Tag: Ryukyu glass

Ryukyu Glass

Symbol of Resilience

When I was in Okinawa during a short disembarkation from the cruise ship, the only venue we had time to visit was the main shopping district and I refrained from purchasing anything.  However, I had read an informational sheet about Ryukyu Glass and was fascinated by the story.  The bombing of Okinawa during WWII had destroyed much of the island and in particular the infrastructure of the glass industry.  The citizens needed to find ways to support their economy and soon realized that the sailors tossed their Coke bottles into the ocean next to the docked ships and the surf brought the bottles to the shore.

The glass industry was reborn.  The bottles were pulverized and melted down and in the beginning, practical items were created such as glassware and medicine bottles.  From there, the craft kept evolving.  The craftsmen learned how to add color and refined their techniques by adding bubbles to the glass.  Sailors started to purchase the items to send home as gifts and when Okinawa was returned to Japanese rule in 1972, tourists from the mainland purchased the handcrafted glass as souvenirs.The largest glass factory is in Okinawa but a sister plant is located in Viet Nam.  After I returned home, I ordered one glass through Amazon and noticed that it was made in Viet Nam.  I am thrilled to own it because it is beautiful and represents the resourcefulness and resilience of the Okinawan people.

Final Port of Call, Okinawa, Japan

Naha Pier, Okinawa, Japan

We were delayed in disembarking from the ship in Okinawa because of immigration procedures.  I had wanted to visit the Shurijo Castle but was told it was too late.  The only activity left was the main shopping street, Kokusai.  There were granite stone dragon pillars on the way to the shopping district.  They commemorate the friendship between Naha City and Fuzhou City, China.  In 2011, the community celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Friendship Agreement signed in 1981.

It took about half an hour to walk from the ship to Kokusai Street.  I noticed the glass tumblers and glassware on sale in many of the stores.  After the devastation of WWII, Okinawans began collecting bottles and other cast-off glass containers from the occupying U.S. troops.  The glass was melted down and re-blown into glassware items.  Servicemen began to purchase the goods to send home and a very proud industry was born.  Many of the glasses had names of their creators and ample display space.  The largest glass factory in Okinawa is called Ryukyu Glass Craft and is located in Itoman.

Mixed in with souvenir shops, there were bakery shops, convenience stores, a pharmacy, a seaweed shop, and restaurants.  A friend of mine suggested I try Okinawan soba because it is different from Japanese soba, made of wheat flour instead of buckwheat.  I found a restaurant on the fifth floor of a narrow building and had a wholesome meal.

Things had gotten better on the second half of our trip.  The weather had improved and the seas were calm.  We had two more days at sea and enjoyed the company of our dinner regulars in the Pacific Moon dining room.  We met many interesting people on the ship.  Many were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.  Others were newly retired or found a good deal for the cruise.  Everyone had an interesting story to tell.