Category Archives: International

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

Public Lecture: ‘Contemporary Life in Okinawa: Living Among and with the Military Bases’ 10/12/14

Posted on October 9, 2014 by loochoo77

Last updated 10/11/14 From Joyce N. Chinen: (Forwarded by Rodney Inefuku) Please join us this Sunday, October 12, at 3:00 pm for the next Center for Okinawan Studies public lecture in Moore 319 at the Center for Korean Studies Auditorium … Continue reading →

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Lawrence Downes – An Uchinanchu on the NY Times Editorial Board

Posted on October 4, 2014 by loochoo77

Last updated 10/5/14 The excerpts below are from Jerry Kammer’s “Sulzberger’s Voice.”1 Kammer, a nationally recognized journalist and a senior research fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, is openly critical of Downes, but he provides essential background on Downes … Continue reading →

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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

Must Read: George Feifer’s ‘Okinawa: 66 Years Later’

Posted on October 1, 2014 by loochoo77

Last updated 10/3/14 George Feifer’s article appeared in the February 2012 issue of Collier’s. Here are some excerpts: Starting with elementary facts about the largest land-sea-air battle in history may make sense because they’re so little known. Or approximation of … Continue reading →

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Literature, Maui, Uchinaguchi, Kina, ‘Map It!,’ Comfort Women, Must-See, McDonalds

Posted on September 30, 2014 by loochoo77

Last updated 10/1/14 Umushirikutu Ryota Shimabukuro, “Event introducing Okinawan literature held at US Library of Congress” (Ryukyu Shimpo, 9/14/14): On September 9, an event introducing Okinawan literature titled “Living Spirit” was held at the US Library of Congress in Washington … Continue reading →

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Rare Ryukyu Documents

Posted on September 29, 2014 by loochoo77

From Ryukyu Shimpo: “Chinese classic documents from the Ryukyu Kingdom era published” (4/1/14): The curator of the Uruma City Library Atsushi Enokawa, who took part in the project, said, “We took 20 years to research documents lost during the Battle … Continue reading →

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Okinawan and Mainland Japanese DNA Similar

Posted on September 29, 2014 by loochoo77

Ryukyu Shimpo (9/17/14) reported that “Modern people living in the Ryukyu Islands are genetically more closely related to those in the main islands of Japan than people in Taiwan or mainland China, a research team has found.” The following are … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International | 1 Comment

Choko Takayama: A VIP and a Family Friend

Posted on September 27, 2014 by loochoo77

My meeting with Choko Takayama was an amazing happening. Three years ago, a friend working at the Okinawan Festival at Kapiolani Park wasn’t feeling well so she was told to rest in the VIP tent. There, she talked with Mr. … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Culture, Festival, History, International, Politics | 1 Comment

Loochoo Identity Conference 2015 – March 20-22 on Maui

Posted on September 26, 2014 by loochoo77

Forwarded by Rodney Inefuku on 9/26/14 From: Ukwanshin Kabudan Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2014 1:26 AM Subject: Conference on Okinawan Identity and Cultural Sustainability 沖縄アイデンティティコンフレンス Gusuuyo Chuuganabira, We are happy to announce the first LooChoo(Ryukyu) Identity Conference to be held … Continue reading →

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Shimakutuba, Standup Paddle Boarding, Ryukyu King & Queen, Ogimi, Underweight Babies, Hula, Tourism Boom

Posted on September 23, 2014 by loochoo77

Umushirikutu Yaeyma Standup Paddle Boarding Association launched to promote the sport in Okinawa (Ryukyu Shimpo 9/8/14): It plans to hold training sessions and competitions, and train instructors. It will promote SUP as a new marine sport in Okinawan tourism, and … Continue reading →

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‘Residual Sovereignty in Practice: Japanese Law and Government in the US-Adminstered Okinawa, 1952-1972’ – Lecture on 9/30/14 at 3pm – UH-Manoa, Moore 319

Posted on September 21, 2014 by loochoo77

Forwarded by Rodney Inefuku on 9/21/14

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Okinawan Festival 2014: Good Food, Good Friends, Good Fun

Posted on September 17, 2014 by loochoo77

Hi Folks! Finally getting around to talking about my own experience at the Okinawan Festival. Wife and I met daughter and her boyfriend at KCC. We’all took the bus shuttle to Kapiolani Park. First thing, we went look’n for food. … Continue reading →

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110 Titles Added to University of Hawaii and University of Ryukyus Digital Archives

Posted on September 13, 2014 by loochoo77

Announcement forwarded by Rodney Inefuku 9/13/14 The University of Hawaii at Manoa Library and the University of the Ryukyus Library are pleased to announce the availability of the digital archives site for the Sakamaki/Hawley Collection.Over hundred items of 218 digitized … Continue reading →

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Okinawa Wins Men’s Team and Individual Kata at Karate 1 Premier League Championships 2014

