Art and culture of Ryukyu (Okinawa) highlighted at Kyushu National Museum

A special exhibition featuring the art and culture of Okinawa (formerly Ryukyu Kingdom) has opened at the Kyushu National Museum in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Pref. About 240 cultural assets ⁠— including several government-designated national treasures and important cultural properties ⁠— closely associated with Japan’s southernmost prefecture are now on display.

Special Exhibition Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Okinawa’s Reversion to Japan
Ryukyu

Jul 16 (Sat) – Sep 4 (Sun), 2022

Kyushu National Museum
(Dazaifu, Fukuoka Pref.)

*See outline below for more info

Entitled “Ryukyu,” the special exhibition highlights items selected from among the royal Sho family archives — a collectively designated national treasure — as well as artistic crafts, ancient documents and archaeological artifacts associated with the old kingdom.

At a press preview of the exhibition on July 16, 2022, reporters were given the opportunity to admire the beauty of the various bingata (a traditional dyeing technique originating in Okinawa) robes, a royal crown ornamented with colorful jewelry and other artistic items associated with the Second Sho dynasty on display.

The special exhibition, held in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan this year (2022) and in conjunction with the Tsumugu Project, will run until Sept. 4.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun and other sources)

From the Kyushu National Museum website:

The Ryukyu Kingdom was once an island nation that ruled modern-day Okinawa. It thrived as a transit base for trade and diplomacy between countries along the Asian oceans, and came to flourish as the bridge connecting its peoples. From its prosperity during the Second Shō dynasty through the challenges it has faced in recent history, its people have worked steadily and diligently to preserve, pass on, and celebrate their history and culture. The year 2022 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Okinawa’s return to Japan from American rule. In commemoration, we have put together an exhibition of unprecedented scale exploring the establishment of the Ryukyu Kingdom in the Asian context as well as the distinctive aesthetic of its culture. We hope that this exhibition will provide an opportunity for visitors to deepen their understanding of the history and culture of Ryukyu and Okinawa, which continues to shine bright in the modern world, as well as to realize the importance of preserving it for future generations.