Kapiolani Community College
Spectrum 2000

Intensely curious, I was inspired by these questions to seek out answers. These answers are not only the basis of my research paper; they are a part of my own cultural identity. In this paper, I discuss who these indigenous people of Okinawa are. Beside the physical differences, what cultural differences exist between the Japanese and the Okinawans? Furthermore, I will discuss the discrimination of the Okinawan immigrants living in Hawai`i. Lastly, I will discuss the triumph and acculturation of the Okinawans in Hawai'i.

The Ryukyu Kingdom
Strategically located four hundred miles off the coast of China, the forty-seventh prefecture of Japan is Okinawa and approximately one hundred and sixty islands. The main island, Okinawa, served as an international meeting place for the surrounding countries: Korea, Philippines, China, and Japan. Okinawa, once established as the Ryukyu kingdom, was considered a friendly kingdom welcoming people of all cultures (Zich 92). Before becoming a prefecture of Japan, Okinawa did have a separate culture, religion, and political government. The Chinese had the greatest influence upon the aborigines of Okinawa. The

Okinawans adopted the Chinese lunar calendar and their love for pork (Adaniya 22). My grandmother, Hilda Darr, confirmed this by telling me how much Gujya (my great-grandmother) loved to eat crispy pork. She also told me that Gujya used to celebrate two new years: one New Year was celebrated American style, the other was celebrated by the Chinese lunar calendar. The Chinese New Year was embraced by eating pig's feet soup and making Okinawan mochi called "nantu."

The Chinese were also instrumental in Okinawa's religious practice. The Okinawans worshipped their dead ancestors, a practice called "ancestral veneration." Ancestral veneration is the honoring of deceased ancestors, believing that they have the power to intervene with destiny. This tradition is taken from a similar ancestral cult in China. In China this practice of worshipping dead ancestors is associated with filial piety (Nakasone 87).

Perhaps the biggest difference between Japanese and Okinawans is in gender relations. "Okinawan culture has a strong matriarchal orientation in contrast to Japan that is strongly patriarchal" (Nakasone 10). Throughout Japanese history, the focus has been around the man and his reign. In Okinawan culture the man held a "political hierarchy," while the woman held a "religious hierarchy." Together the two worked in harmony to raise the family or kingdom. My research suggests those women in Okinawa were equal in status, if not higher. For example, the "village priestess" had a stronger influence than the "village chief" did, and during traditional ceremonies the male "kaiminchu" would serve the female "kaimanchu" (10).

Discrimination against the Okinawans

The identity of the Okinawan people has been in question since it became a prefecture of Japan in 1879 (Zich 92). According to both the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Health Statistics of the Territory, all individuals of Okinawan blood are considered Japanese (Matsumoto 125). If the Japanese and Okinawans were considered of the same blood, why were the Okinawans discriminated against?

Historically, the humiliation of the Okinawan people by the Japanese is a part of Okinawa's cultural history more than a century ago. In 1609 feudal barons attacked Okinawa from southern Kyushu. Since the violent undertaking, the people of the Ryukyu kingdom were made into vassals under Japanese soldiers'command. "Okinawans were prohibited from speaking Japanese, wearing Japanese clothing or adopting Japanese customs" (Zich 93).

According to the author of "The Contact Zone," this undertaking is typical of cultures that "meet, clash, and grapple with each other, often in contexts of highly asymmetrical relations of power" (Pratt 584).

Although the Okinawans in Hawai`i did not serve the Naichi Japanese, there was always a quiet undertaking of superiority amongst the Naichi(mainland) Japanese. The Naichi Japanese, who had arrived in Hawai`i fifteen years earlier, felt entitlement over the land (Matsumoto 128). The Okinawan immigrants were easy to recognize; they were shorter, hairier, and had wavy hair. Many Okinawans were pig farmers and spoke broken Japanese and English, all of which were considered undesirable by a Naichi Japanese (129). My Grandma Darr recalls the chant the Naichi Japanese neighbor would sing: Okinawa ken ken, buta kau kau.

Okinawans eat pig slop.

Fortunately, the discrimination of the Okinawan people was not acted out in violence. The silent hostility never went beyond a comment or two. However, all this was to stop when the bombing of Pearl Harbor occurred. All of a sudden there was no distinction between Okinawans and Japanese. For the first time in history, the two ethnic groups were completely equal in social status (Taniguchi 158). 1 believe the Naichi Japanese in Hawai`i felt a responsibility for the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This sense of guilt led them to be humble. My grandma Darr believes that WWII actually helped the Okinawan people in Hawai`i to prosper. The sense of equality gave the immigrants of Okinawa a chance to pursue business opportunities not available to them before the war (Matsumoto 125). The aftermath of WWII brought about the abolition of such terms "Uchinanchu" and "Naichi Japanese." Although I have no evidence to prove my point, it appears the bombing of Pearl Harbor may have been instrumental in the mediation of two ethnic groups. I can only assume this to be true because as a woman of Okinawan ancestry, I have not felt discriminated by anyone of Japanese ancestry.

Okinawan Culture in Hawai`i Today

Today, the Okinawan culture thrives in vibrant review. Newspaper articles are written to remind us that Hawai`i has the largest Okinawan population outside of Okinawa itself (Matsumoto 125). The Okinawan pride blossoms, as organizers of the yearly festival predict an attendance of ten thousand people (Pai A3). They also estimate a total of twenty thousand dollars worth of andagi (Okinawan doughnut) are sold yearly (Lim A5). The celebration of Okinawan culture does not confine itself to the state of Hawai`i. A celebration of Okinawan dance took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington on March 29, 2000. The music was performed with classical instruments such as: sanshin flute, kokyu fiddle, and taiko drums (Dunning 136).

The Acculturation of Okinawans in Hawai`i

The prosperous community of Okinawans can claim with honor their new identity into the state of Hawai`i. The people of Okinawa, both past and present, have embraced and thrived in conditions that have maintained traditional customs. Yet, as an ethnic race, they have learned to adapt to modern surroundings. This concept of acculturation is essential to the preservation of all indigenous cultures around the world (Pratt 595). The kingdom of Ryukyu thrived as an independent country with its own culture, language, religion, and political government. Since becoming a prefecture of Japan, Okinawa and her people have had to learn to survive by adapting and integrating new traditions from their predecessors. Thus, these modifications have not diluted the Okinawan culture, but instead enhanced their authenticity as an ethnic race.

My intention, in doing my research, was to set apart the Okinawan culture from the Japanese culture. While it is true that they were separate cultures, I have found that identity is found through metamorphosis. Through the many perspectives of Okinawan history, I was able to form my own insight. I can say with ease: Okinawa is a part of Japan. The identity of Okinawa is not lost in the shadow of the mother country. Instead, it is fortified by its contribution to Okinawa's historical background. Likewise, Japan has not conquered Okinawa. Instead, it has gained a country of heart (Zich 105).