A series of books "Knowing Okinawa

In order to widely publish the results of research conducted by the Institute's staff and researchers as general academic books and to return them to society, the Institute subsidizes the publication of a book series, "Knowing Okinawa," supervised by the Okinawa Institute for Culture Studies.

The book can be purchased at general bookstores.

Written by Seigo Niizaki, Tsuyoshi Matsumoto, Naomi Shabana, Tadahiko Sako, Hideya Kamakura
How to Talk about Okinawa Now: From the Frontlines of Journalism," Kobunken, 2024.

This book was published as part of the Symposium commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Institute for Okinawan Studies, Hosei University.
Where are the words to talk about Okinawa now?
This symposium was created as a new project related to the "Where are the words to talk about Okinawa now?
The symposium was created as a new project related to the "Where are the Words to Talk about Okinawa Today: Journalists' Challenges on the 50th Anniversary of Okinawa's Reversion" (to be held on November 23, 2022).
The five journalists, each of whom has extensive experience and knowledge of Okinawa, will discuss how to convey Okinawa from their respective perspectives.
The essays are based on the words of journalists who are still struggling in their own fields and facing difficulties,
The book provides an insight into the current state of "reporting on Okinawa" and its future.

Many rituals are held annually on Ikema Island and Sarahama on Irabu Island, both in Miyakojima City.
Sarahama was originally established as a branch village of Ikema, and together with Nishihara on Miyako Island, they are known as the "Ikema people.
The book covers the rituals of Yukui (1985) and Animal Offering (1988) in Ikema, and Carnigai and Muzbuei Rabbit (1993) in Sarahama, and introduces the rituals with their photographs.
The author, who has interviewed and researched many women involved in the fishing industry in Itoman and in the character journal of Kowan, Urasoe City, considers the role and connection of rituals in the present day.

In the Ryukyu Islands, the nexus of cultures, not only the Ryukyuan language but also Chinese and Japanese literature flourished.
These works are valuable historical materials that show the expansion of Ryukyu as a place.
The first half of the 18th century was a period of intensive compilation of historical materials by the Ryukyuan royal government, and a time when literature and art flourished.
Historical narratives of clans began in earnest, and compilations of official histories and geographical records were also undertaken. The family histories, official histories, and geographical descriptions created a history as a story.
In parallel with this, the study of Japanese literature as a culture of "otoriai" (social interaction and exchange) also developed.
This book features six works from such a period, with annotations, modern translations, and commentary in the revised text.
How do they describe the Ryukyu Islands and how do they attempt to make people aware of them? What framework is used to describe the history and geography of the Ryukyu Islands?
This is a reading of works that are important in considering the meaningfulness of Ryukyuan historical and traditional narratives.

The author investigates the etymology of words that symbolize Okinawa, such as "gusuku," "teda," and "omoro," and explains the characteristics of the language in Omorosaushi in plain terms by comparing it with the Yamato archaic language.
This is an enlarged edition with newly added etymology of "Urizun" and other words.

Reconsiders the Ryukyu Islands in the East Asian world. The book discusses the Ryukyu Kingdom, which had a unique national formation and foreign relations that differed from those of Honshu, with emphasis on its relationship with China.

A full-scale overview that explores the roots and artistic elements of the various folk performing arts nurtured in Okinawan villages and performed at festivals.