Differnce between Okinawa and mainland Japan?

[okifamily3]

I grew up in Okinawa, but my mom is from mainland. I notice a huge difference in the 2 different places. Can you name me a few???

[Sex Wax]

Not that much snow around these parts. Thank God.

[DoctorP]

night and day for me.


Lifestyle and speed of life are two things. Things in mainland move much faster in most places.

[Bones]

I'll agree with Doc P, up to a point. If you go to large cities on the main land, things probably won't be much different than what you expect to see in the states.

But we've visited some places up in Hokkaido, where people haven't had too much contact with Americans and, the response to someone like myself, is not much more different than it is over here within a local village.

People may point fingers, but if you have relatives up there, and they realize that you are there for a purpose, things change drastically. We had to turn down a variety of gifts that we were not even looking for. Mostly fresh sea weed , or other vegetables that are hard to come by over here.

Looking fwd to seeing that place again, later this year. Maybe.

[I Am Luna]

Mainland people are very usually on time for meetings. Okinawans have something called "Okinawan Time." 15 minutes late isn't a big deal here.
Just an example of one difference. Too many to list.
Mainland is Japan. Okinawa is Okinawa.
If you understand that, then join my underground army to make Okinawa a sovereign nation.

[DoctorP]

Mainland people are very usually on time for meetings. Okinawans have something called "Okinawan Time." 15 minutes late isn't a big deal here.
Just an example of one difference. Too many to list.
Mainland is Japan. Okinawa is Okinawa.
If you understand that, then join my underground army to make Okinawa a sovereign nation.

15 minutes??? Hell...try 45min or an hour!:thumbdown:

[Oki alumni]

If you understand that, then join my underground army to make Okinawa a sovereign nation.

Okinawa WAS once a "sovereign nation", prior to WWII...had it's own flag, etc. Not TOO many years ago, the U.S.A. "gave it back" to the Japanese, whom in reality had never "owned" it to begin with. As a bit of trivia for those who don't know, Okinawa at one time used US currency, and drove on the other side of the road. There was a "change-over" day for drivers to get used to driving on the "wrong side" of the road. LOL, from my rememberences, some of 'em never quite "adapted". Google® it.

-Oki Alumni:old:

[okisteve]

Okinawa WAS once a "sovereign nation", prior to WWII...had it's own flag, etc. Not TOO many years ago, the U.S.A. "gave it back" to the Japanese, whom in reality had never "owned" it to begin with. As a bit of trivia for those who don't know, Okinawa at one time used US currency, and drove on the other side of the road. There was a "change-over" day for drivers to get used to driving on the "wrong side" of the road. LOL, from my rememberences, some of 'em never quite "adapted". Google® it.

-Oki Alumni:old:

I just know you are going to get a bunch of knowitalls like me telling you how wrong you are about it not having belonged to Japan before the war. If I had the energy I would look up when it became a prefecture (1880's I think, or definitely early Meiji Era).

Yep, dat's da truuf. You'r right about it being US territory, though, from 1945-1972.

[Fire4Effect]

Biggest difference between Okinawa and Mainland...about 400 miles.

[Fire4Effect]

We should not have gave Okinawa back... my grandfather died in vain..

[Oki alumni]

I just know you are going to get a bunch of knowitalls like me telling you how wrong you are about it not having belonged to Japan before the war. If I had the energy I would look up when it became a prefecture (1880's I think, or definitely early Meiji Era).

Yep, dat's da truuf. You'r right about it being US territory, though, from 1945-1972.

I (gulp!) m-m-m-made a m-m-m-mistake? FIRST DAMN TIME! HONEST! EVER in my entire life!!!

Seriously though, thanks to Okisteve for the correction.:thumbup:

-Oki Alumni:old:

[okisteve]

We should not have gave Okinawa back... my grandfather died in vain..

Well,　that statement should get some sort of award. :clear19: The Battle of Okinawa pushed the war to an end. Isn't that enough?

[Oki alumni]

Mainland has a lot more popcorn:thumbup1:
other than that i can't tell the difference.

