Center for Okinawan Studies

is committed to supporting the research and teaching of Okinawa-related subjects by its faculty/staff and students, as well as providing outreach to the general community in the forms of workshops, lectures, seminars, and conferences.

(Past Event) Shuri Castle Event at EWC | October 23, 2022, Sunday, 4:00-5:45 pm (Symposium), 6:00-7:30 pm (Reception)

October 31, 2022, will mark three years since Shuri Castle was destroyed by fire. Since then, efforts are being made to reconstruct and rebuild this World Heritage Site. Dr. Rei Kawakami, a computer vision expert at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, has been spearheading a team of engineers who have developed an online platform to support public engagement with the restoration process. The ground-breaking idea used in this technology is to gather millions of photographic and video images of the castle from people around the world and use them as data to reconstruct a 3-D digital model of the Shuri Castle. During her presentation, Dr. Kawakami will share her experience as the team leader of this exciting project and offer a non-technical overview of the cutting-edge technology used. To facilitate dialogue and exchange, Dr. Kawakami’s presentation will be preceded by an introductory presentation by Dr. Masato Ishida, Director of the Center for Okinawan Studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, on the history of Shuri Castle and its meaning as a symbol of Okinawa.

(Past Event) Music event "Sacred Sounds of Ryukyu" on Sunday, November 11, 2018 from 6 pm at Orvis Auditorium

On November 11th, Sunday, from 6pm, there will be traditional Okinawan music performance at Orvis Auditorium,UH Manoa Music Department. For details, please refer to the flyer that is accessible by clicking on the heading of this post

(Past Event) 10/13/2018, Saturday, 9 am- 4:30pm Symposium: 30th Anniversary of the University of Hawai'i - University of the Ryukyus Partnership

University of Hawai'i and University of Ryukyus are hosting a symposium on 10/13 Saturday from 9 am - 4:30 pm at Center for Korean Studies at University of Hawai'i at Manoa. Further details to follow. For seating and lunch information, please contact the Center for Okinawan Studies, cos@hawaii.edu or (808) 956-6345.

(Past Event) The 36th Annual Okinawan Festival, September 1-2, 2018

There will be many fun events such as performance of Hawaii Taiko Kai, foods (of course many andagis!), and bon dance festival. UH Manoa's Center for Okinawan Studies booth will be there as well as so please come check us out too! Event time and parking: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st. Festival: 9 am to 5 pm. Bon Dance: 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd. Festival: 9 am to 4 pm NEW LOCATION: Hawaii Convention Center. Parking at the Convention Center is $10, or you can park for free at McKinley High School with shuttle to Convention Center for $3 roundtrip.

Fall 2023 Courses

DNCE 106 Introduction to Okinawan Dance: Beginning techniques of Okinawan dance. No experience necessary. CRN: 74468. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1.

DNCE 306 Okinawan Dance I: Performance and techniques at the introductory level. CRN: 71494. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1.

DNCE 406 Okinawan Dance II: Performance and techniques at intermediate level. Prerequisite: 306 or consent. CRN: 71749. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1-3.

JPN 471 Okinawan Language & Culture: JPN471 is the first of a series of two courses (JPN 471 and JPN 472). This course focuses on the language, heritage and folk culture of Okinawa. Prerequisite: 202, 205 or consent (3 credits). CRN: 76867. Instructor: Stewart Curry. Credit: 3.

MUS 311F Okinawan Ensemble: Performance of literature for types of groups of various sizes and kinds at introductory level. Prerequisite: upper division standing or consent. CRN: 79131. Instructor: Norman Kaneshiro. Credit: 1.

Spring 2023 Courses

DNCE 106 Introduction to Okinawan Dance: Beginning techniques of Okinawan dance. No experience necessary. CRN: 84869. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1.

DNCE 306 Okinawan Dance I: Performance and techniques at the introductory level. CRN: 81668. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1.

DNCE 406 Okinawan Dance II: Performance and techniques at intermediate level. Prerequisite: 306 or consent. CRN: 81669. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1-3.

