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2007 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

A Comparative Study : between Okinawa Culture and Ainu Culture

Research Project

Project/Area Number 16320119
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Cultural anthropology/Folklore
Research InstitutionHosei University

Principal Investigator

YOSHINARI Naoki  Hosei University, Institution for Okinawan Study, Professor (80158485)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) NAGASE Katusmi  Hosei University, Faculty of Engineering and Design, Professor (30061237)
FUJII Sadakazu  Rissho University, Fuculty of Letters, Professor (40134754)
HASHIO Naokazu  Kochi women's University, Fuculty of Culture, Associate Professor (00244400)
TANIMOTO Akihisa  Hokkaido University of Education, Fuculty of Education, Associate Professor (20306525)
SHIMAMURA Koichi  Rissho University, Fuculty of Letters, Associate Professor (70449312)
Project Period (FY) 2004 – 2007
KeywordsRyukyu / Okinawa / Ainu / identity / oral literature / Omorososhi / language / illirate Society / turning point of Okinawa study
Research Abstract

This study aims to make clear how Ainu and Okinawa identities were formed and preserved in spite of strong influence of the Japanese society.
The core of identity is language and what it conveys. So, we have analyzed the oral literature of Ainu and“OMOROSOSHI", a collection of hymns compiled by the Ryukyu Government from the 16th century to the 17th century. Especially we have focused our effort to restore the history in the illiterate societies.
It was very difficult work, but we have concluded it is necessary to assume the“imagined history"encouraged people to act. In a sense, this history was more important than the real history.
As the way of restoring history, we turned to icons and pictures. They had much influence on people's life in the illiterate societies because in such societies these materials gave them more relevant information about society and culture than many documents written by the Japanese.
We have also examined the Ainu and Okinawa cultures in search of their similarities. We have concluded the basic cultural structure of their languages and rituals was almost same between Ainu and Okinawa. These studies have a very wide perspective in time and space.
In the course of pursuing this study, we came across a turning point in Okinawa study. It shed light on the archeological development on the Amami Islands. The Ryukyu society, especially that of the Okinawa island, had not grown autonomously. This fact is deeply concerned with our study, so we have tackled on this problem.

  • Research Products

    (6 results)

All 2007 2005

All Journal Article (4 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 1 results) Book (2 results)

  • [Journal Article] 折口信夫の琉球王朝論2007

    • Author(s)
      吉成 直樹
    • Journal Title

      国文学 解釈と鑑賞 919

      Pages: 85-93

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] An Essay on the Ryukyu Kingdom by Shinobu ORIKUCH'2007

    • Author(s)
      Naoki Yoshinari
    • Journal Title

      Kokubungaku kaishaku to Kansho vol.919

      Pages: 75-83

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] 土佐方言・アイヌ語・琉球語とオーストロネシア語との比較2005

    • Author(s)
      橋尾 直和
    • Journal Title

      語文と教育 19

      Pages: 153-161

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] A reletion StudyTosa Dialect, Ryukyu Language and Ainu Language'2005

    • Author(s)
      Hashio Naokazu
    • Journal Title

      Gobun to Kyoiku vol.19

      Pages: 153-161

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Book] 声とかたちのアイヌ・琉球史2007

    • Author(s)
      吉成 直樹(編著)
    • Total Pages
      440
    • Publisher
      森話社
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Book] Ainu and Ryukyu History from the view point of the Oral literature and the Picture2007

    • Author(s)
      Naoki Yoshinari ed.
    • Total Pages
      440
    • Publisher
      Shinwasha(Tokyo)
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 2010-02-04  

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