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Japan’s OTHER Languages
A lot of people misunderstand Japan and think that it’s this place where everybody acts the same, does the same things, and all speak the language. While Japan is no India (which has over 20 recognized...
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Dispute Over Okinawa, New Kyary PV, And More [Sunday News]
Every Sunday we gather the week’s weird and interesting Japanese news and present it to you in our Sunday News column. It might not always be hard-hitting news, but we hope that it still informs and...
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The Forgotten Dynasty Of The Ryukyu Islands
Japan has more than one royal family. The Sho kings ruled present day Okinawa for more than four centuries, but not many people realize they were/are a thing. Their reign ended in 1879 but the family’s...
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The Yuta, The Noro, And The “Okinawan Witch Trials”
What does one do when beset by illness, bad luck, or a case of lost keys? If you’re in Okinawa one possibility is to consult a yuta. The yuta are female spirit mediums who have been around for...
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The Evolution of Karate
Karate stands alongside the likes of judo, kendo, and sumo as one of Japan’s most famous martial arts. However, as Karate Kid II taught us, karate was born in Okinawa. Not only that, but it was born in...
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Tracing the History of Japan’s Mythical Lion Dogs
If you’ve ever been to a shrine in Japan, odds are you’ve seen a pair of dog-like lions flanking the entrance. If you’ve been to Okinawa you’ve seen them just about everywhere. In fact you can see some...
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Japan’s Sacrificial Lamb – The Okinawa Military Base Controversy
Despite its small size, Okinawa sure has giant problems. Due to its strategic location, Okinawa has struggled as a pawn in Japanese and US affairs since before World War II. Today, the independent...
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Juri and Prostitution in Ryukyu
Prior to 1609, Ryukyu (modern day Okinawa prefecture) was an independent kingdom, but in that year the Shimazu clan of Satsuma (in southern Kyushu) successfully invaded. The Shimazu left the Ryukyuan...
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