HIST 423 Okinawa: This course covers the major developments of Okinawan history from prehistoric to contemporary times. The focus is on the political, social, cultural, and religious aspects of change for the period. Since the course encompasses a long span of time, it will be useful to learn the following list of periods: 1) Prehistory, 2) Ancient Ryūkyū, 3) Early Modern Ryūkyū, and 4) Modern Ryūkyū/Okinawa. CRN: 85252. Instructor: Mark McNally. Credit: 3.

JPN 472 Okinawan Language & Literature: JPN472 is the second of a series of two courses (JPN 471 and JPN 472). This course focuses on Okinawan literature across various genres and periods. Prerequisite: JPN (202 or 205) w/C grade. CRN: 88237. Instructor: Stewart Curry. Credit: 3.

Fall 2022 Courses

DNCE 106 Introduction to Okinawan Dance: Beginning techniques of Okinawan dance. No experience necessary. CRN: 75243. Instructor: Kathy Arakaki. Credit: 1.

DNCE 306 Okinawan Dance I: Performance and techniques at the introductory level. CRN: 71717. Instructor: Kathy Arakaki. Credit: 1.

DNCE 406 Okinawan Dance II: Performance and techniques at intermediate level. Prerequisite: 306 or consent. CRN: 72011. Instructor: Kathy Arakaki. Credit: 1.

JPN 471 Okinawan Language & Literature: JPN471 is the first of a series of two courses (JPN 471 and JPN 472). This course focuses on the language, heritage and folk culture of Okinawa. Prerequisite: 202, 205 or consent (3 credits). CRN: 78533. Instructor: Stewart Curry. Credit: 3.

Spring 2021 Courses

ASAN 320-O Asia Past & Present: Okinawa: An in-depth interdisciplinary introduction to various aspects of Okinawa including geography, history, society, traditional culture, contemporary arts, the base issue, emigration. CRN 89112. Instructor: Lonny Carlile. Credit: 3.

DNCE 106 Introduction to Okinawan Dance: Beginning techniques of Okinawan dance. No experience necessary. CRN: 90545. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1.

DNCE 306 Okinawan Dance I: Performance and techniques at the introductory level. CRN: 86817. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1.

DNCE 406 Okinawan Dance II: Performance and techniques at intermediate level. Prerequisite: 306 or consent. CRN: 86818. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1.

HIST 423 History of Okinawa: This course covers the major developments of Okinawan history from prehistoric to contemporary times. The focus is on the political, social, cultural, and religious aspects of change for the period. Since the course encompasses a long span of time, it will be useful to learn the following list of periods: 1) Prehistory, 2) Ancient Ryūkyū, 3) Early Modern Ryūkyū, and 4) Modern Ryūkyū/Okinawa. CRN: 91172. Instructor: Mark McNally. Credit: 3.

JPN 472 Okinawan Language & Culture (A 500-year Legacy of Poetry, Drama, and Prose): JPN472 is the second of a series of two courses (JPN 471 and JPN 472). This course focuses on Okinawan literature across various genres and periods. Prerequisite: JPN (202 or 205) w/C grade. CRN: 93025. Instructor: Stewart Curry. Credit: 3.

Spring 2020 Courses

ASAN 320-O: Asian Nation Studies – Okinawa: An in-depth interdisciplinary introduction to various aspects of Okinawa including geography, history, society, traditional culture, contemporary arts, the base issue, emigration. This semester there will be an exciting opportunity to engage in online exchanges with students enrolled at Okinawa’s University of the Ryukyus. CRN 84463. Instructor: Lonny Carlile. Credit: 3.

DNCE 106 Introduction to Okinawan Dance: Beginning techniques of Okinawan dance. No experience necessary. CRN: 86058. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1.

DNCE 306 Okinawan Dance I: Performance and techniques at the introductory level. Prerequisite: upper division standing or consent. CRN:81990. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1.

DNCE 406 Okinawan Dance II: Performance and techniques at intermediate level. Prerequisite: 306 or consent. CRN: 81991. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1.

HIST 423 Okinawa: This online course covers the major developments of Okinawan history from prehistory, ancient Ryūkyū, early modern Ryūkyū, and modern Ryūkyū/Okinawa. The focus is on the political, social, cultural, and religious aspects of change for the period. CRN:86762. Instructor: Mark McNally. Credit: 3.