Ya GOTTA get something done about that FUNGUS, sweetheart! Mainland popcorn is AAFES made, therefore automatically stale and overpriced.

-Oki Alumni:old:

[LandCru72]

Maybe this thread should a been about Japanese vs OKinawa women and there differences... Tat tat would of gotten a lot of hits ....

[jimbob17755]

We should not have gave Okinawa back... my grandfather died in vain..
God Bless Grandpa!

[uriel]

I've noticed that on the average Okinawan women are a little thicker, as in not necessarily fat, but they look like they understand the importance of eating food, than Mainlanders. I know. I took it there...

[Oki alumni]

I seem to recall, from times past, the Okinawan's being described as "stocky". A good term in my opinion, and not derogatory or demeaning in any fashion, Uriel. Okinawan's to me, just always appeared more "firm" or "solidly built" than the mainland Japanese in general.

-Oki Alumni

[uriel]

it seems like more often than not, in mainland, the women come off as malnourished, whereas the ones here are kinda like comparing ca girls to midwest girls. little cornfed as opposed to valley. that's cool though, I like them everywhere! just depends on the girl.

correction, I did before i got married. now i get to windowshop. that's it...

[socalheart]

I've only been to the mainland once, beyond the airport. I noticed that aside from the obvious differences like population and mountains, Okinawans are nicer than Mainlanders. Hardly anyone there smiled as much as they do here. There also were fewer foreigners there than here. I remember one time, someone thought my dad was Russian, because they didn't get many tourists there. I think it was his floppy ear hat that made them think that. heh. I also have to echo Sex Wax's answer of snow. They get snow there on a regular basis. Although fun and pretty, I can do without it. :o

[uriel]

depends on where you are at. in iwakuni, maybe once or twice a winter you'll get a dusting of snow. go 45 minutes into hiroshima prefecture, winter freaken wonderland.

[Old Timer]

Okinawa WAS once a "sovereign nation", prior to WWII...had it's own flag, etc. Not TOO many years ago, the U.S.A. "gave it back" to the Japanese, whom in reality had never "owned" it to begin with. As a bit of trivia for those who don't know, Okinawa at one time used US currency, and drove on the other side of the road. There was a "change-over" day for drivers to get used to driving on the "wrong side" of the road. LOL, from my rememberences, some of 'em never quite "adapted". Google® it.

-Oki Alumni:old:

Nope...not since 1879 anyway...:mir31:

Reversion from Territory to Japan again..1972-1978. I went through 3 yeras of it!

http://www.okinawan-shorinryu.com/okinawa/history.html

[macker]

No trains in Oki.. (monorail is not a train)

People drink more and for longer

Diet is quite different

[Son Kokujin]

Sometimes Mainlanders seem like they are nicer, especially the ones who know a bit of English. Some of them seem to understand that all Americans-or Gaikokujin-aren't all bad, evil, marauding, rapist monsters....

But then again, I ran into a nice Oba-Chan here in Okinawa who was fluent in English yesterday. She was cool, especially when she saw me perusing the Eisa Festival Posters...

I guess location isn't as paramount to me as just taking in and learning from and sharing with the locals. I love talking about African-American History and culture with the locals, as well as learning and asking a gazillion questions about theirs. Good Stuff!

[Jimmy Hoffa]

Mainland people are very usually on time for meetings. Okinawans have something called "Okinawan Time." 15 minutes late isn't a big deal here.
Just an example of one difference. Too many to list.
Mainland is Japan. Okinawa is Okinawa.
If you understand that, then join my underground army to make Okinawa a sovereign nation.

Where do I sign?

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

No trains in Oki.. (monorail is not a train)

People drink more and for longer


The whole train thing plays into the different drinking cultures. Mainlanders go out to drink directly from work, and generally finish in time to catch that last train home (was always a pleasure to ride an train packed to the extreme with drunk working folk, dodging the various road pizzas near the station, on the platform, or in the train). Okinawans go home after work, get freshened up, then go for drinks. Take a taxi or daiko home (since the DUI law got tough), so go home when they feel like it. This tends to be later than the usual midnight or 0:30 last train up there.

