.S. bases in Okinawa, he concluded that the Chinese and Japanese governments are not so different from each other. Reflecting on the Henoko construction, he said: "The government is ignoring the voice of the local people, so in this there is no difference from China ( chūgoku to kawaranai)." It has long been Japanese government strategy to confront Okinawa prefecture and local residents of Ōura Bay with a rhetoric of inevitability: no other solutions are on the table, so live with it. This is the message that has been arriving in the villages of Ōura Bay for several decades. It seems to some people who oppose the base but do not protest openly, that all they can do is to make the best out of it by adapting to this "inevitable situation".

It is not only that opposing voices of the Okinawan people have been ignored, the production of official knowledge by the state has also played an important role in presenting the base construction as justifiable. An EIA published in 2011 concluded that the construction would have no adverse effects on the endangered Okinawa dugong, a species that was confirmed to visit the bay proper and surrounding waters frequently to graze on the sea grass growing close to its shores (see also Yoshikawa 2020). Despite this conclusion, no dugongs were spotted in the bay since construction began in 2017. According to surveys conducted by the ODB, no feeding trails, which are indirect signs of dugong presence, were found around the construction site either (Okinawa bōeikyoku 2020a:12). In spring 2020, sounds that were potential dugong calls were recorded by the ODB (Okinawa bōeikyoku 2020b: 12), but the Ministry of Defense refuses to release the data or to get a second opinion on the matter from neutral researchers. As an observer, this leaves me with two possible conclusions: Either the sound sensitive dugongs refrain from entering the bay where heavy construction work is progressing and sound waves of ship engines prevent their peaceful grazing, or dugongs were able to visit the site despite construction noise, but the ODB is ignoring their presence as a release of data could cause construction to stop. It seems clear that the EIA was conducted to enable the base construction in the first place, rather than to protect the environment.

A similar question arises when looking at the Environmental Monitoring Committee, purportedly an independent scientific entity created by the ODB to monitor and advise on the impact of base construction on the environment. Considering the scientifically unjustifiable timing of coral transplantation, it seems clear that the committee is facilitating the Japanese government's standpoint by not advising against coral transplantation in summer in the face of scientific evidence. Furthermore, some members of the committee submitted a scientific article to the platform Research Square declaring the critically endangered dugong to be extinct around Okinawa (Kayanne et al. 2021). Although the article has not yet undergone peer review and is therefore categorized as a preliminary report, declaring the dugong extinct could have political consequences for environmental mitigation measures at the base construction site. The article's conclusion is therefore highly political and even as the ODB insists that the authors wrote the article as independent researchers and not as committee members, questions arise of official knowledge production.
Protesters at the gate of Camp Schwab, Henoko, © Palz 2021.

Like the EIA, the replanting of coral seems to be a cosmetic, rather than a mitigative intervention. If the ODB were really concerned about coral survival, it would not have replanted in the hot summer months immediately after gaining authorisation from governor Tamaki. Furthermore, a final decision on whether successful construction of the FRF will actually be possible in the untouched areas of Ōura Bay has still yet to be made. If construction is not possible, coral transplantation itself will become meaningless.

Bringing all these threats together, it becomes clear that the Japanese government is practicing a political strategy of ignorance with grave consequences. Ignoring its own citizens (a majority of the inhabitants of Ōura Bay and Okinawa Prefecture), ignoring natural obstacles (the "mayonnaise" sea floor), ignoring the habitat of fellow inhabitants of Ōura Bay (such as the dugong and other marine life) and ignoring basic scientific advice on coral transplantation and requests by the Okinawa Prefectural Government. I would like to connect this thought on a political strategy of ignorance with the quote that began this article: "As humans reshape the landscape, we forget what was there before ... Our newly shaped and ruined landscapes become the new reality (Gan et al. 2017: G6)." For residents of Ōura Bay this connection is relevant in two ways. Firstly, with its political strategy of ignorance the Japanese government is reshaping the landscape of Ōura Bay in very physical ways (filling up water with land and transplanting coral for example). By doing that it is creating a new reality for future generations, a reality in which a sea filled with concrete and the sound of V-22 Osprey are normalized. Secondly, the political strategy of ignorance is reshaping mental landscapes of local citizens into one in which the new base is inevitable. In other words, imagined possible future landscapes are reduced to one option: a bay with a base and a base one must live with.

This does not mean that the knowledge constructed by the state and its political strategy of ignorance are unchallenged. The protest movement against the base is continuing both on a very local level in front of the gates of Camp Schwab and the waters of Ōura Bay, and at the level of official politics as shown by governor Tamaki's opposition to coral transplantation. However, it is worth looking at how the central government's strategies of normalizing the base construction by exercising both ignorance and power over knowledge production arrive in local contexts and how they impinge on those who are most affected by the construction: human and non-human inhabitants of Ōura Bay.
Acknowledgements
It has yet to be seen how the revocation of Governor Tamaki's authorisation will play out, but at the time of writing, transplantation of coral is continuing without his permission. After the revocation of approval, the ODB filed a complaint to the Ministry of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which decided to continue the transplantation. If the issue ends up in court again, the judges will likely side with the Japanese government rather than Okinawa, as they have done so many times in the past. If this comes to pass, the political strategy of ignorance will have proven, once again, to result in further damage to physical and imagined landscapes.

I would like to thank the inhabitants of Ōura Bay who shared their stories and thoughts with me. This article was enriched by comments from Aike P. Rots, C. Anne Claus, Florence Durney and Daniel Iwama. I am also very thankful to the editors and the anonymous reviewer for their encouragement and valuable comments.
References:
Research for this article was conducted in the context of the project "Whales of Power: Aquatic Mammals, Devotional Practices, and Environmental Change in Maritime East Asia." This project is funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 803211 (ERC Starting Grant 2018).

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Okinawan Coral Politics, Henoko Base Construction and a Japanese Political Strategy of Ignorance

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Abstract: On July 28, 2021, Okinawa Prefecture's governor authorised coral transplantation at the construction site of the controversial Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF) in Henoko. Two days lat