The festival held in
November of 2001 attracted some four thousand participants from different
parts of the world; from Sweden to Argentina, people mainly of Okinawan
decent, and others who have a passion for these islands came to Okinawa.
Currently there are some 300,000 Okinawan expatriates and their descendants
living overseas. There is an Uchinanchu web page at http://www.wuf3.com/
A history of Okinawan emigration
First recorded emigrations from Okinawa started in December of 1899 with
27 people leaving for Hawaii. Four years later a second wave of 40 people
arrived in Hawaii, led by a teacher from Kin town-Kyuzo Toyama who is
often referred to as the father of Okinawan emigration. Okinawa was a
poor Prefecture and largely agricultural, in order to ease population
stress, Japan encouraged emigration. Soon after 51 Okinawans landed on
the mainland of the United States of America and Canada, and many more
subsequently followed. In 1923 North America imposed immigration restrictions
on Japanese nationals and Okinawan emigration shifted to South America,
to countries such as Brazil, Peru and Venezuela. Post war emigration started
in 1948 when 33 people were allowed to leave for Argentina. Many more
followed. The Ryukyu Government established an administrative division
for emigration in 1952, which opened the door to mass migration to countries
such as Bolivia in the following year. These plans were backed by USCAP,
U.S. Civil Administration of the Ryukyus and in 1960 the Ryukyu Emigration
Public Corporation was created to actively encourage emigration, mostly
to South America. There are many critics to this policy introduced by
the US military, and targeting young Okinawan men, many suggesting it
was a strategy in decreasing the possibilities of armed disaffection in
the local population. Many of these men, given free parcels of land arrived
in Bolivia to find jungle and struggled to build their communities in
the early years.
Emigration from Okinawa reached its peak in 1958 and since then has been
gradually declining.
Many of these migrants
established Okinawan communities and associations and these are now collectively
called the uchinanchu network. This network was instrumental in assisting
Okinawa during the post-war period and continues to contribute to the
island's social, economic and political well-being.
Here is a list of the
overseas Associations
USA (26)
Alaska, Alaska State Okinawan Kenjinkai
Florida, Okinawa Kenjinkai Pensacola
Arizona, Arizona Tucson Okinawa Kenjinkai
Illinios, Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai INC,
Indiana, Okinawa Kenjinkai of Indiana
Indiana, Okinawa Dance Club (Yu-Yu-kai)
Ohio, Okinawa Tomonola of Ohio
California, Northern California Okinawa Kenjinkai
California, Okinawa Association of America, inc.
California, Okinawa Kenjinkai of San Diego
California, Sacramento Kenjinkai
Colorado, Colorado State Okinawa Kenjika
Georgia, Atlanta Olinawa Kenjinkai
Texas, Elpaso Okinawa Kenjinkai
Texas, Okinawa To'nonokaj
Texas, DYW Okinawa Kenjinkai
New Mexico, New Mexico Okinawa Kenjinkai
New York, US East Coast Okinawa Association
New York, Okinawa American Association of Okinawan Associations;
North Carolina, Okinawa Kenjinkai
North Carolina, Fayetteville Okinawa Kenjinkai
North Carolina, Jacksonville Okinawan Kenjinkai
Hawaii, Hawaii United Okinawa Association
Florida, Florida Okinawa Goyulai
Utah, Utah Okinawa Kenjinkai
Washington, Okinawa Club of Washington State
Washington D.C., Okinawakai of Washington D.C.
CANADA (4)
Alberta, Calgary Okinawan Kenjinkai
Alberta, Lethbridge Okinawa Club
Ontario, Toronto Kyuyo Kai
British Columbia, Vancouver Okinawa-ken Yuaikai
LATIN AMERICA (8)
Argentina, Centro Okinawense en le Argentina
Cuba, Cuba Okinawa Kenjinkai
Brazil, Associacao Okinawa de Brazil
Brazil, Associacao Okinawa de Campo Gronde
Venezuela, Asociacion Okinawense de Venezuela
Peru, Asociacion Okinawense del Peru
Bolivia, Asociocion Okinawense do Bolivia
Mexico, Asociacion Okinawense de Ajexico
EUROPE (7)
U.K., Okinawa Kenjinkai of the UK
Switzerland, Swiss Okinawa Kenjiikai
Sweden, Sweden Uchinancha Kai
Spain, Asociacion Okinawense de Espana
Spain, Asociacton Okinawense do las Palmas
Gerinany, Deutschland Okinawa Kenjikai
France, France Okinawa Kenjikati
ASIA (9)
Indonesia, Ikaruta Ushina-kac
Guam, Guam Okinawa Kenjiiai
Singapore, Okinawa Club Singapore
Thailand, Okinawa Association in Thailand
China, Fulkensho Okinawa Kenjilai
China/Taiwan, Taiwan Okinawa Kenjikat
China/Hong Kong, Hong Kong Okinawa Kenjinkai
Philippines, Philippine Okinawa Society
Malaysia, Malaysia Okinawa Kai
OCEANIA (1)
Australia, Sydney Okinawa Kenjikai
AFRICA (1)
Zambia, Zambia Okinawa Society
Paul Saeki. (Reference; Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival in Okinawa 2001
Guidebook)
