CULTURE
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
Tanabata is precursor to Obon season, an… [CULTURE]
Tanabata, also known as “Shichiseki” that takes place on July 7th, is one of the five season-related celebrations in Japan. Empress Koken is...Read More
Day of Naha: Immerse Yourself in the Cap… [Community CURRENT ISSUE]
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 syl...Read More
2018.11.08
Shuri Mifila ③ Nishi-nu-fila [Ryukyu History]
Nishi-nu-fila; Nishi means ‘West’ in Japanese, but in the Okinawa dialect ‘Nishi’ means “North” and thus Nishi-nu-fila district was located north of Shuri Castle. Curre...
2018.11.06
Shuri Mifila ② Maaji-nu-fila [Ryukyu History]
Maaji-nu-fila was southwest of Shurijo Castle. From an aerial view, it is spread out like a shape of a fan. It is where now the current Mawashi, Ikehata, Yamagawa, Samukawa, and K...
2018.11.05
Shuri Mifila ① Hae-nu-fila [Ryukyu History]
As aforementioned last article, during the Ryukyu Kingdom era, Shuri grew into three prominent districts: “Hae-nu-fila”, “Maaji-nu-fila” and “Nishi-nu-fila”. Hae-nu-fila was locate...
2018.11.01
Shuri, The Once Capital District of Okinawa [Ryukyu History]
Many people heard of Shuri because of its association with the Shurijo Castle World Heritage Park. But at one time Shuri was the capital district of the Ryukyu Kingdom. This was so...
2018.10.31
Japanese Lesson by Global Village Vol.159 [Japanese Lesson]
http://gvokinawa.com/ Facebook Page ...
2018.10.26
Old Katsuren Town ⑤ Henna & Heshikiya districts [Okinawa Series]
Waitwui Waitwui is a road once used heavily by farmers. It is well known for its rock walls features on both sides. The road is located in Henna District of old Katsuren town. The ...
2018.10.25
Old Katsuren Town ④ Tsuken Island [Okinawa Series]
Tsuken Island is a remote island off the coast of Katsuren, and like Hamahiga, was part of old Katsuren Town. Visitors need to take a ferry to the island. It is just a 30-minutes r...
2018.10.24
Old Katsuren Town ③ Katsuren Castle Ruins [Okinawa Series Ryukyu History]
Katsuren Castle was built around the 12~13th century and has been the focal point at one time in Okinawa’s history. One Okinawa’s great lords, Lord Amawari, had presided over the c...
2018.10.23
Old Katsuren Town ② Hamahiga Island [Okinawa Series]
Hamahiga Island is connected to Henza Island which in turn is connected to the main Okinawa Island. Henza, Miyagi, Ikei islands were part of old Yonashiro Town, but Hamahiga was a ...
2018.10.22
Old Katsuren Town ① – A Glimpse Back in Time to the Old Ryukyu Kingdom [Okinawa Series]
Old Katsuren Town was once a popular fisherman’s town on the middle eastside of the Okinawan main island. In 2005, the town had merged with three other municipalities, Yonash...
2018.10.12
Japanese Lesson by Global Village Vol.158 [Japanese Lesson]
http://gvokinawa.com/ Facebook Page ...
2018.10.05
Shurijo Castle Park’s Ryukyu Traditional Sweets [CULTURE Gourmet LIFE]
Within Shuri Castle lies a special room that at one time was used as a waiting room for special guest. This room was used by princes, various officials, and diplomats to hold infor...
2018.10.04
Traditional sweets in Okinawa, its since the Ryukyu Era [CULTURE Gourmet Ryukyu History]
Though Okinawa is part of Japan, the island has had many influences from China, as well as from other cultures from around the world. One of those influences came in the form of sw...
2018.10.03
Radiating Relics of the Past. Now at the Urasoe Art Museum! [Ryukyu History]
From September 14th to October 28th, the Urasoe Art Museum will be hosting the “Kira-kira Hikaru Exhibition”, where some of the world’s most illustrious relics of the past will be ...
2018.09.28
Japanese Lesson by Global Village Vol.157 [Japanese Lesson]
http://gvokinawa.com/ Facebook Page ...
2018.09.19
Yabuchi Island: Old Yonashiro Town ⑤ [Okinawa Series]
Yabuchi Island is a very small uninhabited island that once belonged to the then Yonashiro Town. The island is connected to the mainland by the Yabuchi Bridge which was built in 19...
2018.09.18
Ikei Island: Old Yonashiro Town ④ [Okinawa Series]
Ikei Island is the final island along the chain that belongs to the Yonashiro District. The red painted bridge that connects Miyagi and Ikei was built in 1982. In the Okinawan dial...
2018.09.14
Miyagi Island: Old Yonashiro Town ③ [Okinawa Series]
The next island from Henza is Miyagi Island which is also connected by a bridge, albeit it is much, much smaller than the Kai-chu-doro. In fact, the bridge is about a few car lengt...
2018.09.13
Henza Island: Old Yonashiro Town ② [Okinawa Series]
The first island you will reach after you cross the Kai-chu-doro bridge is Henza Island. This tiny island had flourished in the mid-1900s due to its location which was easily acces...
2018.09.12
The Islands of Old Yonashiro; Uruma City’s Forgotten Town ① [Okinawa Series]
Uruma City’s Yonashiro District was, at one time, Yonashiro Town. That all changed in 2005 when 4 municipalities, Ishikawa City, Gushikawa City, Yonashiro Town and Katsuren Town me...
RYUKYU PRESS