Posted on September 11, 2014 by loochoo77

Okinawa — Ryo Kiyuna (Ryueiryu and Kobudo-ryuhokai), Arata Kinjo (Ryueiryu and Kobudo-ryuhokai) and Takuya Uemura (Okinawa International University) — won the team kata title at the Karate 1 Premier League Championships held on 31 August 2014 at the Okinawa Prefectural … Continue reading →

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‘Typhoon of Steel’ – All-Okinawan MIS Unit in Battle of Okinawa

Posted on September 1, 2014 by loochoo77

Typhoon of Steel, a 19-minute video released on 7 May 2013, was directed by Gena S. Hamamoto with support from the Center for Ethno Communications of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center and many other sources that are listed at … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Film, History, International, Language, Video | 1 Comment

Okinawan Women, Karate, Ta-Taki, etc.

Posted on September 1, 2014 by loochoo77

Umushirikutu “Okinawa women score high as business leaders,” Japan Update, 8/27/14: A survey by Teikoku Databank Fukuoka says Kyushu and Okinawa areas are strongest in female leadership in Japan, scoring 8.5% of the presidencies. The national average is 7.4% female … Continue reading →

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Juuguya, Moon Festival and Grandparents Day Festival (Honolulu) 9/7/14 at 5pm

Posted on August 31, 2014 by loochoo77

From: Rodney Inefuku Date: 8/31/14 From: Ukwanshin Kabudan Sent: Friday, August 29, 2014 1:13 PM Subject: Juuguya, Moon Festival and Grandparent’s Day Festival Gusuuyo Chuuganabira! Just a reminder that next week Wednesday is the LAST day to RSVP for the … Continue reading →

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‘Tukeeya Hizamitin’ & Grandparents Day Festival (Honolulu) 9/7/14 at 2pm

Posted on August 31, 2014 by loochoo77

From: Rodney Inefuku Date: 8/31/14 Hello Folks! Grandparents Day, Sunday 7 Sept. at Ryukyuan Music and Dance Tukeeya Hizamitin at Mamiya Theatre (on the campus of St. Louis School). Cost:  $30 for general seating, $20 for Awamori, Shochu, Soju & Wine … Continue reading →

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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 →

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2014 Okinawan Festival Program (Honolulu) Aug. 30-31

Posted on August 17, 2014 by loochoo77

(See photos from the 2014 festival.) Source: Okinawan Festival Program, sponsored by the Hawaii United Okinawa Association. Accessed 8/17/14. This schedule is subject to change. Visit the festival’s official website. Saturday, 8/30/14 9:00am – RYUKYU SOKYOKU KOYO KAI HAWAII SHIBU … Continue reading →

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Get a ‘LooChoo Identity’ Sports Bag

Posted on August 14, 2014 by loochoo77

Source: “‘LooChoo Identity’ Sports Bag Available.” Ukwanshin Kabudan, 5/22/14. “The kanji characters going down reads ‘LooChoo nu Kwa’ (child/descendant of Ryukyu). In the highlighted area we have the words in English and Okinawan, ‘Protect Our Language, Protect Our Culture, Protect … Continue reading →

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Autumn Okinawa Dance Matsuri Sep. 20, 2014 on Oahu

Posted on August 14, 2014 by loochoo77
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Okinawan Festival 2014 – Aug. 30-31 in Honolulu

Posted on August 14, 2014 by loochoo77

Update 8/17/14: Click here for the program.

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Okinawans in the Philippines

Posted on August 8, 2014 by loochoo77

In the Mintal district of Davao in the Philippines, there’s a Japanese cemetary, and in the cemetary is the Monument of Okinawa. Every year, a memorial service is held at the monument, which was “built by the Okinawa prefectural government … Continue reading →

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Okinawan Bon Dance Video Lessons; Hiroshi’s ‘Classic Burger’; Yuugao Recipe; Yonabaru Tug-of-War

Posted on July 24, 2014 by loochoo77

Umushirikutu Hiroshi Uechi’s “Classic Burger” in the Uehara district of Ginowan: “He makes all buns, beef patty and smoked bacon by himself daily. The patty is made of the beef from Japanese black cattle and bacon is smoked with cherry … Continue reading →

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Proof That the Ryukyus Were an Independent Kingdom at the Time of Annexation

Posted on July 21, 2014 by loochoo77

Many writers assume that the Ryukyus were an independent kingdom in 1879 when it was forcibly annexed by Japan. Prior to annexation, or “Ryukyu Shobun,” they operated as an independent kingdom, entering into tributary relationships with the Ming and Qing … Continue reading →

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USAF Sabre Crashed into Miyamori Elementary School in 1959

Posted on July 19, 2014 by loochoo77

On 30 June 1959, a United States Air Force F-100 Super Sabre crashed into Miyamori Elementary School and the adjoining neighborhood, “killing 11 students and six other people in the neighborhood and injuring 210 others, including 156 students…. The pilot, … Continue reading →

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