NAHA - An exhibition highlighting the achievements of Kaoru Omine, who dedicated himself to reviving Okinawan culture in the postwar period, is being held at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum.
Omine, a native of Ogimi Village, gathered cultural assets such as dragon pillars and temple bells from the ruins of Shuri Castle and other war-damaged sites following the 1945 Battle of Okinawa. He later served as the first director of the Higashi Onna Museum, established in what is now Ishikawa, Uruma City.
Among the items on display is a transom once housed at Engakuji Temple, the royal family’s family temple, which had also been exhibited at the Higashi Onna Museum. Near the lower jaw of the dragon carving, a bullet hole from the war remains visible. The central flaming jewel motif from the piece was used as a valuable reference during the reconstruction of Shuri Castle.
Also exhibited are detailed ledger books of Omine's collected artifacts, along with intricately carved Buddhist altar decorations made by renowned Ryukyuan sculptor Sokei Tana and a variety of ceramics.
Takuro Irei from the Okinawa Prefectural Museum commented, "These materials could easily have been lost to war-related chaos or the elements, but they were preserved thanks to efforts to gather them into a museum collection. That, I believe, is one of Omine’s great accomplishments."
Omine’s collection efforts were supported by U.S. Army Major Hannah, and the Higashi Onna Museum, which attracted many visitors, became the foundation for today’s Okinawa Prefectural Museum.
Kaoru Omine was born in the village of Ōgimi, a remote and mountainous area in northern Okinawa known for its traditional lifestyle and longevity. Growing up in this rural setting, Omine was deeply immersed in Okinawan customs, folklore, and spiritual practices from an early age. The rhythms of village life, local craftsmanship, and the region’s distinct cultural expressions likely shaped his appreciation for Ryukyuan heritage.
Although detailed records of his early education are limited, it is believed that Omine developed a strong interest in history and artifacts even before the war. This interest, combined with a deep-rooted sense of cultural pride, would later form the foundation of his life's work. Living through a period of increasing militarization in the 1930s and witnessing the rising tensions leading up to World War II, Omine experienced firsthand the fragility of cultural identity under occupation and conflict.
After the war, rather than returning to a quiet village life, Omine responded to the widespread devastation of Okinawan historical sites by committing himself to their recovery and preservation. His early life in Ōgimi, surrounded by traditional values and natural beauty, was instrumental in nurturing the cultural sensitivity and perseverance that would define his legacy as a guardian of Okinawa’s past.
The exhibition showcasing Omine’s collection and his postwar contributions to cultural preservation will run at the Prefectural Museum and Art Museum through May 11th.
Source: 沖縄ニュースOTV
