CULTURE
Pick Up Stories
Golden Week, Japan’s Mega Holiday [CULTURE Family Festival]
Spring is here. And in Japan that means warmer weather, cherry blossoms, and rainy season. But, before the rainy season takes hold and shrou...Read More
Shiimi: A time to remember and honor th… [CULTURE]
April marks the beginning of one of Okinawa’s most important and sacred religious ceremonies, known locally as shiimi. This particular cerem...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
2016.09.17
‘Chushu no Utage’ at Shuri Castle recreates splendor of past [History]
Three Living National Treasures of Okinawa will perform classical Ryukyu music and dance at Shuri Castle Park Saturday, while the main event on Sunday is the election of the King a...
2016.09.15
Arts & crafts in limelight at 90th national exhibition [CULTURE]
The National Society of Paintings and Crafts is organizing an exhibition of paintings, block prints, sculpture, crafts and photos. It’s the biggest annual art exhibition in Japan, ...
2016.09.14
School summer vacation in Japan Vs. America [Community]
By David Higgins Summer vacation is the most anticipated and cherished time in a North American students’ life. I fondly remember my childhood summers as the time when many of my b...
2016.09.12
2016 Ichihanari Art Project expands to cover all Uruma islands [Community]
Ikei Island north of Katsuren Peninsula has seen its resident community to shrink as fewer children were born and young people moved of the island to cities and towns in search for...
2016.09.01
Shoko Kanazawa’s calligraphy shows hope for persons with Down Syndrome [CULTURE]
Japanese calligraphy, called ‘shodo’ in Japanese is an artistic form of writing that has its roots in China some 2,800 B.C. and its Japanese variation became distinct after the inv...
2016.09.01
Okinawa youth showcases local roots of Eisa [Community]
If someone missed the big island-wide All Okinawa Eisa Festival a week ago at Okinawa City Athletic Park, local youth groups at five communities showcase their special Eisa style e...
2016.08.21
Miyako Island presents beauty of nature and friendly people [Okinawa Series]
By Jun Ikemura Miyako is the fourth largest island in the Ryukyu Island chain that forms Okinawa Prefecture, of which Okinawa main island is the largest, followed by Iriomote and I...
2016.08.18
Kadena Eisa festival marks end of Obon with eisa contest [Community]
Seven youth Eisa groups perform on Shinmachi Street in Kadena Town today, Aug. 18th in an Eisa Festival that takes place each year on the day after the last day of Obon starting 18...
2016.08.04
Kids Aqua Park brings cool activity to children this weekend [Community]
When the summer is at its hottest, nothing beats splashing around in a pool. AEON Town shopping center in Yomitan is bringing relief to children this weekend and setting a temporar...
2016.08.04
Local youth groups showcase their Eisa at Kin Town Eisa Festival [Community]
The exact origins of Eisa are unknown but the performing art form was definitely born on Okinawa, as it does not exist anywhere else. In modern times Eisa developed into a form of ...
2016.07.31
Ryukyu Shimpo and Makeman entertain kids with cardbord park [Community]
Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper is sponsoring a unique temporary amusement park on the third floor of the Makeman Home Center main store on Highway 58 in Gusukuma, Urasoe, for children to ...
FM Ginowan opens satellite studio on beach [Community]
A local community broadcaster Ginowan FM opened a satellite studio on the Tropical Beach in the Ginowan Seaside Park on Saturday. The facility will stay open until the end of Octob...
2016.07.10
Performing arts of the Ryukyus are spreading throughout world [Ryukyu History]
By Hoshin Nakamura Instructor NPO Okinawa Language Center Ryukyu karate, music and dance were created, evolved and performed by the island people for hundreds of years. The Ryukyu ...
2016.07.01
Ogimi’s Shirahama invites for Candle Night [Community]
Residents of the Shirahama area of Ogimi Village by the Shioya Bay started the Candle Night event in 2011 to promote conserving of the natural environment and Shirahama area. This ...
2016.06.30
History of Ryukyus between 1972 and present [History]
By Hoshin Nakamura Instructor NPO Okinawa Language Center In 1879 Japan destroyed and abolished the Ryukyu Kingdom. Japanese military forces suddenly surrounded the Shuri Castle, a...
AEON Rycom holds Okinawa Fair [Community]
AEON Ryukyu is scheduled to hold Okinawa Fair at AEON Mall Rycom from today through Jul. 4th to promote Okinawan products. The fair features fresh Okinawan produce, crafts, Kariyus...
2016.06.24
Quiet July 4th expected on Okinawa [Community]
July 4th means picnics, barbeques, parades, speeches and fireworks for Americans all over the world are they celebrate the 240th birthday of the United States. In Okinawa, the Amer...
2016.06.22
Irei-no Hi is day to remember war dead of Okinawa [Ryukyu History]
June 23, known as ‘Irei-no Hi’ or ‘the Okinawa Mamorial Day’, is a holiday in Okinawa Prefecture. It marks the day when the Battle of Okinawa ended, and was made a holiday in Okina...
2016.06.19
‘Exotic Okinawa’ photo exhibit aims to ‘Remember the Future’ [Community]
A distinctive photo exhibition is taking place at Rycom Anthropology gallery on the third floor of the Plaza House Shopping Center. “Exotic Okinawa,” is a photo exhibition currentl...
2016.06.03
Itoman Haarii has it all; fun, excitement and traditions [Community]
The most exciting events taking place in Okinawan fishing ports throughout the prefecture during the early summer are the dragon boat races called “Haarii” using traditional fishin...
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