Iha Fuyū (伊波 普猷; March 15, 1876 – August 13, 1947) is considered the father of Okinawaology and was a Japanese scholar…
Iha Fuyū (伊波 普猷; March 15, 1876 – August 13, 1947) is considered the father of Okinawaology and was a Japanese scholar who studied various aspects of Japanese and Okinawan culture, customs, linguistics, and folklore. He signed his name as Ifa Fuyu in English, because of the Okinawan pronunciation. Iha studied linguistics at the University of Tokyo and was devoted to the study of Okinawan linguistics, folklore, and history. His most well-known work, Ko Ryūkyū (Ancient Ryūkyū), was published in 1911 and remains one of the best works on Okinawan studies. He devoted much time to uncovering the origins of the Okinawan people to establish their history. He had considerable influence not only on the study of Okinawan folklore but also on Japanese folklore.
Famous People from Naha, Okinawa Prefecture
Naha, Okinawa Prefecture: 67 people
Chotoku Kyan (喜屋武 朝徳; December 1870 – 20 September 1945) (also spelled Chotoku Kiyan) was an Okinawan karate master who…
Chotoku Kyan (喜屋武 朝徳; December 1870 – 20 September 1945) (also spelled Chotoku Kiyan) was an Okinawan karate master who was famous for both his karate skills and his colorful personal life. He had a large influence on the styles of karate that would become Shorin-Ryu and its related styles.
Ōta Chōfu (太田 朝敷; 8 April 1865 – 25 November 1938) was a prominent Ryukyuan journalist of the late 19th and early 20th…
Ōta Chōfu (太田 朝敷; 8 April 1865 – 25 November 1938) was a prominent Ryukyuan journalist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, famous for his involvement in the Kōdō-kai Movement, advocating the maintenance of hereditary rule of Okinawa under the heirs to the royal family of Ryūkyū.
Arakaki Seishō (新垣 世璋; 1840–1918) was a prominent Okinawan martial artist and master of Tōde who influenced the…
Arakaki Seishō (新垣 世璋; 1840–1918) was a prominent Okinawan martial artist and master of Tōde who influenced the development of several major karate styles. He was known by many other names, including Aragaki Tsuji Pechin Seisho.
Ankō Itosu (糸洲 安恒, Okinawan: Ichiji Ankō; Japanese: Itosu Ankō, 1831 – 11 March 1915) is considered by many the father…
Ankō Itosu (糸洲 安恒, Okinawan: Ichiji Ankō; Japanese: Itosu Ankō, 1831 – 11 March 1915) is considered by many the father of modern karate. This title is also often given to Gichin Funakoshi because of the latter spreading karate throughout Japan.
Ankō Asato (安里 安恒, Asato Ankō; Azato Yasutsune in Japanese, 1827 – 1906) was a Ryūkyūan master of karate. He and Ankō…
Ankō Asato (安里 安恒, Asato Ankō; Azato Yasutsune in Japanese, 1827 – 1906) was a Ryūkyūan master of karate. He and Ankō Itosu were the two main karate masters who taught Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan karate. Not much is known about him, and most information on him comes from Funakoshi. Many articles contain information about Asato, but the relevant parts are clearly based on Funakoshi's descriptions of him. Funakoshi first met Asato when he was a schoolmate of Asato's son; he called Asato "one of Okinawa's greatest experts in the art of karate." According to Funakoshi, Asato's family belonged to the Tunchi (殿内) class (hereditary town and village chiefs), and held authority in the village of Asato, halfway between Shuri and Naha, and he was not only a master of karate, but also skilled at riding horses, Jigen-ryū kendō (swordsmanship), archery, and an exceptional scholar. In a 1934 article, Funakoshi noted that Asato and Itosu had studied karate together under Sōkon Matsumura. He also related how Asato and Itosu once overcame a group of 20–30 attackers, and how Asato set a trap for troublemakers in his home village. In his 1956 autobiography, Funakoshi recounted several stories about Asato, including Asato's political astuteness in following the government order to cut off the traditional men's topknot; Asato's defeat of Yōrin Kanna, in which the unarmed Asato prevailed despite Kanna being armed with an unblunted blade; his demonstration of a single-point punch (ippon-ken); and Asato and Itosu's friendly arm-wrestling matches.