[macker]

Eelcurb...

Thanks for the clarification on this...I would never have guessed that!!

Especially after 14 years here and my bi-monthly trips to mainland....


I hate the last train-rush...

[klove]

okinawans are hella dark (or tan easily) in comparison to japanese.

[Old Timer]

okinawans are hella dark (or tan easily) in comparison to japanese.


Don't tell them that...... That seals the deal on the complex they already have with mainlanders!!!:-|

[socalheart]

okinawans are hella dark (or tan easily) in comparison to japanese.

Well, that's if you don't count the Ainu, and even then only partially so.

[Old Timer]

FOOD...... ENTERTAINMENT...........WOMENS ATTITUDES (Better in mainland/ diversity).......SCENERY.........TRANSPORTATION... ........HIGHWAYS.............You name it.......:-|

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

Well, that's if you don't count the Ainu, and even then only partially so.
How's that? Ainu are lighter skinned than Japanese...

[P_chan]

Don't tell them that...... That seals the deal on the complex they already have with mainlanders!!!:-|

Who has the complex? The okinawans? Or the mainlanders who think okinawans are second class citizens?

[socalheart]

How's that? Ainu are lighter skinned than Japanese...

http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/7015/img_4146a.jpg Ainu man

http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/moviepics/gmzman1.jpg Japanese man

And only partially so, because both could avoid the sun and be equally pale or sit in the sun and be equally tanned. There isn't enough difference to call it a difference.

[Rossi46]

Who has the complex? The okinawans? Or the mainlanders who think okinawans are second class citizens?

How many people from Mainland Japan have you met that feel this way P_Chan? I lived up there for a while and never heard such. Then again I never hung out with 80 year olds. Most modern people talked shit about Osaka and their people...

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

And only partially so, because both could avoid the sun and be equally pale or sit in the sun and be equally tanned. There isn't enough difference to call it a difference.
There are very few full blooded Ainu left in Japan. They've been bred out.

As far as it being too close to call...for whom?

Japanese observers had noted that the Ainu were hirsute in comparison with themselves, a fact emphasized by traditional Ainu customs in which men wore heavy beards and women had facial tattoos that at first glance appeared to be mustaches. Other physical distinctions included the absence of an epicanthal fold and a tendency to have lighter skin and hair colour than other East Asians. For a variety of reasons, late 19th-century Japanese pseudoscience fixated on Ainu hairiness and postulated many preposterous notions for its cause, claiming, for instance, that the Ainu interbred with animals in order to produce hirsute children.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/10567/Ainu#tab=active~checked%2Citems~checked&title=Ainu%20--%20Britannica%20Online%20Encyclopedia

Like the Ainu, the samurai had more body hair, lighter skin and higher-bridged, Europeanlike noses than most Japanese. Indeed, nearly all of the physical characteristics of the samurai, celebrated in art and held high in social esteem, are those that closely resemble the facial features of the 18,000 Ainu who live on the northern island of Hokkaido...These differences in the Ainu, as well as their lighter skin color, gave rise to a belief that they could well be related to Caucasians. In some histories, the Ainu are described as proto-Caucasoid people, a group that split off from the white race so early that not all the characteristics of the race had yet developed.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE0DE103EF935A35755C0A96F9482 60&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

Ainu are indigenous to Hokkaido and its neighboring islands. Officially, there were 24,000 in Hokkaido in 2000. Most are the offspring of mixed marriages and the number of pure Ainu is not known. This year marks the 10th anniversary since a law on conservation and promotion of Ainu culture took effect.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/nn20070125f1.html

[P_chan]

How many people from Mainland Japan have you met that feel this way P_Chan? I lived up there for a while and never heard such. Then again I never hung out with 80 year olds. Most modern people talked shit about Osaka and their people...

Haven't really met many to make a decision. Just throwing an opinion that I've come across out there.

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

On the mainland there used to be an impression of Okinawa and Okinawans as second-class, but that has slowly given way to acceptance, and even an Okinawa boom of late.

