 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
  
Okinawa islands are geographically dotted in the ocean in the south-west of the mainland of Japan and in the east of China. Because of their landform, they are not fitted for cultivating. The climate and endemic disease such as malaria, typhoons and drought distressed the people. Their location as a strategic position of the sea traffic gave complicated features to their history and produced political exploitation and rule. The situations sometimes pushed the islanders to the extreme hardships of life. Looking at the culture of the islands from this point of view, you will notice "shima chabi (agony of isolated islands)", "men-pridominance society", "island- national character" and "ancestor worship". There are basic trends of the dramas which describe the common people who are burdened with the social system, poverty and adversity but try to live with a strong mind, though they cannot resist their sad destiny. "Tumaiaka", "Okuyama no botan(The peonies in a deep forest)" and "Iejima Handuugwa" are called the three greatest Okinawa tragedies. There are some dramas which describe women's devotion, such as "devotion to family", "pure love", "parting", "emigrant", "a sold girl", "poverty", etc. These dramas were popular among women as tragedies. There were lots of dramas in which not words but gestures made the audience laugh. The root of that kind of drama is not clear, but it can be supposed to be based on Kyoogen. This style of comedy is taken into Osaka Comedy and is performed at present. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |