Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ōjima is at left, the bridge to Okinawa at right.
It would be completely accurate to state that Ōjima is uninhabited. However, those mor-
bidly inclined might be tempted to quip that it's inhabited by quite a few—but they're not
quite up to contesting their status, as Ō's (very) permanent residents are the occupants of the
multitude of tombs on the island. That's really all you see on Ōjima: turtleback tombs and
a few others. It's difficult to know whether this is purely traditional, mere coincidence or a
matter of local zoning. Whether anyone could purchase a lot and build a home or, indeed,
given the neighbors, whether anyone would want to purchase a lot and build a home is an
open question. For all intents and purposes, this is a cemetery island and maybe not such a
desirable spot for an overnight camping trip with the kids.
In the 1800s the Okinawan name for all Western people was “Hollander,” pronounced “Oranda,” for one
of their first associations with Europeans was with the Dutch. “Baka” means tomb. Thus, Oranda Baka
translates as Hollander's Grave.