Some reading for those interested:
http://metafind.iii.com:9797/MuseSessionID=6628ef59a0bd3f571f965b73d825996b/MuseHost=intersections.anu.edu.au/issue16/flaherty_review.htm

[deepsleep]

The people are different. Darker skin, stockier, shorter, and hairier. When I listed these things to a friend he said I made them sound like premitive cavemen. lol

Okinawans are known to have more prominent facial features compared to mainland japanese. More facial depth, thicker eyebrows, longer eye lashes, bigger eyes, nose and hairy faces. It ant just the faces that are hairy...

The Okinawan women are known to be louder and strong minded.

The mind set is different. Okinawans are generally more laid back and relaxed. Slower pace of life. Warm people.

Because of Okinawas have more of a simple and whatever style, they dont rate well in the etiquette(spelling that was hard) standards of mainland Japanese. This may look rude to them and is one reason they`re looked down apon.

Okinawans are also known to be more gullible and are sometimes taken advantage of in mainland Japan.

Okinawas beaches are much more beautiful. You wont find the vibrent colors of Okinawan beaches on mainland Japan.

The diet is totaly different. The culture reflects the food in my opinion. Okinawans are like whatever and just throw everything into one pan. Its called champoroo.

Mainland likes details and stuff so their food is very this and that, like this and eat it like that, with this with this here, and that there.

There are diferences inside mainland Japan itself also but the differences compared with Okinawas are much bigger.

Oh yeah and Okinawa is covered with bases and is hot as balls.

Oh yeah and have massive cockroaches that fly and play step on me chicken fight when walking at night.

[Crazysix]

okinawans are lazy drunkards
and Mainlanders are awesome, they make ps3

j/k
there are several difference in lifestyle, work ethic ect. but none are them bad or overly good......but I will say this Too MAnY Damned Africans in mainland and its too crowded

[Jrocka83]

Okinawa Girl
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/2400488278_95956e0be3.jpg

Japanese Girl
http://lh6.google.com/kingarthurma/Ru3TdJToeJI/AAAAAAAAC9k/wt6zJd1X3Gc/55_209049_985dd4342fb1a07.jpg

[deepsleep]

Cant see the second pic but you sure the first one is Okinawan? Looks like a mainlander to me.

[Sex Wax]

"Cankles" Rock !!!

[Patrick]

Just a note on the earlier conversation. I was under the impression that Japan paid America 4 million dollars to get Okinawa back as a prefecture. (LOL 4 million must have really been worth something back in the day)

Also all the U.S. territories have the option of becoming independent, why didn't the Ryukyu's request their independence back then?

I have heard that China and Japan claimed the Ryukyu's at the same time, any truth to that?

[Patrick]

Oh and I don't know how you guys can stand it here in the summer... Unbearable. I just crank on my A.C. until snow starts coming out, then I stay indoors for three months. Yea the electric goes through the roof but it is worth every last penny er yen.

I miss snowboarding

[ryukyuboi]

Just a note on the earlier conversation. I was under the impression that Japan paid America 4 million dollars to get Okinawa back as a prefecture. (LOL 4 million must have really been worth something back in the day)

Also all the U.S. territories have the option of becoming independent, why didn't the Ryukyu's request their independence back then?

I have heard that China and Japan claimed the Ryukyu's at the same time, any truth to that?

Okinawa was never a "territory" of the United States. Okinawa was mostly "administered" by the United States following WWII (actually a military occupation until the Treaty was signed) and the signing of the Peace Treaty. The Peace Treaty specified that the Ryukyu Islands would eventually be returned to Japan.

Some independence movements throughout the history of Okinawa, but these movements faltered for a number of different reasons depending on the times. I think the last serious independence movement was in the 1950s when the US administered the island.

Japan did provide some cash to the US government when the governments agreed to return the Ryukyu Islands to Japan. However, Okinawa was not bought back. Funds were provided by Japan for some of the investments the US government had made within the Ryukyus - like infrastructure, I believe.

