Okinawa Prefecture takes the lead in launching a portal site
Okinawa Prefecture stands out from other prefectures when it comes to building networks and close communication with people of Okinawan descent overseas. One major event that embodies these bonds is the "World Uchinanchu (Author's note: "Uchinanchu" is the Okinawan word for people of Okinawan descent) Convention," which has been held in Okinawa every five years since 1990.
Takako Yamashiro, who became the Director of Culture, Tourism and Sports of the Okinawa Prefectural Department of Culture, Tourism and Sports in April this year, is in charge of leading the "7th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival" scheduled to be held in 2021. We spoke to Yamashiro, who visited Los Angeles in October 2017 with the Okinawa Prefectural Cultural and Performing Arts Troupe, about communication between the prefecture and overseas associations of people from the prefecture.
"During the Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival last year, we had meetings with prefectural associations from all over the world. The issues that came up were that information about Okinawa is not being disseminated enough overseas, and that there are an increasing number of generations of people in the prefecture who do not know the history of Okinawan people who have emigrated overseas. So, in order to raise interest in Uchinanchu around the world, we established October 30th every year as "Worldwide Uchinanchu Day," based on a suggestion from third-generation Peruvian and Argentinian people. Until now, many people in Okinawa remembered their ties to the prefecture every five years when the Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival was held, but by having the day come every year, we hope that the people of Okinawa will become more aware of the day and that the significance of passing on Okinawa's history, culture, and identity will become more widespread. One of the goals of establishing the day is to promote efforts to think about and engage in Uchinanchu networks not only in various parts of the prefecture but also in prefectural associations around the world on October 30th, and to further expand the network to all parts of the world."
At the time of the interview, the first Worldwide Uchinanchu Day since its establishment was just around the corner. First, they opened a website called the " Worldwide Uchinanchu Network " to connect people of Okinawan descent around the world. They said they hope to strengthen connections by collecting information on the activities of each prefectural association overseas and disseminating it to all parts of the world.
In addition, for Okinawans, a play based on the story of immigrants, "Hiyamikachi Uchina Taira Shinsuke Monogatari," will be performed at three locations in the prefecture, and a lecture titled "Let's Study! World Uchinanchu" will be held at schools in the prefecture to teach the history of immigrants and the lifestyle and culture of people of Okinawan descent in the lands they have migrated to. In addition, a bus tour of immigration museums and places related to immigrants in the prefecture will also be held.
Events actively celebrating "World Uchinanchu Day" will be held in more than a dozen locations overseas, including Hawaii, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Utah, Colorado, and Brazil in South America.
The challenge is to bridge the gap between the government on one side and the private sector and volunteers on the other
As various events are held, Okinawa Prefecture aims to decide which ones will continue next year and which ones will only be held in the first year, and also to introduce new projects in order to make the event last longer and expand its reach.
Surprisingly, the executive members of the Okinawa Prefecture side of the group led by Yamashiro who are involved in strengthening the global Uchina network are only three people. "We reach out to prefectural associations around the world, and we also work to develop the Uchina network through grassroots activities in cities, towns, and villages in Okinawa," says Yamashiro.
So what are the challenges in communicating with prefectural associations around the world? To this question, Tomei Yoshihiro of the North American Okinawan Association, who was also present during the interview, answered as follows:
"The first barrier is the difference in customs between Japan and the United States. For example, if a delegation from Okinawa tries to visit the United States during an American holiday such as Thanksgiving, it doesn't go well. Furthermore, it is currently very difficult to prepare documents at the level of a public institution. The prefectural association here is basically run by volunteers. But when it comes to preparing documents to be sent to Okinawa Prefecture in the format required by the prefecture, and then translating them from English to Japanese and vice versa, it is not a matter of volunteers, but of paying someone to do it. Bridging the gap between the public sector on one side and the private sector and volunteers on the other is a challenge for the future."
Another problem that arises from the aging of prefectural associations overseas is that when contacting prefectural association leaders who do not use the Internet or e-mail on a daily basis, it seems there are difficulties such as waiting a long time to receive a reply or having to call their homes, taking into account the time difference.
Yamashiro was involved in the management of the 3rd Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival. "The third one was held in October 2001. We visited the US in July of that year to hold an information session to encourage more people to participate in the festival. But then 9/11 happened in September. We received voices saying, 'We want the festival to be cancelled,' because people didn't want to get on planes, or put their families on planes, and we were forced to make a decision. But in the end, about 4,000 people from overseas, mainly from Hawaii and Asia, participated in the festival. Those who participated kindly encouraged us to think about what we can do together by utilizing the Uchinanchu network, especially in times of crisis."
Yamashiro was born in Koza (now Okinawa City). He went to university in Ibaraki Prefecture and worked in Tokyo before returning to Okinawa and getting a job at the prefectural government. When asked if he had any relatives who had emigrated overseas, he recalls that he was reminded of the words of a man who had emigrated and was a family friend of his since childhood, even though he was not a relative. He recalls that he was always told, "Just study. Education is the most important thing."
Finally, we asked Yamashiro about the good things about Okinawans. "The people are kind. The spirit of mutual aid, known as yuimaru, has been alive in Okinawa since ancient times, and I think it's a place where many people reach out to help those who are not related to them."
The "Worldwide Uchinanchu Day" initiative has just begun. The next Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival will be held in four years.
Reference: Worldwide Uchina Network website
© 2017 Keiko Fukuda
