The people of Okinawa almost lost their native language. In my youth, I thought since Okinawa was part of Japan that they always spoke continental Japanese. After I started practicing karate, my sensei encouraged me to do historical research. Most karateka (practitioners) know the story of the Satsuma invasion and annexation of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The banning of swords led to the development of kobujutsu (improvised weapons) and uchinadi (empty hand fighting).
Like several other indigenous peoples such as Australian Aborigines, New Zealand Maori, Native Americans, and even recent immigrants and their children to the USA subject to the education policies of the 1970's (Assimilation-Acculturation models), the Uchinanchu (Okinawans) were compelled to stop speaking their language and use Japanese since the 1800's.
Recently, the elder population of Okinawa have been promoting the use of Uchinaguchi (Okinawa Hogen). They have opened schools and sponsored speech competitions in order to promote and preserve their native language. Of all places to find resources for preserving Uchinaguchi is here in the USA. Southern California and the Mid-West have the largest concentrations of Uchinanchu population outside of Okinawa. Some of these elders were interned along with Japanese-Americans during WWII. Without the influence of the Japanese education system, these native speakers have been speaking pre-WWII Uchinaguchi. There are also other populations in South America.
Yaeko Yokota competing in a language tournament in December 2007.
The subtitles are for people who only speak Japanese!
Byron Fija, son of an American, grew up in Okinawa and teaches the Uchinaguchi he learned from all the "aunties" and "uncles" that raised him.
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