Living on Okinawa

Living on Okinawa

Customs and Beliefs of the Locals

Living on Okinawa can be a great experience, you just have to get out and learn about the practices and customs. Okinawa, the principle island of the Okinawa Prefectures is referred to as the, "Keystone of the Pacific". The climate compares to the Unites States southeastern coastal areas. The name Okinawa means, "Rope in the sea". It is a fairly good description of this long stretch of islands between mainland Japan and Taiwan. Okinawa consists of forty-one inhabited islands. Okinawa is also a major tourist destination. Okinawa's customs and environment are beautiful and appealing to all.

Okinawan's are benevolent and genuinely peaceful people. The society and customs have survived thousands of years. One of the most prominent custom or Okinawa is bowing. Bowing is an Okinawan greeting, having the same meaning as shaking hands in America. It shows respect; the deeper the bow the more the respect. One would not bow to a shopkeeper when making a purchase. Another sign of respect is how you address Okinawans. When addressing an Okinawan, custom dictates using his or her last name and the suffix "san". So if you have someone with the name Sakura Uchima; she would be called Uchima-san. This goes for both male and female.

Okinawan's customs deal with matters of respect and courtesy. First, you must show respect for the elderly. They believe that the older generations have an exhausted place in the Okinawan society. Second, you should never walk into an Okinawan home, shrines, or temples wearing shoes. You also do not tip at off base restaurants, hotels, or bars; when you are on base you do as Americans do "tip".

One of the most delightful Okinawan custom is gift giving. Okinawan's exchange presents between friends and neighbors on seasonal occasions, journeys, moves, and at the beginning of the New Year. When receiving gifts, it is customary to give one in return. If you give a gift to an Okinawan, he or she will feel obligated to give in return.

Okinawan's also celebrate the life's of their ancestors. They take a week off and all local businesses are closed that week. It is celebrated the thirteenth trough the sixteenth of August. This holiday is called Obon. At this time, they visit the graves of the ancestors welcoming the spirits home. A makeshift alter is prepared at the home of the eldest son; that is where they communicate with their ancestors. They also take food, incenses, and various gifts to their grave and sit them there. On the last day of Obon the Okinawa's go to an ocean or river to see their ancestor's off.

Customs are very different here, just exhibit