WHISPERS OF REBELLION: OKINAWAN AESTHETIC DEFIANCE AGAINST PSEUDO-UNIVERSALISM

Abstract

This paper examines how pseudo-universalism—where the cultural norms of dominant groups are presented as universally valid—operates as an insidious force that marginalizes and erases minority identities, using Okinawa as a central case study. In the historical context of the Ryukyu Kingdom’s annexation by Japan, the imposition of “modern” Japanese cultural, linguistic, and religious frameworks systematically suppressed Okinawan traditions and language, relegating them to a status deemed primitive or backward. Yet, against this background of forced assimilation, Okinawans resisted in subtle yet profound ways. By exploring how educators quietly preserved local history in classrooms, spiritual leaders (yuta) maintained indigenous cosmologies, and literary works by authors like Medoruma Shun and MabuniChōshin asserted cultural memory and defiance, this paper reveals the enduring power of aesthetic expression and intellectual subtlety in challenging hegemonic norms. Through the analysis of literature, education, and spiritual practices, it becomes evident that the resilience of Okinawan identity is sustained by narratives that refuse to disappear. Ultimately, this study illuminates how minority communities can transform sites of cultural erasure into arenas of creative resistance, ensuring their voices endure and shape their futures in the face of homogenizing pressures.