Cultural Affairs Council to designate, as Important National Cultural Property, historical reports handed down on the Ryukyu Genealogy of the Ryukyu Kingdom and the Miyara Dunchi Residence in Yaeyama. (22mr25)

Splendor of Okinawa: Leopard Plant, beachside Mihama, 10mr25.


On 21 March, the National Council on Cultural Affairs reported to the Ministry of Education Culture Sports Science and Technology that it would designate as Important National Cultural Property a total of 3 artifacts: 2 items from the records dealing with family from a Ryukyu Kingdom samure- (Ryukyuan: administrative official) class family called the Ryukyu Genealogy and 1 related to the family of the Miyaradunchi Residence, which produced a large number of the highest-ranked administrative officials in the Yaeyama region during the Ryukyu Kingdom. The Council is expected to announce its report by autumn. 


Among the 3 items to be designated, 2 are from the Ryukyu Genealogy and its related documents. One of them is the Ryukyu Genealogy in 25 volumes with its 21 related documents in 2 boxes of genealogies, held by the Prefecture. The other is the Ryukyu Genealogy in 45 volumes and its related 130 documents  in  5 boxes of genealogies held by Naha City. 


The organization and administration of the kingdom's government, its system, and East Asian genealogical documents are all considered important, but they are of special significance and value for Ryukyu historical research due to the loss of  vast historical resources during the Battle of Okinawa.


Moreover, 1 artifact, the Miyara Dunchi Residence Related Material comprises 348 items, held by Ryukyu University.

　

Its special significance lies in researchers being able to discover the concrete details of the history of the Yaeyama Islands and the Ryukyu Kingdom’s control over its distant islands, as well as the education, daily life, and culture of the samure- class families of Yaeyama. These records are esteemed to be of the highest value in research into the Ryukyu Kingdom’s history of governmental administration and culture.


Governor Denny Tamaki announced his comments on the designation and such,  pointing out, “I feel extremely delighted. As for the Prefecture, we would like to do our utmost to promulgate education on this cultural heritage and to preserve it.”


These designations will make the 43rd designation of National Cultural Property within the prefecture. When added to the 2 designations of National Treasure, the prefecture will have a total of 45 Tangible Cultural Properties.


Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Friday 21 March 2025 at 17:03. Byline: Kazuki Furukata

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/5d20066e41fd7012415d487106749efeb3bc781b


Denny in the News:

Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media. 


This blog hopes to  translate one news article a day on the governor.  It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience. 


Any suggestion on improving the translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.


Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names  whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be gratefully appreciated.

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