We visited Okinawa for 10 days from 16th of June. Okinawa prefecture is located the very south of Japan and consisted of many islands. We stayed at my mission president (Yafuso)'s house for first 5 days in Okinawa island, then flew to Ishigaki island and Taketomi island for the rest of time.
President Yafuso sang in the concert. This concert was organized for the purpose of cultural exchange among Okinawa, Yamaguchi, Taiwan, and Hawaii. So people from those places performed songs and dance.
Goya chample, Okinawa's dish was served. Okinawa's climate was similar to Hawaii but a little more humid. So people plant this green vegetable, goya, and eat it all the time. Goya's nutrition gives people to fight against the heat.
At the hotel where President Yafuso had the concert, we found butterflies with golden cocoons.
President Yafuso took us to the only castle in Okinawa, called Shuri castle. Shuri castle is different from any other castle in Japan. It is flat. President Yafuso explained that Okinawa used to be Ryukyu country, which was a bridge between Japan and Taiwan, until Japan conquered it. So Ryukyu people built the castle not for the purpose of fighting but for welcoming others. Therefore the castle is flat and anyone can attack it. But they built it to show their trust to others.
When you enter the gate, there is a big open place. This is where they had dance and music. In the castle, they still had some dance performance from the days of Ryukyu.
Program for Okinawa's traditional dance.
Very slow dance and almost no facial feelings are shown.
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