In 1992, being the 20th anniversary of the okinawa Reversion, the Japan National Broadcasting Association (NHK) produced an orignal television film series on the history of the Ryukyuan people in the 16th and 17th centuries. The half-year series was entitled “Ryukyu no Kaze” (The Wind of the Ryukyus), which was televised from January to June in 1993 on the NHK channel as part of the national historical ‘Taiga Drama’ series.

The story was written by Chinese playwright Shin Shunshin. It is about two brothers Keitai and Keizan, one of whom the father is of Chinese ancestry, but both having the same Ryukyuan mother. Mr. Shin created a story of courage about two brother’s lives during the fast changing times in which the Ryukyuan Kingdom had become prosperous by trading with neighboring nations. Dark clouds also hung over the Ryukyuan Kingdom, as it was threatened to be taken over by the Satsuma clan of Kyushu.

“Ryukyu no Kaze” was watched by local and even overseas Okinawans. Okinawans learned their own islands’ history and culture through television.

Location shooting was conducted at Studio Park “Ryukyu no Kaze” in Takashiho, Yomitan Village. The sets and facilities were very realistic of the ancient structures of the Ryukyuan Kingdom. There were the ‘Tenshikan’ (living quarters for envoys and missions from China), the ‘Tenpi Gu’ (the shrine for praying for safe sea voyages), red-tiled roofs of houses for the ruling class and thatched-roof farmhouses; all were located on the shooting set. Studio Park was constructed by the company Umi-no-Sato.

Studio Park is today a new spot for sightseeing on okinawa. Old scenes of the Ryukyuan Kingdom and the lives of Ryukyuans have been revived.