Okinawa's Women: The Lives of Women as Seen in the Documents of the Public Archives

In 1879, the Meiji government in Japan abolished the Ryukyu Domain and established Okinawa Prefecture. This marked the end of the early modern Ryukyu era and the transition to modern times. How did women's lives change during this time? Additionally, during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, Okinawa was completely destroyed. What roles did women play and how did they rebuild their lives after the war? Using materials from the museum's collection, we will examine the history of women in Okinawa from the Ryukyu Kingdom period to the present day.