Running Away

Marino Miyagi, OCU

When I was six years old, my brother was born. I was happy but felt all of my mother’s love go straight to him. My mother was very kind. We used to go places on weekends. My father worked at night. I missed him every night when he went out. I cried a lot. I had my dog Hana who lived on the balcony. Sometimes we played together, and I would grow tired and fall asleep with her outside. The feeling of loneliness made her my best buddy.

During this time, I attended Daido Kindergarten. It was located near the snack bars in Sakaemachi. Everyday, passed-out drunkards would lie in street, so I didn’t walk there. I was a tomboy, honest and an animal lover.

My best friend was Narise. We had been friends since nursery school. We had always been close. She was adventurous and liked to do dangerous things. She couldn’t stay still. One day, we ran away together from kindergarten. We had thought that kindergarten was becoming rather boring, so we felt we needed to escape. We aimed for lunch break time, but we didn’t have time to change our shoes. We ran away with our hallway slippers. We moved softly, with slow stealthy footsteps in the hallway. The operation was a huge success.

First, we went to my grandmother's house. When we arrived, she asked us, “What’s up? You are supposed to be at school now, right!?” We answered, “We have no school today.” That was a lie. Around that time during kindergarten, the teachers noticed that we were gone. They searched around the kindergarten ground, but we were not to be found. Then they called our mothers. They said, “Please keep yourselves calm. Your children aren’t here. Maybe Marino ran away with Narise. We are searching for them, but they’re not here. My mother said, “I’m going to call my mother. Maybe they are there.” 

My mother’s suspicions were true. So, she came to my grandmother’s house and found us. We were scolded by her and my teacher. My mother was very angry. She was afraid that we had had some kind of accident. She said, “I am glad that you have returned safely. Please promise me that you will never run away.” I said “Okay, I promise.” I have kept that promise even to this day. On that day, I noticed my mother’s great love for me.

In writing this brief reflection, I asked my mother, “Did I do anything else?” My mother said, “Yes you did. When you were in nursery school, you ran away by yourself. You were just three years old.” When I was 3 years old, my mother had given birth to my sister. Maybe my mother was busy caring for my sister so I felt lonely at that time as well. Running away was my message to my mother, “I miss you.” Later, when I realized my mother given birth to my brother, when I was in kindergarten, I must have felt very, very lonely. In Japan, it is said that the eldest daughter receives much love and affection, but I must have been lonely not to be aware.

Destruction of Nature in Okinawa

Suzuno Taira, OCU

Okinawa is famous as a place where nature is often judged to be spectacularly beautiful. There are many beaches that feature clear water like shiny jewels in white sand. The beauty can take your breath away. If you go to the northern part of the main island where there are mountains and forests, you can receive lots of negative ions from the trees that are good for health. So, it is easy to feel comfortable living in Okinawa for both humans and animals, at least in some places. But recently, the destruction of nature in Okinawa’s main island has been getting worse.

How did this happen, and what are the effects of this destruction of the environment in Okinawa? In this article, I describe some of the causes and effects that pollution has on our local environment, and offer some solutions for how to deal with this problem.

The destruction of nature creates a bad influence on all creatures. First, someone walking along the beach in Okinawa will see a variety of garbage on the beaches such as plastics, medical waste, sandals, and fishery equipment. Cigarette butts are also found most often. They mostly come from people who throw trash away locally and people visiting from other countries. (Ryukyu Shinpo) Actually, in 2013, when marine litter experts and NGO collected garbage along the beaches, they collected more than 12 million pounds of it. Japan Update says that this is, “the most ever collected in the event’s history.” As a result, animals that live in the sea often eat trash accidentally because they mistakenly think that trash is something that they can eat, and it subsequently causes their death.

According to the article, there was a dolphin that lost its way and looked weak (Umigomi 15). So, the people from the environmental division took it to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium as soon as possible, but he died soon after he got there. The reason of death was that he probably had trash in his system because he didn't have much energy to catch a fish. So, he had likely found a plastic bag as his food when he was hungry. When researchers dissected him, only plastic bags and some other garbage came out from his stomach. Also, some animals become entangled in fishing nets and died. For example, a sea turtle got fishing net around his body somehow. He couldn't do anything and move anymore because of the net. He passed away at last (Umigomi 15).

Second, environmental problems deriving from American military bases are one of the main sources of recreating an unnatural environment in Okinawa. Most people have recently heard of Henoko base construction efforts that will affect sea cows' lives. Sea cows were designated as a protected animal. But if base construction continues, there will no longer be a habitat for them. Even their ecosystem will be destroyed by that construction (Nature conservation activities of Okinawa). Who can live without an environment?

