Lost souls of Okinawa

Hi everyone,

Here's what I'm sharing for today:

As I continue to read Okinawan literature and study works from Okinawans many themes from war emerge. After reading Bones (1973) by Shima Tsuyoshi (pen name = "strong island"), I begin to realize the importance of the connection to the past and nature Okinawan's share. In the short story Bones, a Japanese company is building a grand hotel with an exquisite garden but are feeling forced to toss away thousands of old bones from the war because they are in the way of the construction plans. The bones are buried next to a banyan tree which was planted for the spirits of those who weren't properly buried or named.

This story is similar to a real one where a businessman tried to build a hotel but many ominous things happened during construction and eventually the businessman went bankrupt. More info here: http://okinawahai.com/haunted-hotel/

Even today, there are organizations and campaigns who search for bones in Okinawa from the war. Families still seek their lost ancestors. Paying respect to the dead and the ancestors are significant in Japanese and Okinawan culture. In the short story Turtleback Tombs (1966) by Oshiro Tatsushiro the theme of dead ancestors is present as well. The tomb in the story becomes a source of (spiritual) and physical protection while Americans begin invading the island.

On my Japanese side, my grandmother's family tomb is protected by the Japanese government. The tomb is so old that it is now a historical landmark. Even as family, we must ask permission to visit and be accompanied by an official.

Much of Okinawa is defined by the war and what became of it. The effects of imperialism and colonialism continue today in its own way and the history of war still haunts Okinawa today.

#history #ancestory #okinawa #WWII #americanbases #resistence