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.
