Applications are now being accepted for the 24th Naha Marathon, scheduled to be held on Dec. 7. The course extends a full 42.195 kilometers, running through Naha and four other municipalities in southern okinawa. With 260,000 finishers since it was launched in 1985, the Naha Marathon is considered one of the best in Japan. Last [...]

okinawa has a long history of rock, whose roots stem from the influence of the largest American military presence in Asia. This presence, during times of change for okinawa, led to the making of a vibrant rock ‘n’ roll scene in the heart of okinawa City, a scene that is still visible even today. okinawa [...]

The sanshin is a traditional three-stringed instrument with a small body and thin neck and is covered with snakeskin. Okinawan minyo cannot exist without the sanshin. Okinawan entertainment culture developed when the Ryukyu Kingdom welcomed Chinese envoys with music and dance performances as well as with Ryukyu food. The envoys used to say, “Ryukyu samurai [...]

The tug-of-war used to be held to pray for rain and a good crop or to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. It is believed that the tug-of-war in every area was held on June?s kashichii day, when people offered steamed new rice on an altar to rid the rice fields of pests, and on [...]

The haarii, or dragon boat races, is one of okinawa?s traditional events and is held on May 4 of the lunar calendar. This is a festival for fishermen, who live with danger, to pray for a safe voyage and a good catch and to thank the sea for its blessings. Fishermen compete against each other [...]

July 15 according to the lunar calendar is the busiest and most colorful day in okinawa. To Uchinanchu (Okinawans), this day is a most chim-dondon (exciting) occasion.
Eisa dancing is performed on the last day of the three-day Obon celebration (a traditional Japanese summer festival to pray for the ancestors) to bid farewell to the ancestors? [...]