About Ryukyu dance and Okinawa
About the Ryukyu Dance
Geographically, Okinawa has been an Asian crossroads. And the cultures of China, Japan, Korea and Indonesia have left their marks on that of Okinawa.
Ryukyu Buyo(Dance), one of Okinawa's traditional performing arts, is said to have begun with a dance performed at a party to welcome messengers from China. Maintaining tradition and formality, the dance continues to evolve with the times.
The classical Ryukyu dance was spread to Okinawa in 1404 during the Ryukyu dynasty with China. It was performed at welcoming banquets to greet the Chinese emissary (accredited Chinese envoys to neighbouring kingdoms).
The Ryukyu people had no weapons and were very hospitable. They exchanged cultural goods and performing arts with many countries.
This hospitality was influenced not only by good food and sake, but also by trade with many countries that introduced music, dance and kabuki theatre "kumi -odori". Normally, classical Ryukyu dance is performed with classical Ryukyu music, which is which is instrumentalised with sanshin, koto, flute, taiko (drums) and kokyu (Chinese fiddle).
In addition to Japanese stage art, the influence of dance from the surrounding areas such as China and Southeast Asia can be felt and has been further developed and refined on Ryukyu by outstanding artists.
About Okinawa (former Ryukyu)
(Text: Sugano Matsusaki)
Okinawa Prefecture is now a part of Japan, but it used to be an independent country called Ryukyu Kingdom.
The Ryukyu Kingdom existed for about 450 years, until 1879, when Shohashi unified the three separate regions in 1429. In 1609, Okinawa was invaded by the Satsuma clan, and in 1879, the Meiji government established Okinawa Prefecture, bringing an end to the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Later, in March 1945, at the end of the Pacific War, American troops landed on Okinawa and the island became the scene of a fierce ground battle that lasted three months. More than 200,000 people were killed in that battle.
After the second world war, the U.S. military bases remained, and for 27 years, from 1945 to 1972, Okinawa was occupied by the U.S. and remained in a state of rootlessness, neither Japanese nor American citizens.
About 75% of the U.S. military bases in Japan are still located in Okinawa.
Ryukyu as a country is gone, and the Ryukyu language has also been designated as an endangered language by UNESCO.
Because of war and politics, the people of Okinawa have lived a decent life with deep scars under great power.
Even so, Okinawa has developed its own unique culture, influenced by Japan, China, Korea, and other countries around it, as well as by the nature that surrounds the island. In order not to forget the pleasures of life, the vivid and powerful culture has been handed down from generation to generation.