[First Winds of Ryukyu]

Date1940-1949

Mediumacetate, plastic

ClassificationsMoving Images

Credit LineGift in Memory of Nanshin Okamoto

Object number2023.35.4

DescriptionBlack and white 16mm footage spliced together on the Ryukyuan islands, circa 1940s. Footage includes two films, shows village life in Ryukyu (Okinawa) and includes title cards and narration in Japanese.

:00 - Opens with title card, 琉球の初風 [First Winds of Ryukyu], and Ryukyuan music that includes sanshin (three-string instrument) and drums.
:35 - Shows a map of Japan, a route goes down to the Ryukyuan archipelago.
:53 - Scene of a beach.
1:03 - Sago palm trees.
1:08 - Elderly woman walks down a path in clothing that appears to be made of Bashofu (banana fiber).
1:23 - Fishing boats.
1:27 - Fishermen sitting in boats.
1:30 - Shows individual faces of fisherman.
1:42 - Pathways between stone walls.
2:05 - Doorway in stone wall, likely part of a castle (known as Gusuku).
2:20 - Bridge made of stone over a small body of water.
2:48 - Shureimon, also known as Wī nu Aijō.
3:03 - Shuri Castle, also known as Sui Ugusuku. Two dragons on top of roof.
3:54 - Appears to be Shiisa.
4:18 - Shows various different styles of Ryukyuan turtleback tombs.
5:18 - Ryukyu-Buyo dances.
7:28 - Woman sifting through fish in a boat, many wear jiffa (hairpin) in a bun and bashofu clothing.
7:37 - Women selling items in an open market.
7:46 - Woman holding fish.
8:04 - Tofu.
8:32 - Vendor selling bashofu and other Ryukyuan and Japanese textiles and clothing.
8:39 - Woman with hair in kanpuu hair style, jiffa pin through the middle of bun.
8:59 - Karate.
10:30 - Opens with title card, 琉球の民藝 [Ryukyu Folk Crafts]
10:37 - Asadoya Yunta song plays in background as title cards go in and out.
11:20 - Pathways empty, some with individuals walking through.
11:43 - Shiisaa on top of kenchiku (red tile) roofing.