Category Archives: Images

‘Ōshima Hikki’ – Account of an 18th-Century Ryukyuan Ship

Posted on August 6, 2016 by loochoo77

Rodney Inefuku’s latest post, “Okinawan and Japanese Boats” (8/6/16), prompted me to google Okinawan boats, and in the process I stumbled on one of the best sites on both Okinawan history and Okinawan karate — Ryukyu Bugei. The owner is … Continue reading →

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Okinawan and Japanese Boats

Posted on August 6, 2016 by loochoo77

I was always curious how Okinawans used to travel about Okinawa island during the old days. There was a road built by one of the Okinawan kings, which ran from Naha to Nago city past Nago through Taira village and … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, History, Images, International, Japan, Op-ed, Photos | 2 Comments

Uema Ayano’s ‘Imi Shijiku’ and Thoughts of Ancient Okinawan Ships

Posted on March 21, 2016 by loochoo77

I have been listening to a beautiful Okinawan song, “Imi Shijiku” by Ayano Uema (see the video below), for some time. I love the beautiful sound of her sanshin (3-string instrument). I didn’t know what the title and the verses … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Haneji, History, Images, Japan, Minyo, Singer, Uema Ayano | 2 Comments

Okinawan Tribute Ships

Posted on March 20, 2016 by loochoo77
Posted in Family, Haneji, History, Images, International, Japan, Photos | Leave a comment

Photos from Governor Ige’s Trip to Okinawa and Guangdong Oct. 2015

Posted on October 16, 2015 by loochoo77

Photos and captions from Governor David Ige’s Facebook page. For a video briefing of the trip, click here. Photos from Okinawa

Posted in Commerce, Culture, Education, Government, History, Images, International, Memorial, Photos, Politics, Technology, Travel | Leave a comment

US Olympian with Roots in Haneji, Okinawa

Posted on March 15, 2015 by loochoo77

Yoshinobu (Yoshi) Oyakawa represented the United States at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helinski, Finland. There, he won the gold medal in the 100 meter backstroke setting a new record in the process. Yoshi is considered the last of the great … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, History, Images, International, Sports | Leave a comment

An A’ala Street Story

Posted on February 23, 2015 by loochoo77

Gladys Sui Bun Young, my mother, was born on November 28, 1917, at home at 1071 A’ala Street bordering A’ala Park and across the river from Chinatown. Gladys was one of six girls born into the Young family. In their … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Culture, History, Images, International | 3 Comments

Uncle Hoso: A Hero and a Loving Father

Posted on February 6, 2015 by loochoo77

For many years when I was at my Aunty Annie’s (dad’s twin sister) apartment across from Punahou School and went to the bathroom, I used to pass some family pictures that hung on her hallway wall. I would sometimes stop … Continue reading →

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Marines Protecting Orphan – Battle of Okinawa

Posted on January 27, 2015 by loochoo77

Special thanks to Ed for sharing the link to this precious photo of two U.S. Marines, during the Battle of Okinawa, protecting an Okinawan child orphaned by the battle.

Posted in History, Images, International | 3 Comments

Haneji Community Center – Sometime After 1945

Posted on January 27, 2015 by loochoo77

Updated 1/27/15, 23:00 I was told by my cousin, Yasuo Inafuku, who lives in Taira village, Haneji, Okinawa, that the photo below is of the Haneji Community Center, which was located next to Oyakawa village. My dad, Ronald Inefuku, had … Continue reading →

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1850 British View of ‘Lewchew and the Lewchewans’

Posted on October 11, 2014 by loochoo77

Last updated 10/12/14, 11/29/18 Two and a half years before Commodore Matthew C. Perry arrived, George Smith, the Anglican bishop of Hong Kong, dropped anchor at Naha, Okinawa. The date was 3 October 1850, and Perry wouldn’t arrive until 26 May … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, History, Images, International, Language, Politics | 5 Comments

Compact Between the U.S. and the Kingdom of Loo-Choo, ll July 1854

Posted on October 4, 2014 by loochoo77

The text of the compact below is from J. Willett Spalding’s The Japan Expedition: Japan and Around the World: An Account of Three Visits to the Japanese Empire, Redfield, New York, 1855: 339-341 [https://archive.org/details/japanexpedition00spalgoog]. Spalding served aboard the expedition flagship, … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Images, International, Politics | 1 Comment

The Floor Plan of Houses in Old Okinawa

Posted on October 2, 2014 by loochoo77

Last updated 10/13/14 My curiosity about the old Okinawan house began with a drawing that my Dad made about 2 to 3 years before he passed away. While visiting him at his house, out of the blue, he took my … Continue reading →

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Rare U.S. Photos of Civilians from the Battle of Okinawa

Posted on October 2, 2014 by loochoo77

The following photos of civilians caught up in the turmoil of the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 are from the late Lieutenant Reinhart T. Kowallis’s collection. Most were taken by the Lieutenant, but some may have been taken by other … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Images, International | 1 Comment

Okinawan Festival 2014 – Photos

Posted on August 31, 2014 by loochoo77

Last updated 8/31/14 These photos were shot between 2:50pm and 3:40pm on Saturday, 8/30/14, at the annual Okinawan Festival in Kapiolani Park, Honolulu. Thus, they capture only a brief 50-minute slice of the 2-day event. Still, they capture some of … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Exhibit, Fair, Festival, Food, History, Images, International, Karate, Language, Travel | Leave a comment

In the Early-20th Century, Ryukyu Clothing Banned in Schools

Posted on July 19, 2014 by loochoo77

The following photos and quoted caption are from Valerie H. Barske’s “‘Dancing Through’ Historical Trauma: Okinawan Performance in Post-Imperial Japan” (Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific, Issue 24, June 2010).

