One-time lords of Okinawa:
The Ryukyu Kingdom
The gateway to Okinawa is the city of naha. This was the capital of
the Ryukyu Kingdom that carried on its own traditions for nearly 500
years, and today it harbors a rich historical and cultural heritage
as well as the governing center of the Okinawa Prefecture. In recent
times Okinawa has become known as the Hawaii of Japan or even the
Hawaii of Asia as visitors flock from overseas, but behind this, lies
a painful history of oppression by external powers.
From 1492 to 1879, the Ryukyu Kingdom was an independent country that
maintained close relations of exchange with neighboring countries
such as China, Japan, and Korea. The grandeur of that age can be appreciated
from Shuri Castle, built on a site overlooking the whole city of Naha.
For 400 years the fortress played a pivotal role as the citadel of
the Ryukyu Kingdom.
In the late 19 century, the Ryukyu Kingdom was toppled by Japan and
the islands’ history of suffering began. During the Pacific
War, this was the only part of Japan to experience ground warfare,
and more than 200,000 residents lost their lives.
After World War II, the islands were under American military occupation
until 1972, when they were returned to Japan as Okinawa Prefecture.
Even then, Okinawa was disadvantaged in relation to the other prefectures
of Japan and the local people lived a difficult life.
Nowadays however, the islands are being developed with the full support
of the Japanese government as a burgeoning tourist mecca. Their distinctive
culture and traditions, formed through exchange with foreign lands,
are preserved in a variety of festivals, handicrafts, and living customs
giving Okinawa a unique attraction different from any other part of
Japan.
The past and present of Okinawa can be seen at a glance in the international
street, Naha Kokusai Dori, located in the heart of Naha City. Stretching
for 1,600m, this street is always packed with people from Japan and
overseas. With souvenir shops, travel agents, and hotels lined up
side by side, you can see the whole of Okinawan life in one place.
From old and eccentric shops to new hotels and cafes, local restaurants,
and unusual venues such as live house, it takes at least half a day
to see it all.
Much of Japan, Okinawa in particular, is a haven for gerontologists.
Okinawa displays its secret to longevity on the  well-balanced
menus of restaurants lining its international streets. Okinawa’s
culinary creations consist mainly of royal cuisine and commonplace
dishes. During Ryukyu Kingdom, Chinese and Japanese influences combined
to develop the elaborate dishes served to royalty. Regular Okinawans
enjoyed pork as part of their diet, which is still an important source
of daily nourishment.
No account of Okinawa should omit Maki’s municipal market, where
the Okinawan traditional lifestyle can be seen among the crowds of
residents and tourists who come seeking everyday goods, souvenirs,
and foods reflecting the distinctive Okinawan culture.
The Great Naha Tug-of-War held each October represents an Okinawan
folk festival reminiscent of the past. The rope used in this contest
is mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest tug-of-war
rope in the world. Centuries of culture remain alive in the unique
Okinawan dialect, quite different from the Japanese spoken on the
mainland, with distinctive forms of dance and local customs.
Ichariba chode:
Once we meet, we’re brothers
There’s an expression in the Okinawan dialect: ichariba chode.
It means that the moment you first meet someone, they become your
brother and your friend. In this phrase we can read the open mind
of the Ryukyu Kingdom that maintained its own culture and history
in Okinawa for more than 400 years.
As befits a maritime kingdom that engaged in trade with many countries
of the world, Okinawans have always treated anyone they meet as
their family member and friend. The residents say that a foreigner
who can’t adapt to Okinawa will not be able to adapt to anywhere
else in Japan, and this too shows the spirit of ichariba chode.
Perhaps that’s why the Okinawans are such a warm people.
To take a mundance example, even where big discount stores have
been opened, the locals don’t forget the small shops that
have always been there for them. They’re not unaware of the
difference in price, but they deliberately seek out the smaller
warmth of kindness, and can’t ignore the long-standing ties
of neighbors. As one might expect, the bonds between siblings,
relatives, or friends are very strong among Okinawans.
The various festivals that take place at different times of the
year, are not just for recreation: they carry on an old tradition
that binds local people together and promotes a sense of community.
Among these are the Eisa festival around the Harvest Moon Day; the
planting festival where people pray for an abundant harvest and
make offerings to the gods. This memorial service consoles the spirits
of the ancestors while locals enjoy traditional theatricals and
dance.
It may be because the warmth of the Okinawan people is well known
on the mainland that throngs of people now come, drawn by the mild
oceanic climate, the natural surroundings, and the unique local
community atmosphere. Perhaps the greatest attraction of Okinawa
is the kindness to visitors that shines through the lovely dialectic
phrase, ichariba chode –once we meet, we’re brothers.
An exotic paradise
at the southern tip of Japan
There is no greater happiness of the traveler than to enjoy the
best of holidays in the best of destinations, and Okinawa has everything
it takes to make this possible. The sea is said to change color
seven times a day while nature’s beauty is enhanced by a cultural
heritage that glows with the aura of a long history.
 Shuri
Castle - once headquarters of the Ryukyu Kingdom, was registered
by UN ESCO in 2000 as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Built in the
14th century, the fortress played a pivotal role in the Ryukyu Kingdom,
and as Okinawa’s largest wooden building, it was damaged in
battle with American forces during World War II.
In 1992 it was restored and reopened to celebrate the 20th anniversary
of Okinawa’s return to Japan. It’s a beautiful building,
showing the architecture of the Ryukyu era that took shape through
cultural exchange with China and Korea.
For a direct experience of the history and culture of Ryukyu,
the folk village Ryukyu Mura is hard to beat. Here you can see a
wide range of folk handicrafts.
With its beautiful scenery, Okinawa is also famous as a meeting
place for world leaders. The luxury hotels that crop up about an
hour from Naha Airport toward Northern Okinawa make a picture in
themselves. This is where the leaders of the world’s nations
met for the 2000 G8 Summit, and the scenery makes an overwhelming
sight with its white sandy beaches and ocean on three sides. Nearby
is Manzamo, literally “the field where 10,000 people may sit
together,” a name said to derive from a remark by an 18th
century king of Ryukyu. The green grass stretches out at length
until cut off by cliffs-where the view of the watery horizon is
clear, deep blue and endless.
 Other
attractions include the Himeyuri Park, where cacti from around the
world grow with superb views of the Pacific; the enormous tropical
plant paradise, Southeast Botanic Gardens, with more than 400 species
of palm trees and tropical plants evoking the feeling of a South
Sea island; a theme park recreating the Ryukyu Kingdom; and the
traditional Okinawan houses and beautiful beach resorts. In Okinawa,
past and present, East and West come together to make a dreamlike
paradise.
With its unique local culture and beautiful natural surroundings,
its lively harmony of welcoming residents and energetic tourists,
Okinawa embraces an aesthetic of newness and sharing. The sub-tropical
Ryukyu Kingdom was born from the bounty of nature and the wisdom
of the ancients. Molded by time and preserved by mankind, this unique
kingdom with its dazzling natural beauty now opens its doors to
the world.
Ryu Dong-keun is a chief editor at Global Travel News. Shin
Dong-phil takes pictures of various scenes of nature in the world.
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