CULTURE
Pick Up Stories
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
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
Itoman Haaray; a traditional and fun eve… [CULTURE Festival]
The Itoman Haaray takes place on the May 4th of the Lunar Calendar. This day is actually May 30th 2025 of the Gregorian Calendar. Most peopl...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 ...
2019.08.29
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...
2019.08.10
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...
2019.06.13
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...
2019.05.07
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...
2019.03.12
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...
2019.02.17
Learn and Improve your Japanese in Okinawa!! [Education Japanese Lesson]
Since 2010, Touyou Gengo Bunka Gakuin (Asian Language & Culture College) in Midorimachi, Uruma City has been providing quality Japanese language classes to students from other ...
2019.01.22
Japanese Lesson by Global Village Vol.164 [Japanese Lesson]
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2018.12.20
Japanese Lesson by Global Village Vol.163 [Japanese Lesson]
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2018.12.10
Japanese Lesson by Global Village Vol.162 [Japanese Lesson]
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2018.11.25
Japanese Lesson by Global Village Vol.161 [Japanese Lesson]
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2018.11.12
Discover KUMIODORI 2018 “YUCHIBARE” [ENTERTAINMENT Ryukyu History]
Introducing the more popular Kumiodori plays with audio guidance in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese languages, our visitors from abroad can readily enjoy and appreciate this...
2018.11.10
Japanese Lesson by Global Village Vol.160 [Japanese Lesson]
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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]
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2018.10.12
Japanese Lesson by Global Village Vol.158 [Japanese Lesson]
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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...
RYUKYU PRESS