CULTURE
Pick Up Stories
Shuri-jo Harvest Celebration, The ‘Chush… [CULTURE Ryukyu History]
Chushu-no-Utage, the Mid-Autumn Harvest Celebration, was one of seven banquets put forth by the Shuri royalty during the Ryukyu Kingdom Era ...Read More
Awamori "Ku-su" Day [CULTURE]
Today September 4th is Ku-su Day, with September = ‘9’ which is pronounced ‘kyu’ or ‘ku’ in Japanese, and ‘4’ being pronounced ‘shi’, but so...Read More
Kumiodori, Okinawa’s World-Renowned Perf… [CULTURE Ryukyu History]
Kumiodori is a classical Ryukyu musical and theatrical performance that originated in the early 18th century. The Kumiodori is based on tell...Read More
2019.09.09
Shuri-jo Harvest Celebration, The ‘Chushu-no-Utage’ [CULTURE Ryukyu History]
Chushu-no-Utage, the Mid-Autumn Harvest Celebration, was one of seven banquets put forth by the Shuri royalty during the Ryukyu Kingdom Era in order to entertain guest envoys, the ...
2019.09.04
Awamori “Ku-su” Day [CULTURE]
Today September 4th is Ku-su Day, with September = ‘9’ which is pronounced ‘kyu’ or ‘ku’ in Japanese, and ‘4’ being pronounced ‘shi’, but sounds nearly ‘su’. So ‘9-4’ is ‘ku-su’ Da...
2019.08.29
Kumiodori, Okinawa’s World-Renowned Performing Art [CULTURE Ryukyu History]
Kumiodori is a classical Ryukyu musical and theatrical performance that originated in the early 18th century. The Kumiodori is based on telling of story which is presented using so...
2019.08.27
Railroad helped build Yonabaru [Okinawa Series]
By Natalie Nakamatsu A little known historical fact of Okinawa is that it once had a railroad, and Yonabaru Town connected citizens to Naha City via a dozen stations. Yonabaru Town...
2019.08.19
All Okinawa Eisa Festival 2019 [CULTURE Festival]
The Zento Eisa Matsuri, the All Okinawa Eisa Festival, takes place every year on the first weekend after Obon. This tradition began in 1956 at what was then called Koza, what would...
2019.08.12
“Eisa”, Okinawa’s Famed Tradition [CULTURE]
These days, when people think of Okinawa, the first image that may spring to mind are dancers clad in ceremonious garb armed with taiko drums and folding hand fans. This is Eisa; a...
2019.08.10
Okinawa welcomes ancestor spirits on Obon [Community]
Obon has a special place in the yearly calendar of Okinawan people. For three days from Tuesday, Aug. 13, through Thursday, local people observe, mainly at their homes, the three p...
2019.07.30
10000 Eisa dancers to take over Kokusai Street Aug. 4 [CULTURE Festival]
Rhythmic sounds of drums fill the air on Aug. 4th as thousands of dancers of all ages from some 70 groups will march along Kokusai Street in Naha in a seven-hour long procession. A...
2019.07.17
Land-locked Haebaru’s name is quite special [Okinawa Series]
Haebaru Town is the only municipality on Okinawa that doesn’t face the ocean, being land-locked and surrounded by six other cities and towns immediately southeast of Naha City. Its...
2019.07.15
Remembering Reversion and Driving on the Right Side, or is it the Left? [History]
When Okinawa was returned to Japan on May 15th, 1972, part of the package was an entirely new set of challenges that needed to be met. For Okinawans, the joy of being returned to t...
2019.06.25
Day of Naha: Immerse Yourself in the Capital City of Okinawa [Community]
July 8th is Naha Day in Okinawa. This special occasion originated from the use of play-on-words or rather, a play-on-numbers. Naha’s two syllables ‘Na’ and ‘Ha’ are also syllables ...
2019.06.13
Friends Abroad is looking for foreign members for the Culture Teaching Program! [Community Education Family]
Are you interested in an International Culture Exchange in Okinawa!? Now Friends Abroad is looking for foreign members for the Culture Teaching Program! Culture Teaching Program: I...
2019.06.13
Castle ruins is center point to Nakagusuku region [Okinawa Series]
By Jun Ikemura Nakagusuku Village is the second in Japan in terms of population density, following Kitanakagusuku Village, and has also been a key community dating to the 15th cent...
2019.06.05
The Eisa Night Schedule 2019 [CULTURE Festival]
Although this year’s rainy season seems to continue into eternity, another season is about to start. Okinawa City Tourism Association is hosting a series of Eisa Nights every weeke...
2019.06.01
Itoman Haaray; a traditional and fun event in southernmost of Okinawa [CULTURE Festival]
The Itoman Haaray takes place on Thursday, May 4th of the Lunar Calendar year. This day is actually June 6th 2019 of the Gregorian Calendar. Most people in Itoman adhere to the Lun...
2019.05.07
Kitanakagusuku Village boasts excellent feng shui [Okinawa Series]
By Natalie Nakamatsu Kitanakagusuku Village, once part of Nakagusuku Village with a rich and long history, is located in the Nakagami District of the central part of Okinawa. The N...
2019.04.26
Koinobori fly through Golden Week in honor of children [CULTURE Festival]
Koinobori, or carp streamers, are flying in many places on Okinawa during the Golden Week. Originally appeared as symbols for the Boys Day, they are now flown in honor of all child...
2019.04.05
Shiimi: A time to remember and honor the dead in Okinawa [CULTURE]
April marks the beginning of one of Okinawa’s most important and sacred religious ceremonies, known locally as shiimi. This particular ceremony takes place exclusively in Okinawa P...
2019.04.03
Okinawa’s guardian shisa has its own day on April 3 [History]
April 3 is the “Day of Shisa” in Okinawa as four (April) is “shi” and three is “san” in Japanese. The day was established in 2002 to promote Shisa made in the Tsuboya district of N...
2019.03.12
Spotlight on Yomitan, most populous village in Japan [Community Okinawa Series]
By Natalie Nakamatsu Yomitan is located on the west coast of central Okinawa, bordered by Onna Village to the north, Okinawa City to the east, Kadena Town to the south, and the Eas...
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