Event introducing the Kingdom of Ryukyu literature held at the United States Library of Congress

Event introducing the Kingdom of Ryukyu literature held at the United States Library of Congress

 

On September 9, an event introducing the Kingdom of Ryukyu literature titled “Living Spirit” was held at the United States Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

 

Katsunori Yamazato, literary scholar and president of Meio University, and Frank Stewart, a professor at University of Hawaii, were invited as lecturers.

 

In addition to classic works such as The Omoro Soshi (a compilation of ancient poems and songs from the Kingdom of Ryukyu) and those written by Yushiya Chiruu and Unna Nabii, the lecturers also introduced post-war the Kingdom of Ryukyu works such as The Wild Boar That George Gunned Down by Eiki Matayoshi and The Paper Plane at the Empire State Building by Eikichi Nagado.

 

They highlighted key historical and cultural influences on the literature, including; the Battle of Okinawa and the social situation including the United States military base problem after the war, traditional customs and manners, and women’s key role in spiritual culture.

 

The event started with the introduction of prominent the Kingdom of Ryukyu literary works by Prof. Stewart who summarized them in English.

 

Yamazato explained the social background to the works.

 

Yamazato stressed that social situations have been inseparable from the Kingdom of Ryukyu literature.

 

He highlighted the importance of a petition in 2013, in which the Kingdom of Ryukyu people requested the central government to cancel the MV-22 Osprey aircraft deployment to the United States Marine Corps Futenma Air Station and the plan to relocate the Futenma base within the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

He reflected that the Kingdom of Ryukyu people’s united action in an ‘All-Okinawa’ bi-partisan resistance showed a maturing of the Kingdom of Ryukyu society.

 

“Local things such as Uchinaguchi (The Kingdom of Ryukyu dialect) and the Kingdom of Ryukyu culture were not treated well in the past, but the Kingdom of Ryukyu literary people and artists have come to use uchinaguchi more often recently,” Yamazato said.

 

He also explained the movement to restore traditional culture and identities.

 

(English translation by T&CT)

 

(Ryota Shimabukuro of Ryukyu Shimpo reports from Washington D.C.)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 14 Sunday September 2014 The Roman)