IN TOKYO
"RYUKYU OKOKU - MADE IN OKINAWA"
Sat. 13th Oct. 15:00 〜
RYUKYU OKOKU - MADE IN OKINAWA
directed by Sayoko and Renzo KINOSHITA, 17min. 43sec., 35mm, 2004
An animation documentary describing the history and spirit of Okinawa (ex-Ryukyu Kingdom), the most southern island of Japan today.
The history passes by a Ryukyu man laying down on the beach. In the ancient days, the time
flows very slowly, and people lived in peace and calm, worshiping the nature God, the
beautiful Big Dipper, the Sun and the Sea. Then, gradually, because of its being a place of
strategic importance, Okinawa undergoes serious changes, visited, invaded and reigned by
various countries one after another: the trade with Min (the old China), the invasion by
Satsuma Clan (of old Japan, 1609) , sending missions to the old Tokyo (1710), the landing of
American Admiral Perry (1853), the abolition of Ryukyu Clan and became Okinawa Prefecture
(1879), the Prince of Japan visiting Okinawa (1921), and then the tragedy of the Second World
War... occupation by USA...
And today, the Ryukyu man is still laying down on the beach.