Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 11
A Future for Tradition: Cultural Preservation
and Transmission on Taketomi Island,
Okinawa, Japan
Takakazu Yumoto and Yoshinori Uesedo
Introduction
An island's natural and cultural features also develop in relation to its degree of
separation from a mainland. Until very recently, many islands were separated from
centers of development, and their natural and cultural features were well con-
served. On the other hand, island inhabitants often have to depend on the limited
supplies of water and other natural resources available within the narrow confines
of their island. With today's increased mobility of people, information and goods
around the world, many islands are facing severe depopulation and the accompa-
nying problem of loss of indigenous culture as well as a degradation of island
ecosystems. In designated islands - such as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve or
World Heritage Site, where the value of the indigenous nature and culture are
recognized externally - population decline may be halted and even reversed by a
rise in tourism, and associated employment opportunities; but this may trigger
other problems, including uncontrolled development of tourism, problems of gar-
bage disposal, and impacts of epidemic pests and invasive organisms, while
increased migration of newcomers to an island may threaten the transmission of
the indigenous culture. Solution of such problems requires a consensus between
the native islanders and the resident immigrants, but in many cases their percep-
tions are clearly different. This paper describes several internal and external fac-
tors associated with the present success of Taketomi Island, Okinawa, Japan,
especially as it is related to the preservation and transmission of traditional
culture.
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