FYI, according the Chinese script written in the document shown at video time 4:46 is a letter the emperor of Chinese Ming dynasty wrote to the king of Ryukyu Kingdom, Sho Shin, of the Second Sho dynasty (1465-1527). The language is very very old style Chinese formal aristocratic language style, which I am able to read some and understand the content. Emperor of China is sending gift to the King of Ryukyu for their tribute, and is sending the Ryukyu King and consort several roils of luxurious cloth and other gifts.
Thank you so much for making this video. I am of Okinawan descent, but I didn't know a lot of these things in your video. I will definitely learn more about my own community.
Thank you for this information! My maternal grandmother’s family moved to Hawaii from Okinawa, and she was the only member of her family born there. I’ve always wanted to know more of this history.
Thank you for making this. I searched "hawaii and japan before ww2" and this was the 26th result underneath a bunch of videos completely unrelated to my search.
My grandfather was a American buffalo soldier 13th Calvary and met my grandmother a true ryukyuan from Naha shi during the war. He fell in love with her and married her and they came back to America in the presidio San Francisco ca. That’s why I stick to my roots on my American side and my okinawan side and I try to learn as much as I can about both history. Thank you for this video brother it taught me a lot!
Ryukyu was hit especially hard after Taiwan came into annexation. People started having to eat sotetsu palm and were poisoned. They were treated as second class citizens and cannon fotter during the war.
My great grandfather brought his sons after he was drafted in the Sino-Japanese war 1905, He was shot in the cheek and the bullet landed on his tongue. He then vowed to bring his sons to Hawaii. So my grandfather came here, I heard my grandfather was a Cole miner in Okinawa, he played the violin too. His wife was born in Hilo, and went back to Okinawa to study medicine, later married my Grandfather. I am the only Okinawan-Messianic-Jewish that I know in the world. My Grandfather was Mark Kamemori Miyashiro (Miyagi). He had 3 restaurant Alakea Grill, Olympic Grill, Kuhio Grill. My mother remarried Wakukawa, my Uncle Seiyei Wakukawa was sent to internment camp in New Mexico, he was pardon by Pres. Roosevelt, he then wrote the Japan Land Reform Act, was honored as National Treasure by Japan. My Grandfather was a patron of the arts. He was the first to have Art work in Kuhio Grill. I wrote a book about Kuhio Grill, it's called Olympic Grill, I changed the name because the staff of Kuhio Grill was of multi-ethnic background..
Thank u so much for your channel n info on Okinawa. I feel accepted now- now that u have educated us. Please make more videos. I have been lost since childhood! My parents n grandparents were born n raised in Hawaii. But my roots actually stem from Okinawa. How do u feel about the Maui Fire Tragedy 2023? I swear both Hawaiians n Okinawans seem to have the short end of the stick! No wonder I feel like such a minority n no one seems to understand where I come from.
Thank you for this vid. If my My Hero Academia fanfiction doesn't touch on the subject of Okinawan separatists with superpowers being a major yet sympathetic antagonistic force at some point, my original novel series will certainly use this information to spin a great yarn about super powered Okinawans trying to secede from the Japanese. You guys and the Ainu.
You would think being colonized at around the same time as hawaii in the same manner there'd be some sympathy. in Latin America although our relations with Spain is much more friendlier today we can still sympathise
Very informative video!! I'm from California, and have lived in Okinawa for 5 years. It's a very nice place, I love it here. One quick comment. You said that Okinawans have moved to many places like China and Japan. Okinawa has been a Japanese prefecture for many years. That would be like me asking a person from Hawaii if "they have ever been to the United States". I've been coming here since 1988, and have noticed many positive changes in the years.
I have read Kerr and quoted it in papers I have written. I am surprised that it is less than accurate. Is there a more complete history of Okinawa, written in English?
Anyone who knows any "Fakura" in Hawaii from Japan, their names were Kengo Fakura, Fuji Fakura and Humei Fakura, Plantation Laborers in Hawaii, Camp 2 in Maui. They might be related to our ancestors. We don't know the name of our grand grand father that said to be Japanese.
So is the book "Uchinanchu: a History of Okinawans in Hawaii" biased or not worth reading? I saw one for sale and I was thinking about it. Does it have more about the sea pigs? Strange that these days everyone wants wild pig meat called "Agu."
