CULTURE
Pick Up Stories
Sanshin, The Heart and Soul of Okinawa [CULTURE]
The sanshin is easily the most recognizable musical instrument in Okinawa. Its distinctive, high-pitched sound can be heard throughout the i...Read More
Hina dolls bring health, happiness to sm… [CULTURE]
‘Hina Matsuri is one of the customs that most people in Japan no more observe but that gives an insight to the Japanese thinking and traditi...Read More
Lunar New Year ushered in this weekend [Community]
Unless someone ventures into Itoman City this weekend, it’s unlikely that anyone would realize that Tuesday is Lunar New Year. The Lunar New...Read More
2014.01.30
Charity concert to benefit Philippines typhoon victims [Community]
On Nov. 8, 2013, typhoon Yolanda hit Bangon in the Philippines killing about 8,000 people, many of whom are still missing, and over 1,200 were injured and left without homes. More ...
2014.01.27
Golden Kings bus tour generates friendship exchanges [Community]
It centered on basketball, but the Japan Update ~ Golden Kings Bus Tour with Tomodachi Works proved to be a great opportunity for exchanging thoughts and ideas. Japan Update collab...
2014.01.23
Shisa are ever vigilant protectors of Okinawa [CULTURE]
By David Higgins You might have noticed that almost every entrance and gate way of a typical Okinawan house is occupied by two statues. These statues are protecting the household,...
2014.01.14
“Flowers of Edo period as seen in Ryukyu” exhibition [History]
Naha City Museum of History is having an exhibition focusing on Ukiyoe woodblock prints from the Edo and Meiji periods. In 1993, a donation of historical items from the Yokoyama fa...
2014.01.13
Kumiodori Exhibition open at National Theater [CULTURE]
The 4th Noh and Kumiodori Exhibition began a two-month run at the National Theater Okinawa on Saturday. The free exhibition will run daily through March 16th at the National Theate...
2014.01.13
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...
2014.01.09
Coming of Age Day is gateway to adulthood in Japan [Community]
By Bill Charles Seijin no Hi is coming up Monday, and it’s a big day for thousands of young people in Japan who turned 20 during 2013 or will through Mar. 31, 2014. Coming of Age D...
Today is day of ‘muuchii’ [Community]
Today, Dec. 8 of the lunar calendar, or Jan. 8th by the Gregorian calendar this year, is the day for Okinawan people to eat muuchii rice cakes. Muuchii is a traditional Okinawan st...
2013.12.25
‘Tomodachi Works’ extends outreach [Community]
A group formed earlier this fall to create new opportunities for Okinawans, Japanese and foreigners to get to know each other better, has created a new event for January 5th to bri...
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...
2013.12.19
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...
2013.12.16
UFCO aids Philippine typhoon victims [Community]
Following the devastation of typhoon Haiyan, UFCO organized a Charity Walk, Nov. 30 to raise funds to aid the victims. They are still continuing the effort in the form of selling t...
2013.11.30
Blind to benefit from Sunday Charity Christmas Festival [Community]
The 2013 Charity Christmas Festival sponsored by Agena Driving School is taking place Sunday at the school’s facilities in Uruma City. Admission is free to the festival, which runs...
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...
2013.11.25
Pilot Club International Christmas charity luncheon [Community]
The International Pilot Club of Okinawa, a member club of the Pilot Club International, an international women’s organization headquartered in Macon Georgia, is holding its annual ...
2013.11.23
Shikinaen setting for annual gathering [Community]
The Shikina Garden Friendship Gathering is ready to welcome visitors Sunday, with entertainment including Shishimai, the famed Lion Dance. The festivities, which include folk enter...
2013.11.18
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 ...
2013.11.18
Kiyomizu temple exhibition brings piece of Kyoto to Okinawa [CULTURE]
Anyone who has visited Kyoto and done any sightseeing there knows Kiyomizu temple. It is a Buddhist temple perched on a steep hill overlooking the city, and a part of the Historic...
2013.11.18
Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum [CULTURE]
The former Okinawa Prefectural Museum opened in Shuri, Naha City in 1972. In 2006 it was closed and moved to a new building in its current location in the Omoromachi district in Na...
2013.11.11
Hinukan watches over family fortunes [CULTURE]
By Naomi Nakamatsu Okinawa is more than just beautiful white sandy beaches, good food and tourist sites. There are many interesting customs, which are not written in a guidebook or...
RYUKYU PRESS