History
Pick Up Stories

Remembering Reversion and Driving on th… [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 O...Read More

Royal Crown Exhibition [History]
One of Okinawa’s national treasures, the Royal Crown worn by 14 kings of the Ryukyu era, goes on display tomorrow at Naha City Museum on the...Read More

Okinawa’s guardian shisa has its own day… [History Travel & Beach]
April 3rd 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 promo...Read More

Ryukyu Kingdom era clothing exhibition now open [History]
Okinawa traditional clothing of the Ryukyu Kingdom era is now on display at the Naha City Museum of History. The exhibition focuses on traditional clothing with Japanese Symbols, s...
Okinawa reversion year music digitized, on sale on i-Tunes [History]
Radio Okinawa in collaboration with record company High Wave has digitized Okinawan music from 1972, and has it now on sale on i-Tunes. The music has been available since Wednesday...

Nakagusuku Village uses technology for history [History]
Projection mapping, also known as video mapping and spatial augment reality, is a projection technology used to turn objects into a display surface for video projection, and Nakagu...
WWII veterans looking for lost friend [History]
We recently received this letter from a WWII veteran who together with his brother was stationed in Okinawa just at the end of WWII. If at all possible he would like to get in touc...

Inca Empire subject of new Okinawa exhibition [History]
The Okinawa Prefecture Museum & Art Museum has done it again, bringing a world class exhibition – The Inca Empire Revealed: A Century After the Manchu Picchu Discovery — for a ...

Classic Ryukyu dolls showing at exhibition [History]
Hand crafted dolls have a long history in Japan, but Ryukyu dolls, which are said to be especially beautiful because of the way they’ve been fabricated through the ages, are now th...

Traditional Shuri parade is prayer for peace [History]
By Naomi Nakamatsu The ancient Ryukyu Kingdom comes alive for the day Sunday as the Shuri Castle Festival parade takes place on the castle grounds before spilling out onto nearby s...

Peace Memorial Museum presents special exhibition [History]
The effects of the Battle of Okinawa 68 years ago are being analyzed now through an Okinawa Prefectural Museum special project focusing on “The Battle and what Okinawan Japanese Im...

Historic horse races brought to Kodomo no Kuni [History]
Traditional horse racing was once a big thing on Okinawa, pushed aside by World War II, but now being revived by Kodomo no Kuni. The Okinawa Kodomo no Kuni, Zoo & Museum is rea...

‘Art of Patience’ at Urasoe Art Museum exhibition [History]
It’s called the Art of Gaman, or for many of us, the Art of Patience, and it’s the theme of an exhibition running through the end of this month at the Urasoe Art Museum. The Art of...

Cinema classics showing daily in Naha [History]
Some of the world’s most successful motion pictures are showing on the Okinawa big screen, or will be doing so over the coming weeks as part of the long-term 10 a.m. film festival....

Historical Ryukyu stamps featured in exhibition [History]
Nearly 150 different postage stamps depicting the Ryukyu Islands are on exhibit at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum’s Historical Exhibition Room on the first floor. The Ryukyu stamps...

Ryukyu Treasure Exhibition expands historical focus [History]
Shuri Castle Park is about to embark on a new exhibition showcasing restoration activities to protect cultural assets related to the Ryukyu Kingdom’s lost history. The new exhibiti...

Michi-no Eki Kina Banjo takes it slow, like on days of yore [History]
By Mana Komatsu Is this a museum? Or perhaps a resource center? Those are the questions that pop into mind when visiting the fourth Michi-no Eki in our series, Kina Banjo, where th...

NeoPark flower doll show depicts history [History]
The 26th Chrysanthemum Figure Exhibition, one of the island’s premier doll show exhibitions, is now in progress at NeoPark Okinawa in Nago City. Although organizers say admission i...

Himeyuri Peace Exhibition moves toward March conclusion [History]
A five-month Himeyuri Peace Museum Exhibition chronicling accounts of the final days of the Battle of Okinawa, and the experiences of Himeyuri students who survived the period, wil...

Tunnel walls document final hours of battle [History]
By Bill Charles A careful walk down the narrow winding steps from atop an Oroku hill to the tunnel maze sets the hairs on end. History is chronicled in many ways, and the stark ima...
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Traditional textiles and bingata at OIST [History]
An Okinawa traditional textiles and bingata show is being staged at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology beginning Monday, but there’s more than just displays. OIST is w...

Prefectural Museum offers insights into French queen [History]
Queen Marie Antoinette was the most famous queen in the history of France, and she’s the sole topic of an exhibition at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum. The Marie Antoinette Exhibit...

Shuri Castle Park hosts New Year’s Party [History]
A party that lasts three days and introduces the King and Queen and provides live classical music and performing arts? It’s a party at Shuri Castle Park, a three-day event daily 8:...