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Art and Culture
In Okinawa, there aer ceremic and lacquer arts, dyed and woventextile and glass craft that were born in the Ryukuyu Kingdom era and have since been developed. Without sanshin, there is no Okinawan music. Even today, many Okinawan people practice the martial arts of Karate and Kobudo. The heritage of the Ryukyu Kingdom has steadily been handed down from generation to generaton.
Pottery
Pottery is called as "Yachimun" in Okinawa. All pottery made in the various parts of Okinawa have a simple and warm texture and hue which give them an additional charm. The representative production areas are Tsuboya in Naha city and Yachimun Pottery Village in Yomitan Village. There are jars and Shisa Llion figures beside plates, bowls and coffee cups. Some studio in Tsuboya accept visitors for observation.
Dyed and Woven Textiles
Dyed woven textiles of Okinawa were born from trade between Southern nations and China during the Ryukyu Dynasty era and developd their own textiles adopted to the culture and tha climate. Dyed woven textiles handed down in generations at the various parts of the prefecture are varied. Some of the typical ones are: Shuri-ori, Ryukyu kasuri, Yomitanzan-hanaori, Basho-fu, Kumejima- tsumugi, Miyako-jofu, Yaeyama-minsa, Yonaguni-ori, and dyed textiles of Bingata.
Ryukyu Glassware
Ryukyu grassware, which started in the Meiji era, renewed production using recycled bottles of soft drinks and beer bottles brought by the US military in the post war period. Air bubbles exist in the bulbous glass material, but the workmen make the most use of the unsophisiticated appearance to raise the value as daily necessities and souvenirs. Recently, you can find more of the imaginative hand-made Ryukyu glassworks by young craftmen.
Ryukyuan Dance
Ryukyuan Dance is a traditional dance in Okinawa. In order to entertain in vertiture envoys from China, the Ryukyu government established a special dance agency called 'Odori-Bugyo' and improved skills. The graceful dance wearing vivid Bingata costume evokes the graceful court life during the Ryukyu Dynasty. Why not enjoy an elegant time whikewatching a Ryukyuan dance show?
Karate
Karate is a martial art for self-defense using bare hands and originated here in Okinawa. It is said that Okinawa's traditional martial art erceived influences from Chinese boxing techniques and has developed on it's own.