Namie Amuro ( NAH-mee-AY; Japanese: 安室 奈美恵, romanized: Amuro Namie; born September 20, 1977) is a retired Japanese…
Namie Amuro ( NAH-mee-AY; Japanese: 安室 奈美恵, romanized: Amuro Namie; born September 20, 1977) is a retired Japanese singer. She rose to prominence as a teen idol, and transitioned into a leading pop artist due to her versatility across music styles and visual presentation. Due to her career reinventions and longevity, she is known as an icon across Japan and Asia. She has been referred to as the "Queen of Japanese Pop", and her influence domestically has drawn comparisons to artists such as Janet Jackson and Madonna in Western pop culture. Born in Naha, Okinawa, Amuro debuted as the lead singer of the idol group Super Monkey's in 1992 when she was 14 years old. Despite early sales disappointments, Amuro's rising popularity helped to score a major hit with the 1995 Eurobeat single "Try Me (Watashi o Shinjite)". Signing to Avex Trax for her solo career, Amuro catapulted to fame with a string of number one singles including "Chase the Chance" and "Don't Wanna Cry". A close partnership with renowned producer Tetsuya Komuro resulted in a dance-pop sound with Western influences. Her first four releases, including Sweet 19 Blues (1996) and Concentration 20 (1997), each received multi-million certifications. Her 1997 single "Can You Celebrate?" remains as the best selling single by a solo female artist in Japanese music history. In the early 2000s, "Never End" became Amuro's last successful single before a decline in sales, and her music began evolving from pop to R&B as she reined in creative control of her career. This transition was marked by the Suite Chic project in 2002 and her sixth studio album Style (2003). Amuro's eighth studio album, Play (2007), with the hit single "Baby Don't Cry", began a period of commercial resurgence. Her comeback was solidified with the 2008 single "60s 70s 80s" and its parent release Best Fiction. She continued to experiment musically in the 2010s, dabbling in EDM and recording in English, beginning with her tenth studio album Uncontrolled (2012). It featured the million-certified single "Love Story". She later founded her own management company, Stella88, and record label, Dimension Point. Amuro finished her career with the 2017 greatest hits album Finally, which became the best selling album of the decade and made her the only artist to achieve a million-seller in each of their teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. She officially retired from the music industry on September 16, 2018. As it coincided with the closure of the Heisei era (1989–2019), she became labelled as the representative "Heisei diva" with many calling it the "end of an era", in both senses. Having sold more than 40 million records, Amuro is recognized as one of the best-selling artists in Japan by Oricon. She has received accolades from the Japan Record Awards, Japan Gold Disc Awards, MTV Video Music Awards Japan and the World Music Awards.
Yamato Kinjo (金城 大和, Kinjō Yamato; born September 9, 1983, in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture) is a Japanese actor who is…
Yamato Kinjo (金城 大和, Kinjō Yamato; born September 9, 1983, in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture) is a Japanese actor who is affiliated with Stay Luck. He played the role of Nobuharu Udo (Kyoryu Blue) in the 2013 Super Sentai TV series Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger and Takeshi Goutokuji (Kamen Rider Shirowe) in the 2022 Kamen Rider TV series Kamen Rider Geats.
Rina Chinen (知念 里奈, Chinen Rina; born 9 February 1981), is a Japanese entertainer, former singer, and musical theater…
Rina Chinen (知念 里奈, Chinen Rina; born 9 February 1981), is a Japanese entertainer, former singer, and musical theater actress. She is affiliated with Rising Production.
Fumi Nikaidō (二階堂 ふみ, Nikaidō Fumi; born 21 September 1994) is a Japanese actress.
Eriko Imai (今井 絵理子, Imai Eriko) is a Japanese pop singer, actress and politician. She made her debut in the early 1990s…
Eriko Imai (今井 絵理子, Imai Eriko) is a Japanese pop singer, actress and politician. She made her debut in the early 1990s as part of the group Speed, which disbanded in March 2000. Eriko began her work away from Speed during 1998, performing "Tsumetaku Shinai de", under the stage name "Eriko with Crunch", on the Speed single "All My True Love". After the group disbanded, Imai continued her career as a solo artist until Speed's reformation in 2008.
Shintaro Yamada (山田 親太朗, Yamada Shintarō; born July 10, 1986) is a former Japanese fashion model, actor, and singer.…
Shintaro Yamada (山田 親太朗, Yamada Shintarō; born July 10, 1986) is a former Japanese fashion model, actor, and singer. His modeling credits include appearing in Men's Non-No and Popeye. He is the leader of the Quiz! Hexagon II singing group Sata Andagi. On July 4, 2021, he announced his retirement from the entertainment industry in 2020.
Ryōko Kuninaka (国仲 涼子, Kuninaka Ryōko; born June 9, 1979) is a Japanese actress and singer. She hails from Naha City in…
Ryōko Kuninaka (国仲 涼子, Kuninaka Ryōko; born June 9, 1979) is a Japanese actress and singer. She hails from Naha City in Okinawa, Japan and currently works for Vision Factory. In 2014, she married actor Osamu Mukai.
Masane Tsukayama (津嘉山 正種, Tsukayama Masane; born February 6, 1944) is a Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator from…
Masane Tsukayama (津嘉山 正種, Tsukayama Masane; born February 6, 1944) is a Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator from Naha, Okinawa. His wife is opera singer Echiko Narita (成田 絵智子, Narita Echiko). He is best known for dubbing over Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, Richard Gere, Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne. In 2021, Tsukayama won the Merit Award at the 15th Seiyu Awards.
Hotaka Yamakawa (山川 穂高, Yamakawa Hotaka; born November 23, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the…
Hotaka Yamakawa (山川 穂高, Yamakawa Hotaka; born November 23, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Saitama Seibu Lions. Yamakawa led the Pacific League in home runs in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2024.
Makishi Satoko (Japanese: 真喜志 智子), known professionally as Cocco (こっこ), is a Japanese pop/folk rock singer.
Konosuke Kokuba (國場幸之助, Kokuba Konosuke; born 10 January 1973) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the…
Konosuke Kokuba (國場幸之助, Kokuba Konosuke; born 10 January 1973) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2012. He was a member of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly from 2000 to 2003 and from 2004 to 2008.