Okinawa History and Culture Seminar

Today at 1PM all the Marines from Alpha and Bravo (the one I'm in) companies were required to attend a Okinawa history and culture seminar that lasted nearly two hours. The seminar was introduced by, I believe his name was, Mr. Kuno. He said he works with the Japanese ambassador. He talked briefly about what the culture exchange between the American military and Okinawan cultures. He gave the example of Mexican taco rice. Apparently, when the Americans were first here there was only one restaurant that knew how to make it. The man tweaked the recipe and it became so popular you now see it in the Okinawan school lunch menu and even served in Tokyo. I'm assuming that was before pre-fulturistic Tokyo. I swear, visiting Tokyo must be like visiting Disney World's Tomorrow Land. It's like the future bu t without the flying cars.

Next was Mr. Nakamoto who had a history degree in Okinawan history. He started off with asking us what we thought was the question that bothered most Americans over here. I thought it was going to be the whole "Who do you feel about being on the losing side of a world war" (no offense, but it's an honest question). The correct question was, "Why do Okinawan's object to the American military protecting them?" He broke it down.
1.) Battle experience in 1945: About 1/3 Okinawans died. Japanese soldiers: 110,000 lost, Okinawan civilians: 75,000 killed, US: 12,520 marines and sailors.
2.)Land aquition policy: basically the US military took control over the island and paid people to move off their land but eventually forced them off of it by way of "bayonet and bulldozers". It makes me think of Israel.
3.) Arrogant attitudes by the American officials.
4.) Incidents and crimes.
The American generals held absolute power from 1945 to 1972 when we gave back Okinawa to the Japanese government. They had the power to veto any laws made, try people in military courts. These actions helped created the Koza Riot December 20th, 1970 after a traffic accident. American cars were burned but there were no damage to the businesses. It was like a protest.... but with fire.
He finished up with the quote, "What is past is prolouge"

The next speaker was a woman named Hatsumi Kinjo who works as a translator but also knows a lot about Okinawan culture. She said a lot of the things I knew already. I had had classes like this before. The island is 64 miles north to south, 8 miles at its widest. Rainy season May to June, typhoon season afterwards (what I'm in now). There are 1.369 million people living on the island (I don't know if that includes the Americans or not). Also, Okinawans have some of the longest life expectancies in the world because of the foods they eat. She talked about the importance of tombs and remembering the dead. She reminded us not to climb on the tombs (you know some stupid Marine did..) Pork was a rare dish in their culture and was reserved for New Years Eve. She also explained the Shisa (lion) statues you see guarding the doors of some buildings. They protect against the evil spirits. She then started talking about the agreements the Japanese and American governments had made like the fact American military can be punished under Japanese law and put into Japanese prision.

She left it on a good note by listing off some great places to visit like the aquarium in the north which has a whale shark tank (those things are HUUUGE) and Shuri Castle.

Overall, I learned a few things and that's what matters when it comes to these types of classes. It got us all out of work and it made me appreciate Okinawa, where I've now lived for over a month, a little more.