Okinawa, Japan 26: Final Thoughts
Written & Directed by James Knott

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James Knott reflects on his favorite moments in Okinawa.

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 16: Final Thoughts

MY MONTH IN OKINAWA HAS COME TO A CLOSE AND I HAVE TRAVELED THE ENTIRE ISLAND FROM NORTH TO SOUTH.

SOME OF MY FAVORITE MOMENTS WERE EXPLORING THE NORTHERN-MOST POINT OF THE ISLAND, HEDO MISAKI – CLIMBING TO THE HIGHEST PEAK IN OKINAWA, YONAHA-DAKE – CHURAUMI AQUARIUM AND OCEAN EXPO PARK – TAKING A WALK DOWN OKINAWA’S MOST FAMOUS STREET, KOKUSAI DORI – EXPLORING THE GROUNDS AT SHURI CASTLE – AND THE WW2 PEACE MEMORIAL.