Okinawa Created by KETAN RAMAKRISHNAN Click to advance

Okinawa Created by KETAN RAMAKRISHNAN Click to advance.

MAIN MENU General Information Culture Travel Pictures

General Information Interesting Okinawan Facts Questions and Answers History of Okinawa Main Menu

Culture Folktales Religion Language Eisa Cuisine

Travel Interesting Sightseeing Information For Okinawa U. S. Dollar To ‘Japanese Yen’ Conversion Main Menu

Pictures o There are pictures throughout slides, so please keep your eye open for interesting images.

Interesting Facts o o o o When Okinawans immigrated to Hawaii, they kept their culture intact. Karate originated in Okinawa, and spreaded when civilians carrying weapons were banned. Okinawan cuisine, unlike the rest of Japan’s, has a huge emphasis on pork. Okinawa used to be separate from Japan. It only became a prefecture of Japan when the Meiji government decreed it so in 1879. Okinawa has a different language than the rest of Japan. This language is spoke throughout Okinawa, but other Ryukan islands’ inhabitants speak different dialects. Okinawa did not revert to Japan, unlike the rest of it, from its U. S. occupation, until twenty seven years after the end of World War II. General Information Menu

Questions and Answers o o o WHERE CAN OKINAWA BE FOUND? Okinawa can be found between Taiwan and the rest of Japan. IS OKINAWA OFFICIALLY A PART OF JAPAN? Yes. DOES THE OKINAWAN CULTURE DIFFER FROM THE JAPANESE CULTURE? Yes. DOES THE OKINAWAN LANGUAGE DIFFER FROM JAPANESE? Yes. WHAT WAS OKINAWA CALLED IN THE TIMES OF SHOGUNS AND EMPERORS (FEUDAL JAPAN)? The Kingdom of Ryukyus. General Information Menu

History o In the mid eleventh century, along with the inhabitation of mainland Hokkaido and other Japanese islands going on, numerous political factions were formed when castles began to sprout up all over Okinawa. With these castles and political factions, party leaders also began to emerge. Soon there would be a huge power struggle between all of the parties and their leaders. In the late twelfth century, one such leader formed the Shunten Dynasty (1187 -1259). Then came the Eiso Dynasty (1260 -1349). Then came the Satto Dynasty (1350 -1405). Then the first of two Sho Dynasties came up (1406 -1469). Then came the second and final Sho Dynasty (1470 -1879). Later the second Sho Dynasty became a Japanese prefecture with officials from Tokyo governing. When the United States of America arrived and started occupying Japan in World War II, Okinawa was also occupied. It was ruled for twenty seven years by the American ‘imperialists. ’ In 1422 The First Sho Dynasty politically and officially unified Okinawa. General Information Menu

Folktales o o Here is a brief listing of folktales: THE BIRTH OF STAR SAND And the other one: KAJIMAYA. Culture Menu

Language o o o The language of Okinawa was first the language of the kingdom of Ryukkus. Within this language there were many variations between different Okinawan islands. (Like Queen’s English and American English. ) The language is called Uchina Guchi. One dialect is called the Shuri dialect, in which most songs and ballads are written. SELECTED VOCABULARY: KUMANKAI KUWAA- Come here. JIN-GWAA- Money. NIBUU- Sleepy. YAA- Head. YUNTAKU- Talkative. WARABI- Child. NINGURUGWAA- Sweetheart (not wife); girlfriend. UNJUU- You; Politest. MASAAN- Very Tasty. Culture Menu

Eisa o Eisa is a spirited dance done during the Okinawan festival of Bon. It is a circular dance performed by both genders. On the eve of July fifteenth dancers gather in the village worship center, and dance to appease and praise the gods with their eisa dance. Then they continue, making rounds throughout their village, dancing. Eisa is somewhat derived from Buddhist rituals and other Buddhist ceremonies and various prayers. Culture Menu

Religion o o SHAMANISM AND AMANISM NOTE: Both are basically the same. These religions are not Shinto or Buddhist, but many believe that they have been greatly influenced by them. In Shamanism, the KAMINCHU and YUTA are two big figures. Shamanists believe that evil and good spirits can be summoned through mediums, in this case earthly monks and such. Both are the mediums, and both have to be women, or the summoning won’t work. The SANJISO is a fortuneteller who determines one’s earthly fate in Shamanism. The fire god is called HINUKAN. When many Buddhist and Shinto customs were transferred from Japan, Okinawans also began to devote shrines to and worship their ancestors. Both religions, although influenced by outside ones, have their own mythology, and like most of Okinawan culture, are very different from the Japanese’s. Culture Menu

Cuisine o o o o o HERE ARE SOME POPULAR FOODS: Egg Flower Soup Tofu w/ bittermelon. Shoyu Pork Tofu w/pork Soba noodles with vegetables Soba noodles with pork as a side dish Okinawan mochi Dofu, saltier tofu (all Tofu dishes are normally made w/ dofu) A specialized, Okinawan type of Sushi. (IT usually is not made in Okinawan homes, though. ) Culture Menu

Sightseeing Information o o Okinawa has the biggest rope in the world. Okinawa is the place where Karate originated, so you can see many Karate schools. Okinawan people live on average much longer than anyone else in the world (one hundred up), so you can see very old people in Okinawa! A wild species called the Irimote Wildcat can only be found in Okinawa. Travel Menu

Dollar to Yen Conversion o o o 1 U. S. Dollar = 120. 1 yen. 0. 008323 yen=$1 Heh, heh, the money in Okinawa is the same as the money in the rest of Japan… heh… Travel Menu

THANK YOU! o o Thank you for looking at my presentation. I hope you enjoyed it and learned some stuff along the way. KETAN Presentations and Web Sites.