Okinawa, Japan 6: Family in Nakijin
Written & Directed by James Knott

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In this episode, James heads to Nakijin village to see his Okinawan relatives. The whole family cooks out at his Aunt Tsuneko and Uncle Haru's house. They sing Happy Birthday (in Japanese) and plenty of Orion beer is consumed. James also finds a huge spider living in the bathroom behind the toilet. Yikes!

OKINAWA, JAPAN

Okinawa is Japan's southernmost prefecture. Over 1.25 million people are scattered across nearly 150 islands.

Okinawa has a unique culture that goes back several hundred years to when it was an independent country known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. This kingdom was known to trade frequently with China and as a result adopted much more from the Chinese than the rest of Japan.

The main island, Okinawa-honto, is surrounded by vivid, bright blue ocean and coral reefs. It is densely populated and urbanized in the south, while the the mountainous northern part of the island consists of just a few fishing villages and dense forests.

The beautiful, sub-tropical setting combined with historical roots that are more intertwined with China than Japan, have created a wonderful culture that is distinctly Okinawan.

TRANSCRIPT
Okinawa, Japan 6: Family in Nakijin

I came to Okinawa with my wife, Chrissy.

“This is what I look Like”

Her parents, Karl and Satoko.

Her sister, Annie

“He want to go over here now” (pushes turtle)

And Annie’s husband, Joby. 

“Boku Wa, joby johnston.  That’s me.  Right here.  De-su”

It’s a great opportunity to meet the okinawaN half of my wife’s family.

For most of my time in Okinawa, this cute little house in Nakijin village is my base of operations.

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW’S SISTER, TSUNEKO, AND HER HUSBAND, HARU, OCCUPY THE HOME. 

haru-san to tsuneko-san wa totemo yasashi desu.  they take me on many adventures around the island.

they host several cookouts at THEIR home in nakijin.  relatives come from around okinawa, kita daita and the mainland to see us.  we work together to cook the food – There is always lots of food – and, maybe one or two beverages.

“To-To-TO”

haru and tsuneko also have a pet spider living in the bathroom.

“there’s the toilet.   There’s the spider.”

“We’re in Okinawa and my big question is how do they sleep with spider’s that are this big in their house”

“Totemo Okii desu!   AHHH!”

Haru-san doesn’t mind the spider because it doesn’t hurt humans and eats the bugs that wander into the house in this rural part of okinawa.

it’s a lot of fun hanging out with everyone.  Chrissy and annie spent a lot of time with their cousins growing up and relish being reunited with them.

They even get a cake for annie’s birthday.

for me, meeting my okinawan relatives gives me a greater attachment to the island.  As i wander around on my adventures, I know that I have the support of a wonderful family and want to learn as much as I can about their unique culture.