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

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. During the reign of the Shō family, which lasted approximately four hundred years from 1470, the Ryukyu Kingdom carved out its own place in history through international exchange with its neighbors such as China and Japan, and nurtured a rich artistic and cultural identity that has been passed down through generations since. The modernization of Japan during the subsequent Meiji era (1868–1912) brought the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom to an end and launched a new chapter in the region, newly named Okinawa. Despite these changes and the tremendous hardships that Okinawa faced during the Pacific War, 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 aesthetics 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.

Finally, we wish to express our gratitude to all parties involved for their cooperation in organizing this exhibition.