IMO there is no such thing as any book, article, video, etc., that is unbiased. Everyone comes from a certain position, but some people are more honest and upfront about it than others. Uchinanchu: a History of Okinawans in Hawaii contains some valuable information about Okinawans in Hawaii, but it also contains some propaganda, both for the U.S. and Japan. It was written and edited by a lot of Okinawan Americans who personally benefited from the U.S. military / government, and from forming business ties with Japan and Japanese Americans. Thus, they talk about Japanese prejudice "being a thing of the past" when in actuality it is still very much alive and strong today. They fail to take note of their own privilege and of the continuing oppression of actual Okinawans in Okinawa. The book also fails to place the blame on Japan for Okinawa having become impoverished after 1879. Yes, it does contain more info about the sea pigs, along with info about the hardships of plantation life in Hawaii. Like most books, it should be taken with a grain of salt.
@@RobKajiwaraOfficial Thank you Rob for your insight. Reason why I am interested in pigs is that I have seen two types of purple sweet potato, white skinned ones (yams?) and dark skinned ones (sweet potato). The dark skinned one is called the "Moloka'i" type. The white skinned one is called "Okinawan" type. I think the dark skinned one is quick growing, and I am betting that the pigs did not come alone. Or maybe I got it backwards. Since true sweet potato is native to the Americas. Beni-imo are important to Okinawans and I am curious about their true origins. Yams and sweet potato are different species so there are likely two stories.
Yes, I've tried looking into the origins of Okinawa's sweet potatoes, but there doesn't seem to be any type of solid consensus about this. Some scientists and laypeople think the sweet potato came to Ryukyu naturally (by sea drift) thousands or millions of years ago from South America. Others think it was brought by trade with South America during prehistoric times. Still others think it was brought to Ryukyu around the 1600's.
Wasn't the Ryukyu kingdom somewhat under Japan's thumb since the early 1600s? With independence only being maintained as a front so that they could still trade with China in spite of China's trade embargo on Japan? I've seen highly conflicting takes on the relationships between Japan and Ryukyu between the early 1600s and the annexation and I'm curious
No, that is a modern revisionist argument created by Japan after the Meiji Restoration. Unfortunately that narrative has been propagated heavily today, creating much misinformation and confusion. I intend to do more videos on this subject in the future. For now please see our website for more information: www.PeaceForOkinawa.org
The Okinawa incident with Japan was a hostile take over was without any overture. However, in Hawaii, the Hawaiian Monarchy's overtures with Western countries and Japan was a result of treaties. Hawaii was a Constitutional Monarchy. Participation by the people was guaranteed. Identification of which of those people was to be is what led to the dysfunction of politics in the islands. In time all peoples became participating citizens. There was no illegal overthrow of the Throne, it was all legal. The Queen made an error against her favor, there could not have been an arrest otherwise. King Kalakaua knew that being a figure head, regardless of loss of power, would still preserve the Hawaiian Kingdom. Because most nations at the time were constitutional governments. The Queen, instead, staged a coup for absolute power, in defiance of Hawaii's constitution which protected both foreigners and natives. Politics is a science of opportunity, the Queen failed to realize that. Today in Hawaii, every group recognizes opportunity as the means. Hawaiians are doing their best to seize their opportunity. Their best option is to increase their race in population and opportunities. The politics may once again cause them to lose everything, because every group is looking out for themselves. This includes Okinawans.
No, you are incorrect. Hawaiians never gave up their right to independence, including the Queen. The Permanent Court of Arbitration acknowledges this, as does the United States government itself. Please see the following for more information: ua-cam.com/video/jcitJI5v350/v-deo.html www.HawaiianKingdom.net www.HawaiianKingdom.org
FYI, according the Chinese script written in the document shown at video time 4:46 is a letter the emperor of Chinese Ming dynasty wrote to the king of Ryukyu Kingdom, Sho Shin, of the Second Sho dynasty (1465-1527). The language is very very old style Chinese formal aristocratic language style, which I am able to read some and understand the content. Emperor of China is sending gift to the King of Ryukyu for their tribute, and is sending the Ryukyu King and consort several roils of luxurious cloth and other gifts.
Thank you so much for making this video. I am of Okinawan descent, but I didn't know a lot of these things in your video. I will definitely learn more about my own community.