[leahjackson]

I have heard that China and Japan claimed the Ryukyu's at the same time, any truth to that?

This part of Okinawan history is so interesting, Patrick. Also very well known and accessible, so you could do your own reading. Basically the Okinawan kings played a double game with China and the Satsuma from Kagoshima for a couple of centuries, eventually losing it all and finally losing sovereignty to the Meiji.

[Rossi46]

Mainland has hotter women and better food

Okinawa has better weather and a more laid back lifestlye

IMO

[ryukyuboi]

Better beaches and cleaner water on Oki.

[DoctorP]

Better beaches and cleaner water on Oki.

I debate the better beaches part...I've been to some really nice ones on the mainland.

[ryukyuboi]

Good for you. Overall, I thought they were not as good as the ones here, not by a long shot.

[gtlm2000]

I move Okinawa form mainland for 4 years ago.
I notice prices is little high.

Shizuoka where is I'm living is not high praces as like Tokyo, but
it's different from Okinawa.

[Sex Wax]

Oh and I don't know how you guys can stand it here in the summer... Unbearable. I just crank on my A.C. until snow starts coming out, then I stay indoors for three months. Yea the electric goes through the roof but it is worth every last penny er yen.

I miss snowboarding

You must drink many Chu-Hi's on the beach to become acclimated (sp?) to the heat. Better yet, buy me some Chu-Hi's, and we can sit on the beach and talk to the young ladies and you can learn to bear the heat. Or even better...have a beach BBQ, buy some Chu-Hi's, invite many Ladies, and you will be acclimatized to the heat. Just don't forget to invite me. Good luck. We are almost to the "Winter month"...it will be chilly then........for a few days.

[Bones]

I can stand it over here due to family connections. This year has been really mild. It's going to be a cold winter however, so buy blankets.

Bones

[Patrick]

I will have to test the chu-hi theory this upcoming summer. Either that or just stay plastered from July to September. Something has gotta give and I don't think I have enough power to sway the elements, but I do have enough power to buy a good portion of Alltech's inventory.

[Spadesy]

Mainland, hotter women, better food, better night life, less military, more expensive.

Okinawa, some hot women but they usually hide in Saicolo or their high school (j/k), more acclaimed for their music than food, good night life if you know the language and go to Naha, more military, less expensive.

[joeschmid]

Dialect, beautiful beaches, excellent seafood, easy going nature, crossroads of the pacific

[Sex Wax]

I grew up in Okinawa, but my mom is from mainland. I notice a huge difference in the 2 different places. Can you name me a few???

I have noticed some differences.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/AshMiller1972/OkinawaJapanMap.jpg

[retributionnk]

I have noticed some differences.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/AshMiller1972/OkinawaJapanMap.jpg

Sheesh, someone finally pointed out both the latitudinal and longitudinal differences. Accurate, and aptly stated. I'd also like to point out that Okinawa is significantly smaller than the Mainland.

[DoctorP]

Sheesh, someone finally pointed out both the latitudinal and longitudinal differences. Accurate, and aptly stated. I'd also like to point out that Okinawa is significantly smaller than the Mainland.

They are spelled differently too! :thumbup::rolleyes:

[Sex Wax]

They are spelled differently too! :thumbup::rolleyes:

Excuse me sir, but i spell-checked, and I am purty sure that I spelled "Okinawa" & "Japan" correctly. I'm not saying it is spelled 100% correct...but i think i have the right amount of vowels in there.

[DoctorP]

Excuse me sir, but i spell-checked, and I am purty sure that I spelled "Okinawa" & "Japan" correctly. I'm not saying it is spelled 100% correct...but i think i have the right amount of vowels in there.

Point being that "Okinawa" is not spelled the same as "Japan" :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Sex Wax]

Point being that "Okinawa" is not spelled the same as "Japan" :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Both words have 2 "a"s though.

[Fire4Effect]

Mainlanders wear bikinis and speedos to the beach and look like lobsters... Okinawans wear long pants, long sleeves and big hats to the beach...