Uchinaa Culture 10 - The 7th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival
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A brief history of Okinawan emigration
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About The 7th Worldwide Uchinanuchu Festival
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A brief history of Okinawan emigration
Okinawa is one of the leading regions in Japan of outbound immigration stretching back more than a century. Okinawan people crossed the ocean to pioneer new lands in distant countries. They left Okinawa due to the drastic changes in social conditions. While building a living foundation in the destination of migration and firmly rooting in the local cross-cultural society, the communities of Okinawan people inherited their home island’s unique traditional culture and identity. You can read more about the history of Okinawan emigration here.
About The 7th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival
The Worldwide Uchinanchu* Festival honours the achievements of Okinawan people across the world, recognizes the great value of the community heritage of Okinawa, and seeks to expand and develop the Uchina** network through exchanges with Okinawan people around the world. The purpose of the festival is to bring people together, reaffirm their roots and identity, and thereby be able to pass them on to the next generation.
The main events of the festival are held between 31st October and 3rd November, consisting of stage shows, culture workshops, welcoming events in the respective municipalities, etc. To participate in the main events, admission registration is required prior to the events. The admission registration can be done through this page.
Apart from the main events, many events such as exhibitions relevant to Okinawan emigration and Okinawan identity, cultural exchange events, Okinawan music events, etc. are held across Okinawa around this period. You can find more information on these events here.
It could be interesting to explore the history and culture of the island we live on through these events.
The 7th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival official website
*Uchinanchu/Uchinaanchu: a person from Okinawa or a person of Okinawan descent
**Uchina/Uchinaa: a local name for Okinawa
Photo credit: Ryukyu shimpo