Thank you for this information! My maternal grandmother’s family moved to Hawaii from Okinawa, and she was the only member of her family born there. I’ve always wanted to know more of this history.
Thanks Rob about history of okinawa in Hawaii 👍Sao Paulo Brazil
Thank you for making this. I searched "hawaii and japan before ww2" and this was the 26th result underneath a bunch of videos completely unrelated to my search.
My grandfather was a American buffalo soldier 13th Calvary and met my grandmother a true ryukyuan from Naha shi during the war. He fell in love with her and married her and they came back to America in the presidio San Francisco ca. That’s why I stick to my roots on my American side and my okinawan side and I try to learn as much as I can about both history. Thank you for this video brother it taught me a lot!
Thanks for watching! And thanks for sharing your family experience!
Ryukyu was hit especially hard after Taiwan came into annexation. People started having to eat sotetsu palm and were poisoned.
They were treated as second class citizens and cannon fotter during the war.
My great grandfather brought his sons after he was drafted in the Sino-Japanese war 1905, He was shot in the cheek and the bullet landed on his tongue. He then vowed to bring his sons to Hawaii. So my grandfather came here, I heard my grandfather was a Cole miner in Okinawa, he played the violin too.
His wife was born in Hilo, and went back to Okinawa to study medicine, later married my Grandfather.
I am the only Okinawan-Messianic-Jewish that I know in the world. My Grandfather was Mark Kamemori Miyashiro (Miyagi). He had 3 restaurant Alakea Grill, Olympic Grill, Kuhio Grill. My mother remarried Wakukawa, my Uncle Seiyei Wakukawa was sent to internment camp in New Mexico, he was pardon by Pres. Roosevelt, he then wrote the Japan Land Reform Act, was honored as National Treasure by Japan.
My Grandfather was a patron of the arts. He was the first to have Art work in Kuhio Grill. I wrote a book about Kuhio Grill, it's called Olympic Grill, I changed the name because the staff of Kuhio Grill was of multi-ethnic background..
Thank u so much for your channel n info on Okinawa. I feel accepted now- now that u have educated us. Please make more videos. I have been lost since childhood! My parents n grandparents were born n raised in Hawaii. But my roots actually stem from Okinawa. How do u feel about the Maui Fire Tragedy 2023? I swear both Hawaiians n Okinawans seem to have the short end of the stick! No wonder I feel like such a minority n no one seems to understand where I come from.
God bless Okinawa!
Thank you for sharing this. At least now I know a little bit about my culture.
Thank you for this vid. If my My Hero Academia fanfiction doesn't touch on the subject of Okinawan separatists with superpowers being a major yet sympathetic antagonistic force at some point, my original novel series will certainly use this information to spin a great yarn about super powered Okinawans trying to secede from the Japanese. You guys and the Ainu.
You would think being colonized at around the same time as hawaii in the same manner there'd be some sympathy.
in Latin America although our relations with Spain is much more friendlier today we can still sympathise
So you're saying that Okinawans are ignorant assholes?
@@itskitty808 nope 👎
@@itskitty808 im saying being colonized should be a way to be sympathetic others
Not in helping colonizing
Just discovered your channel and subscribed. Amazing stuff! Are you a professor at a university somewhere?
I'm a PhD student at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Poor Okinawans. Home country destroy by japanese, in Hawaii during war, treated as japanese.
Is there more places to learn the language? Part of my family left from Okinawa to Hawaii and I know nothing about the culture or language
Very informative video!! I'm from California, and have lived in Okinawa for 5 years. It's a very nice place, I love it here. One quick comment. You said that Okinawans have moved to many places like China and Japan. Okinawa has been a Japanese prefecture for many years. That would be like me asking a person from Hawaii if "they have ever been to the United States". I've been coming here since 1988, and have noticed many positive changes in the years.
2:25 So Ryukyu was akin to today's Singapore?
I have read Kerr and quoted it in papers I have written. I am surprised that it is less than accurate. Is there a more complete history of Okinawa, written in English?
Anyone who knows any "Fakura" in Hawaii from Japan, their names were Kengo Fakura, Fuji Fakura and Humei Fakura, Plantation Laborers in Hawaii, Camp 2 in Maui. They might be related to our ancestors. We don't know the name of our grand grand father that said to be Japanese.
