The Spirit that Helped Okinawa Recover from World War II

The small subtropical island of Okinawa lies halfway between China and Japan in the East China Sea.

Six centuries ago, it was home to an independent maritime nation, the Ryukyu Kingdom, with a distinct "islander" culture, language, and customs.

Skilled seafarers and traders, Ryukyu sailors traveled as far as Indonesia and Malaysia, trading Chinese silk and ceramics for ivory and dyes.

The kingdom practiced expansive beliefs that honored the sea and viewed Ryukyu as a bridge between nations.

In 1879, Japan annexed Okinawa, and the kingdom ceased to exist.

66 years later, the island endured one of the most brutal events in its history. During the Battle of Okinawa, an estimated 200,000 people, most of them Okinawan civilians, lost their lives.

The island went under U.S. military occupation during the difficult post-war period and was returned to Japan in 1972.

Through it all, Okinawa has never lost its resilience. On the show, we explore how Yuimaru, the spirit of cooperating with others, has helped Okinawa recover from the war.

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"Yuimaru is the reason we were able to move on from the tragedy of the Battle of Okinawa." – Ai Munakata

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The Island of Women

See Okinawa this Fall with us.

Last November, I celebrated my birthday in Okinawa. This year, I'm returning to the island on a very special women-only trip.

We'll be traveling in the footsteps of Amamikiyo, the goddess who created the world, according to Okinawan beliefs, and spend time with a yuta, a practicing female shaman, in the northern mountain villages.

Learn more about the trip ⬇️