Christianity in Okinawa

May 17, 2018-July 31, 2018
Location: Asia Collection

Last year the Okinawa Collection in the Library received a generous donation of the Ryukyuan Bible and Hymns with Proverbs, translated by an Okinawan minister named Arakaki Shn’ichi (last name, first name). The new exhibit, Christianity in Okinawa, demonstrates the history of the encounter of the Ryukyu Kingdom with Christianity, focusing on the major figures in disseminating the gospels. They are Bernard Jean Bettelheim, Rev. Henry B. Schwartz. Iha Fuyū, and Arakaki Shin’ichi. Interestingly, there is a connection between these people and Hawai‘i. Rev. Henry Schwarts worked in Hawai‘i, and Iha Fuyū—who is known as the father of Okinawan Studies—visited Hawai‘i as well. Also, an independent scholar wonders the origin of Arakaki Shin’ichi’s notebook, which is believed to be prepared for a woman in Naha whose husband invited her to Hawai‘i. Here in Hawai‘i, the local community might have some information about this woman and some photos of Iha Fuyū’s speech at the Nu‘uanu YMCA.