So is the book "Uchinanchu: a History of Okinawans in Hawaii" biased or not worth reading? I saw one for sale and I was thinking about it. Does it have more about the sea pigs? Strange that these days everyone wants wild pig meat called "Agu."
IMO there is no such thing as any book, article, video, etc., that is unbiased. Everyone comes from a certain position, but some people are more honest and upfront about it than others.
Uchinanchu: a History of Okinawans in Hawaii contains some valuable information about Okinawans in Hawaii, but it also contains some propaganda, both for the U.S. and Japan. It was written and edited by a lot of Okinawan Americans who personally benefited from the U.S. military / government, and from forming business ties with Japan and Japanese Americans. Thus, they talk about Japanese prejudice "being a thing of the past" when in actuality it is still very much alive and strong today. They fail to take note of their own privilege and of the continuing oppression of actual Okinawans in Okinawa. The book also fails to place the blame on Japan for Okinawa having become impoverished after 1879.
Yes, it does contain more info about the sea pigs, along with info about the hardships of plantation life in Hawaii.
Like most books, it should be taken with a grain of salt.
@@RobKajiwaraOfficial Thank you Rob for your insight. Reason why I am interested in pigs is that I have seen two types of purple sweet potato, white skinned ones (yams?) and dark skinned ones (sweet potato). The dark skinned one is called the "Moloka'i" type. The white skinned one is called "Okinawan" type. I think the dark skinned one is quick growing, and I am betting that the pigs did not come alone. Or maybe I got it backwards. Since true sweet potato is native to the Americas. Beni-imo are important to Okinawans and I am curious about their true origins. Yams and sweet potato are different species so there are likely two stories.
Yes, I've tried looking into the origins of Okinawa's sweet potatoes, but there doesn't seem to be any type of solid consensus about this. Some scientists and laypeople think the sweet potato came to Ryukyu naturally (by sea drift) thousands or millions of years ago from South America. Others think it was brought by trade with South America during prehistoric times. Still others think it was brought to Ryukyu around the 1600's.
Rob traducilo al español pocos descendientes de oriundo de la isla conocen la historia de nuestros orígenes
Wasn't the Ryukyu kingdom somewhat under Japan's thumb since the early 1600s? With independence only being maintained as a front so that they could still trade with China in spite of China's trade embargo on Japan?
I've seen highly conflicting takes on the relationships between Japan and Ryukyu between the early 1600s and the annexation and I'm curious
No, that is a modern revisionist argument created by Japan after the Meiji Restoration. Unfortunately that narrative has been propagated heavily today, creating much misinformation and confusion. I intend to do more videos on this subject in the future. For now please see our website for more information: www.PeaceForOkinawa.org
@@RobKajiwaraOfficial Ahh, that explains where the conflicting takes come from.
MacArthur should have let Ryukyu become independent when America took control of Japan after Japan had surrender.
The Okinawa incident with Japan was a hostile take over was without any overture. However, in Hawaii, the Hawaiian Monarchy's overtures with Western countries and Japan was a result of treaties. Hawaii was a Constitutional Monarchy. Participation by the people was guaranteed. Identification of which of those people was to be is what led to the dysfunction of politics in the islands. In time all peoples became participating citizens. There was no illegal overthrow of the Throne, it was all legal. The Queen made an error against her favor, there could not have been an arrest otherwise. King Kalakaua knew that being a figure head, regardless of loss of power, would still preserve the Hawaiian Kingdom. Because most nations at the time were constitutional governments. The Queen, instead, staged a coup for absolute power, in defiance of Hawaii's constitution which protected both foreigners and natives. Politics is a science of opportunity, the Queen failed to realize that. Today in Hawaii, every group recognizes opportunity as the means. Hawaiians are doing their best to seize their opportunity. Their best option is to increase their race in population and opportunities. The politics may once again cause them to lose everything, because every group is looking out for themselves. This includes Okinawans.
No, you are incorrect. Hawaiians never gave up their right to independence, including the Queen. The Permanent Court of Arbitration acknowledges this, as does the United States government itself. Please see the following for more information:
ua-cam.com/video/jcitJI5v350/v-deo.html
www.HawaiianKingdom.net
www.HawaiianKingdom.org
You are wrong. Queen Lili'uokalani was held at gun point to sign... dont speak on our hawaiian culture
@@RobKajiwaraOfficial mahalo for explaining. Much aloha