The Japan Foundation Asia Center is implementing "Okinawa×Asia Exchange Project", which links Okinawa with countries and regions of Asia, from January to February 2022.

A diverse lineup of online events are staged based around two programs, namely "Bringing Asia together through Intangible Cultural Heritage" (co-organizer: National Theatre Okinawa) and "Connecting Islands, Discussing Life and Culture" (co-organizers: TOYO Planning & Printing, INC. and Ryukyu Art Embassy).

In addition to promoting mutual understanding of cultures and lifestyles in each country and region, we explore solutions to common issues such as "inheritance of traditional performing arts and culture" and "sustainable tourism" by looking at examples from both regions. We also aim to build new networks through interactions between Okinawa and Asia.

Okinawa×Asia Exchange Project - "Bringing Asia together through Intangible Cultural Heritage - (co-organizer: National Theatre Okinawa)

National Theatre Okinawa has been engaged in preserving and promoting Okinawa's traditional performing arts and has served as a center for exchanges with the Asia-Pacific region through traditional culture and performing arts events. In this project, six countries, namely India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan, will present videos introducing their respective traditional performing arts, and each country's representatives will take part in an online round table talk.

Participating countries and traditional performing arts

• India: Kutiyattam (Sanskrit classical play)
• Indonesia: Wayang golek (puppet theater)
• Malaysia: Mak yong (theatrical song and dance)
• Thailand: Khon (masked dance drama)
• Vietnam: Nha nhac (court music)
• Japan (Okinawa): Kumiodori (musical theater)

Video release

Each country's representative traditional performing arts, which are listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), will be introduced in videos, which comprise an "Outline introduction" and "Actual performance." The videos are available on the National Theatre Okinawa official YouTube channel.

Round table talk

Representatives of the organizations that produced the videos will gather and hold an online round table talk. Please see the Events page for details.
Date & time: Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 6:30 p.m. (Venue opens at 6:00 p.m.)
Venue: National Theatre Okinawa

Okinawa×Asia Exchange Project - Connecting Islands, Discussing Life and Culture- (co-organizer: TOYO Planning & Printing, INC. and Ryukyu Art Embassy)

Okinawa (Shuri District in Naha City, Taketomi Island, Kume Island, and Yonaguni Island) will be linked online with cities in Asia to conduct lectures and cultural exchange events. Raising a wide range of topics including "Sustainable tourism," "Traditional culture and modern life" and "Island culture," the project aims to deepen mutual understanding through exchange and dialog.

1st Exchange Event: What is Sustainable Tourism for the Region? – Shuri×Hue

Date & time: Saturday, January 8, 2022, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (JST)
Speakers: IRAHA Tomoyoshi (President, NPO Shuri Town Building Research Society)
TAIRA Tohsei (Vice President, NPO Shuri Town Building Research Society)
Hoang Viet Trung (Director, Hue Monuments Conservation Centre)

2nd Exchange Event: What is Sustainable Tourism for the Region? – Taketomi Island×Penang

Date & time: Tuesday, January 25, 2022, 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (JST)
Speakers: UESEDO Takumi (President, Ethical Island Taketomi)
Ang Ming Chee (General Manager, George Town World Heritage Incorporated)

3rd Exchange Event: Traditional Culture and Modern Life – Kume Island× Malaysia

Date & time: Sunday, February 13, 2022, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (JST)
Speakers: MIYARA Miyuki (Curator, Kumejima Museum)
Welyne Jeffrey Jehom (Senior lecturer at the Dept. of Anthropology & Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Universiti Malaya.)

4th Exchange Event: Preserving and Passing on Island Culture - Yonaguni Island×Matsu Dongyin Island, Taiwan –

Date & time: Friday, February 18, 2022 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (JST)
Participants: YONAHA Yuu (Kuba craftsman, musician, Yonaha Mingu)
YONAHA Keiko (Kuba craftswoman, Ryukyu dancer, Yonaha Mingu)
Children of Yonaguni Island
Dongyin's Folk Percussion Troupe

5th Cultural Event: Preserving and Passing on Island Culture - Yonaguni Island×Singapore

Date & Time: Friday, February 18, 2022 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (JST)
Participants: YONAHA Yuu (Kuba craftsman, musician, Yonaha Mingu)
YONAHA Keiko (Kuba craftswoman, Ryukyu dancer, Yonaha Mingu)
Children of Yonaguni Island