{mosimage}Katusuren Castle is located on the Katsuren Peninsula on the eastern coast of Okinawa. Today, the ruins of the castle are an educational attraction, hosting tourists, schoolchildren, amateur historians, and curious passersby.Excavations and historical research show that Katsuren Castle was constructed during the 12th century. During its first two centuries of existence, successive occupants (which were primarily local chieftains known as aji) increasingly fortified its walls. The... Read Full Story
{mosimage}Kinjo-cho Stone Road (Kinjo-cho Ishidatami Michi) is a two-meter wide, 300-meter long path paved with large blocks of Ryukyuan limestone. It is located in Shuri, Okinawa, to the south of Shuri Castle.Okinawa has many gusuku (castles), and Shuri Castle is the most well-known to tourists. The castle, which was constructed late in the 14th century, served as the administrative center of the Ryūkyū Kingdom for nearly five centuries. Kinjo-cho was built in the early 16th century to... Read Full Story
{mosgoogle right}NAHA -- Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima said the central government has a "tacit agreement" to relocate the Futenma Air Station offshore as sought by Okinawa Prefecture.
Nakaima's remarks, which came during a press conference at the Okinawa Prefectural Government on Friday, may stir controversy as the government has reiterated it will discuss the planned relocation of the air base with the possibility of moving it offshore but that it will be difficult to change an original... Read Full Story
{mosimage}Naminoue Shrine (Naminoue-gu) is a Shinto shrine located on a bluff overlooking the East China Sea in Naminoue, not far from present-day Naha Port. The exact date of Naminoue’s construction is not known, but it was built during the reign of King Sho Kinpuku (1449–53). At the time, Japan was introducing Shinto to Okinawa and working to push out the local, mystic religion. Thus, the Ryukyu king ordered the construction of the Eight Shrines of Ryukyu, most of which were paired with a... Read Full Story
{mosimage}Chatan Town is located in the central portion of Okinawa, bordered by Kadena Town to the north, Ginowan City to the south, and Okinawa City, Kitanakagusuku Village, and Futenma to the east. Chatan is particularly well known to Americans on the island, as the presence of three bases (Kadena Air Base, Camp Lester, and Camp Foster) within the town’s borders gives it a very western feel.The kanji for Chatan translates to mean “northern valley,” and humans are thought to have lived in... Read Full Story