JPN 472 Okinawan Language & Culture (A 500-year Legacy of Poetry, Drama, and Prose): JPN472 is the second of a series of two courses (JPN 471 and JPN 472). This course focuses on Okinawan literature across various genres and periods. Prerequisite: JPN 202, 205 or consent. CRN: 89305. Instructor: Stewart Curry. Credit: 3.

Fall 2019 Courses

DNCE 106 Introduction to Okinawan Dance: Performance and techniques. No experience necessary. CRN: 85794. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1.

DNCE 306 Okinawan Dance I: Performance and techniques. Prerequisite: upper division standing or consent. CRN:81142. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1.

DNCE 406 Okinawan Dance II: Performance and techniques at intermediate level. Prerequisite: 306 or consent. CRN: 81516. Instructor: Yukie Shiroma. Credit: 1.

MUS 311F Okinawan Ensemble: Performance of literature for types of groups of various sizes and kinds at an introductory level. Prerequisite: upper division standing or consent. CRN: 89022. Instructor: Norman Kaneshiro. Credit: 1.

HIST 665B: Seminar in Japanese History to 1600: This course will focus on premodern Japanese history, especially the pre-1600 era. There will also be readings focused on premodern Ryūkyūan history as well. The course will cover all major aspects of the premodern era, with a special emphasis on political, cultural, and economic history, as well as on the history of foreign relations. CRN: 87945. Instructor: Mark McNally.

Spring 2019 Courses

EALL (East Asian Languages and Literatures) 197 Elementary Okinawan :

The class will introduce students to the Okinawan language of Naha, the capital city
of Okinawa Prefecture. Some reference will be made as well to the classical/aristocratic/literary Shuri variety and its role in the performing arts and poetry/song traditions of Okinawa. The class meets three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and features instruction in Okinawan pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, sentence patterns, and conversations. CRN: 89018 (3 credits)

Prerequisites: The course presumes an interest in the Okinawan language and a willingness to work hard, but no prior experience with Okinawan is required. All required materials are in romanized Okinawan and English.
Instructor: Dr. Stewart Curry

In Spring 2019 semester, Dr. Stewart Curry will offer an Okinawan literature class. For those interested, this will be a perfect opportunity to immerse into Okinawan literature.

Fall 2018 Courses

DNCE 106 Introduction to Okinawan Dance:Beginning techniques of Okinawan dance. No experience necessary. CRN: 87720

DNCE 306 Okinawan Dance I:Performance and techniques at the introductory level. Prerequisite: upper division standing or consent.(1 credit)
CRN: 82453

DNCE 406Okinawan Dance II: Performance and techniques at intermediate level. Prerequisite: 306 or consent. (1 credit)
CRN: 82861

JPN 471 Okinawan Language & Culture:JPN471 is the first of a series of two courses (JPN 471 and JPN 472). This course focuses on the language, heritage and folk culture of Okinawa. Prerequisite: 202, 205 or consent (3 credits)
CRN: 82441

Spring 2018 Courses

ASAN 320O Asian Nation Studies: Okinawa: Multidisciplinary examination of major Asian countries; cultural, social, economic, and political lives of their peoples. (O) Okinawa Prerequisite: 201 and 202, or consent. CRN:85381

HIST 423 Okinawa: Survey of social, cultural, economic, and political history from earliest times to present. CRN:89018

JPN 472 Okinawan Language & Culture: The second series of two course (JPN 471-472) focusing on Okinawan literature, language skills, heritage, and cultural understanding. Prerequisite: 471 or consent. CRN:82471

JPN 614 Classical Japanese Literature: Critical reading and analysis of Japanese literature. Readings for the seminar depend upon the students’ interests including Okinawan/Ryukyuan literature. Prerequisite: 466 or consent. CRN:89276

MUS 311F Okinawan Ensemble: Performance of literature for types of groups of various sizes and kinds at an introductory level. Prerequisite: upper division standing or consent. CRN: 85820

DNCE 106 Introduction to Okinawan Dance: Performance and techniques. No experience necessary. CRN: 87797

DNCE 306 Okinawan Dance I: Performance and techniques. Prerequisite: upper division standing or consent. CRN:82428

DNCE 406 Okinawan Dance II: Performance and techniques at intermediate level. Prerequisite: 306 or consent. CRN: 82429

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