Where are we today? Naha, Okinawa Day 1

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 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that meanwhile n would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. Acts 17


I am thinking of people, cultures, and languages today. Did you know that the dominant religion in Okinawa today comes from a time before the region became part of Japan? It is animistic and also based on ancestor worship, as well as taking care of family. Today’s version has been influenced by several other religions, including Shintoism, Buddhism, and Christianity, but the base beliefs are the same as centuries ago. 


Our first stop today was Shuri Castle. Built in the 14th Century, it has burned and been rebuilt to be the same a number of times.  It was the home of the kings of the Ryukyu, the people who lived here before combining with the Japanese. 
















Our second stop was Shikinaen Garden, which contains the eighteenth century palace that served as a second residence for the Ryukyu kings. 









We ended with a little shopping and a snack
Of Okinawa dumplings on Kokusai Dori Street.

Sayonara! 

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