Okinawa: The World in an Island, an Island in the World | In Person (Ryan Ranch)

Course Description:

The Okinawan archipelago is the jewel of the East China Sea, stretching from the Japanese main islands to nearly Taiwan. Over the centuries, this subtropical region has served as a crossroads for the people, ideas, and commodities of China, Japan, and Korea. At various points in its history, Okinawa (or Ryūkyū, or Lew Chew, depending on whom you ask) has been comprised of a confederacy of peoples, a dominant monastic kingdom, a Chinese tributary state, a vassal of a Japanese warlord, a prefecture of Japan, a U.S. military colony, and what has been called the keystone for U.S.-Japan strategic defense in East Asia. While these overlapping histories and outside powers inform the Okinawa of today, they do not diminish the vibrant culture and society of these islands. Join us for a unique look into the history and contemporary society of Okinawa.