Other problems are now appearing. One is that various kinds of petroleum products flow out from the bases. This has happened 77 times from 1972 to 2002. Oil spills have created terrible conditions for the rivers. Along with oil spills, another series of secret dumpings of herbicides in 22 corroded metal drums that were discovered after the base was returned in 2013. Those drums had a nasty smell and their contents were used as defoliants. A defoliant's main component is a dioxin that causes horrible disease such as dermatitis, immunity toxicity, and reproduction toxicity. As one example of its damage, there is a story of “Viet and Duc Nguyen”. They were born as conjoined twins by the influence of defoliant. And their abdominal, genital, and part of the anus were connected together. So, people might develop serious health problems, if they come into contact with these chemicals (Weekly women PRIME) (VIET JO). The question is, what else has been dumped and not yet uncovered. 

Third, Okinawans have caused some environmental problems themselves. The land development and the urban development have increased. If people construct new buildings or agricultural lands, it causes seawater pollution from red clay. This affects the coral's life (National Institute for Environmental Studies). Also, according to Kinjo Koji, who has started culture and transplant of the coral, the coral has been decreasing a tenth part of the past. The reason is that people often step on the coral, but they don't notice it. Many people don't understand how a valuable it is. (Family mart magazine) But, recently construction companies have used a muddy water treatment equipment to stop red clay outflow when they construct something (Ti-da). So, Okinawans are trying to fix the problems by that and Kinjo Koji's activities.

The solutions of the other nature destruction, some individuals and organizations are trying to save and keep our beautiful environment. For instance, local communities, NGOs and NPOs, some organizations do beach clean regularly (Japan Environmental Action Network). I used to be a member of ECO CLUB for one year. Then I did beach cleaning, every time, we had a meeting, and learned about the food chain, creatures, and the natural environment. I also planted a mangrove. There are a lot of opportunities for kids to learn and think about nature such as Yambaru natural school, Okinawa experience Niraikanai, and Children environment summit (Yanbaru Nature School) (Okinawa Niraikanai）（Yanbaru Discovery Forest).

If kids can carefully consider think about nature right now, they can become people with power who will seriously protect beautiful nature in the future. Also, Okinawa prefecture should make new laws that people will be punished if they throw away the garbage, like in Singapore. It will be an easy way to reduce the garbage. However, the adverse effects on the environment with American bases are quite difficult to solve because this problem is not related to only Okinawa. America and Japan also have a connection with that. It has been limited that people in the local community can do for protection nature, if politics is involved. But, people are trying to let others know how American bases create environmental problems, and how precious nature is in Okinawa.

In conclusion, it takes a long time to figure out how we can reduce the destruction of nature. But we should keep trying harder to make better lives for humans, animals, and creatures. Nature in Okinawa is a part of the history of Okinawa that our ancestor piled up their hope and heart. So, nobody can destroy that, and we should protect this beauty and valuable island as long as we can. The natural environmental in Okinawa will be amazing in the near future as everyone can say, “Okinawa’s nature is amazing,” with confidence.

Sources

海外ごみ問題 琉球新報 (Ryukyu Shinpo)　(2007.08.07)　

  http://ryukyushimpo.jp/editorial/prentry-26097.html

海ゴミ１５ (Umigomi 15)(2010)

http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/site/kankyo/seibi/ippan/marine_litter/documents/marine_litter_15_kaisetu.pdf

JAPAN UPDATE (2014.05.22)

http://www.japanupdate.com/2014/05/over-12-million-pounds-of-trash-collected-during-international-coastal-cleanup/

沖縄の自然保護活動 (Nature conservation activities of Okinawa)

http://www.okiu.ac.jp/Language/contest/02/09/group7/group7.htm

普天間基移設問題 (Japanandworld.net)(2015.04.03)

http://japanandworld.net/archives/3128

米軍基地跡から猛毒ダイオキシンが！(Weekly women PRIME)(2015.08.09)

http://www.jprime.jp/tv_net/nippon/16717

べトジョー　ベトナムニュース　(VIET JO)(2016.01.31)

http://www.viet-jo.com/news/special/160129055312.html

国立環境研究所(National Institute for Environmental Studies)(2014.06.30)

http://www.nies.go.jp/kanko/kankyogi/53/12-13.html

サンゴ養殖の第一人者、金城浩二さん　ファミ友

(Family mart magazine)(2015.11.03)

https://www.okinawa-familymart.jp/article/archive.html/5012

沖縄の豊かな自然を守るりゅうせき商事環境事業部「てぃーだ」通信(Ti-da)(2014.02.06/LABO)

http://ryusekishojiteida.ti-da.net/e5777616.html

沖縄県環境生活部環境整備課.(Japan Environmental Action Network) 

http://www.jean.jp/m-litter/matter02.html

やんばる自然塾　(Yanbaru Nature School) HP

http://gesashi.com/

沖縄体験ニライカナイ（Okinawa Niraikanai）HP

http://www.niraikanai.co.jp/

やんばる学びの森（Yanbaru Discovery Forest) HP

http://www.atabii.jp/?p=3277

Is Okinawa Just a Shopping Resort?