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Video: ‘Okinawa 1950s to 1960s’

Posted on June 24, 2014 by loochoo77

This video, comprising still photos, was created and uploaded to YouTube by Donn Cuson (aka “Desert Donn”) on 5/12/13. The images are among the best I’ve seen from this period. I especially like the Okinawa minyo in the soundtrack. I … Continue reading →

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Kokusai Dori; Ishikawa Woodblock; ‘Okinawa: The Last Battle’

Posted on June 21, 2014 by loochoo77

Umushirikutu See Ishikawa Toraji’s woodblock print, ‘Ryukyu Market,’ (琉球の市場 Ryukyu no ichiba) c. 1935. * * * Read Okinawa: The Last Battle (U.S. Government Printing Office, 1948), the work of combat historians of the 1st Information and Historical Service, Tenth … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Culture, History, Images, Publication, Travel | 1 Comment

Junko Fisher: Ryukyu Dance and Music Lessons in NYC, Summer 2014

Posted on June 9, 2014 by loochoo77

For details, see Susan Miyagi Hamaker’s “Ryukyu Dance and Music Lessons with Junko Fisher,” Japan Culture NYC, 6/3/14.

Posted in Culture, Dance, History, Images, Instruction, International, Music | Tagged | Leave a comment

767 Children Killed in 1944 When Tsushima Maru Torpedoed

Posted on June 4, 2014 by loochoo77

Updated 10/11/14, 5/31/15, 6/6/15, 1/5/17 In my Google Alerts this morning, I found an item from the Ryukyu Shimpo about a WWII memorial service held at Tinian, in the southeast of Okinawa “one of the three principal islands of the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Images | 4 Comments

Cocco: Singer, Songwriter, Author, Actor – Genius

Posted on May 19, 2014 by loochoo77

She goes by Cocco, and she’s a multi-gifted songwriter, singer, author, and actor. Her name is Satoko Makishi (真喜志 智子), and she’s from Naha, Okinawa. Her works and performances are edgy, and she’s socially and environmentally conscious. She’s a one-off, … Continue reading →

Posted in Actor/Actress, Culture, Dance, Film, Images, Music, Video | Leave a comment

‘The Power of the Sanshin’ – Exhibit Ends 5/11/14

Posted on May 2, 2014 by loochoo77

From Japan Update 5/1/14: This exhibit at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum ends on 11 May 2014. Here’s more from the article: The sanshin program takes visitors through how the sanshin has changed its form from the Chinese three-string instrument, which … Continue reading →

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Tule Lake Relocation Center – A Personal Reflection

Posted on April 26, 2014 by loochoo77

Updated 4/27/14 For “place of birth” in the hundreds of forms I’ve filled out since grade school, I’ve always written “Newell, California,” but I’ve never known much about the place and don’t recall anything about it. I grew up on … Continue reading →

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Color Film of Shuri Castle Strafing in 1945

Posted on April 23, 2014 by loochoo77

Updated 5/4/14 A film clip shot by a U.S. military reconnaissance aircraft during a bombing and strafing run in the Battle of Okinawa in mid-April 1945 was shown in a recent ANN newscast. The image above was captured from the … Continue reading →

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An Amazing Collection of Okinawa Photos

Posted on April 20, 2014 by loochoo77
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Okinawa-Related Courses at University of Hawaii-Manoa

Posted on April 20, 2014 by loochoo77

The following are courses that are available at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. Please check the class schedule to see what’s offered for the upcoming semester. ANTH 487 Okinawa and Its Diaspora – (3 credits) Explores the ties … Continue reading →

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‘Karakara’ – 2012 Canada-Japan Film Set in Okinawa

Posted on April 4, 2014 by loochoo77

Updated 5/3/14 Karakara is a joint Canada-Japan film, released on August 31, 2012. It was written and directed by Claude Gagnon and stars Gabriel Arcand, Youki Kudoh, and Megumi Tomita. At the 2012 Montréal World Film Festival, it won the … Continue reading →

Posted in Actor/Actress, Culture, Film, Images, International, Review, Travel | Leave a comment

Miss International 2012 Contestants Visit an Okinawa High School

Posted on March 22, 2014 by loochoo77

The following HD (1280×720) video was uploaded to YouTube by missinterokinawa on 10/15/12. The central focus is the Miss International contestants, but just as if not more fascinating is the glimpse at Okinawa’s high school students. Note appended to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Education, Images, International, Karate, Video | Leave a comment

London Okinawa Day 2014

Posted on March 22, 2014 by loochoo77
Posted in Culture, Fair, History, Images, International, Karate, Music, Travel | Leave a comment

Doll Festival: Parade in Traditional Ryukyuan Costume

Posted on March 22, 2014 by loochoo77

“For the Doll’s Festival, people dressed in traditional Ryukyuan costume walked through the streets in a michijune parade in the First Commercial Avenue in Okinawa City on March 1″ (Ryukyu Shimpo, 3/2/14). “Okinawa (沖縄市 Okinawa-shi?, Okinawan: Uchinaa) is the second-largest … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Festival, History, Images, Travel | 2 Comments