Ritsuki Kuninaka, OCU

Okinawa is presently a popular and well-known tourist spot in Japan. It has also become popular with other Asian countries recently. You might often hear various foreign languages spoken when you are at sightseeing spots such as Kokusai Street or at the many resort hotels. 7,170,000 visitors came to Okinawa in 2014. This was five times as many as the population of Okinawa. As for foreign visitors, 986,000 people arrived, and most of them arrived from nearby Asian counties such as Taiwan, Korea, Mainland China, and Hong Kong. Lately, lots of ferries, which Asian tourists ride, come to ports in Okinawa.

In this article, I will discuss what is so popular about Okinawa at present and argue that Okinawa must evolve its tourism in a way that highlights the long history, fascinating language, and rich culture of the indigenous people. These are the aspects of Okinawa that must be presented to the world more than the present commercialization and capital consumption that people come here for.

Last year, a word was selected to Buzzwords-of-the-year contest in Japan. It was “Bakugai,” which means bulk buying. The number of foreigners who visited Japan bought a lot of electronic appliances, Japanese foods, and goods and so on. The foreigners also did same thing in Okinawa. They gave Okinawa great benefit.

But about this, David Atkinson (2016) claimed that Japan tends to sell lots of things for cheap prices, but Japan doesn’t feature any true comfort for rich travelers. There are plenty of supermarkets, but no real boutiques. And when people want great Okinawan traditional crafts, they don’t know where to go to find them. So this means that if Okinawa increases these shops (and awareness of them), then Okinawa will add another yet purpose for various tourists to come and enjoy.

Recently, Aeonmall Rycom Okinawa was built last year in Kitatakagusuku Village while a major San A mall is being built in Urasoe City, which is to open by 2022. Rycom immediately became a new and popular sightseeing spot. The San A, no doubt, will be in the same position as well. But there are already a lot of huge malls in Japan and the rest of the world.

Okinawa must increase spots where people can actually feel “Okinawa,” not just reproduce places that other destinations offer. In France, many visitors visit the country again and again because being there makes people feel “France” through the atmosphere, from the beautiful views and the stunning architecture. France can’t be felt in other places. France has its own unique charm. However, Okinawa has traditional buildings like Shuri castle as well, and it can’t seem to capture visitors’ imagination and interest. Why is this is so?

David Atkinson (2016) said that, “Shuri castle has nothing. When guests come to your house, nobody makes inside of the house empty and receive without meal and drink. I think Shuri castle had a lot of ceremonies every day. Just showing videos doesn’t bring any employments. The castle is a cultural asset but not a culture.” And, he also said, “when you explain places or things, you have to care that just translating to English from Japanese doesn’t mean. It is more important to translate freely.” Panels that are for explanation in Shuri castle are very short. They can’t really tell visitors what had happened there and why they were so important. Thus, the panels should include more information to help visitors understand more thoroughly their significance.

If Okinawa improves these things, the island could change the image to a “cultural island” from a “shopping resort.” So far, especially Asian tourists come to Okinawa, but if it turns into a “cultural island,” we can expect it to attract new tourists from different regions such as Europe, Australia, and America and so on. These areas are not close to Okinawa. David Atkinson (2016) says that tourists who come from far countries tend to stay long. And they have much time, so they look around the nature, culture and history. If tourists stay even 1 day long, it brings great economic effect to Okinawa. Economic ripple effect increase 200 million yen and about three thousand people are employed (2014).

At last, present-day Okinawa hasn’t been seen as the true Okinawa of history. But this island has its own unique traditional culture and history and so on. If Okinawa is accepted as a “cultural island” not just some “shopping resort,” many tourists from lots of other countries will come. And, this renewed interest will have a positive effect on the economy in Okinawa. Thus, Okinawa must evolve its tourism in a way that highlights the long history, fascinating language, and rich culture of the indigenous people.

Sources

David Atkinson (March 2016). 「首里城は空っぽ」？沖縄観光の課題とは　Retrieved from 

  http://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/article.php?id=157130

David Atkinson (February 2016) 訪日客「おもてなし」の極意

  Retrieved from http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASJ18420KJ18UCVL00H.html

湧上　敦夫（2014）沖縄経済と観光 Retrieved from 沖縄経済入門　沖縄国際大学経済学科編