Student Stories
Ryo studied Japanese at ICLC to connect with his Okinawan roots. He started with basic knowledge and gradually improved through daily use and cultural experiences like Eisa and Ryukyu Buyou. He met family, made local friends, and participated in workshops. Ryo learned not only the language but also the value of accepting and living the local culture.
Ryo
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"It was meaningful to connect through a shared Uchinanchu identity, despite cultural and language differences."
Ryo
BEFORE COMING TO OKINAWA
I heard about the ICLC from my cousin, who had attended it many years ago and recommended it to me because it suits my learning style. At the time, I was working part-time at my parents’ company and thinking about my next steps in life. Although I had visited Okinawa many times, I never had the chance to deeply explore my Okinawan heritage or participate in the local festivals like Obon, the Naha Summer Festival, the Tug-of-War Festival, and many others that I didn’t know much about. This program seemed like a great opportunity to explore a part of myself that I hadn’t connected with deeply.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS LIVING IN OKINAWA
I met my relatives, and what was even more amazing was that I already knew the area where I moved into, because there’s a cemetery there where my father’s side of the family is buried.
I had the opportunity to train, play, and get to know an Eisa group called Ryukyu Koku Matsuri Daiko in Okinawa. It was an honor to be invited to perform with them at an event called Zento Eisa, although I didn’t get the chance to see the whole event.
It was great to use Japanese outside the classroom in real-life conversations through Eisa dance practice and to make friends.
I also took part in Ryukyu Buyou activities, from the same school I attend in Brazil. I went there to learn more. Through practice, I was able to communicate more or less, and the teachers were very patient with me. It was a lot of fun!
Thanks to my friend, I made new friends from Okinawa and got the chance to explore new places. It was very enjoyable.
JOURNEY OF LEARNING JAPANESE
Before coming to Okinawa, I only knew how to read Hiragana, Katakana, and a few Kanji. I was placed in beginner-level classes and studied for a year. My goal was to enjoy Okinawa, have time to explore, and get to know new places.
At the beginning, I already knew basic grammar, some vocabulary, and kanji. But being placed in the beginner class was helpful to review grammar I had forgotten.
After six months of study, I realized I had memorized many new words and was able to use them in daily life, which helped me communicate better. At the start of the year, I could only speak very basic Japanese due to limited vocabulary.
From the second half of 2024 through March 2025, the Japanese got increasingly difficult. Every time I learned new vocabulary or a new chapter, it was hard to memorize everything in a short time. As soon as one test ended, the next chapter and more vocabulary would come, and I couldn't memorize them all. I’d forget some words while trying to learn new ones—this was the hardest part. But I found a method that worked for me. It’s tiring, but it’s one way to learn when you have tests.
WHAT I GAINED FROM ICLC
At ICLC, I improved my Japanese and became better at communicating than before. I took part in Japanese conversation sessions between students and teachers. But the best part of my experience was meeting university students, which ICLC arranged.
Outside of classes, I participated in a Bingata workshop and a Uchinanchu class organized by ICLC. Bingata was fun—I got to see the process in person and take home the artwork I created.
I also enjoyed meeting students from different countries around the world, especially building strong bonds with Uchinanchu students from other regions. It was meaningful to connect through a shared Uchinanchu identity, despite cultural and language differences.
I always tried to communicate only in Japanese with my friends, since I don’t understand English very well. I understand it better in writing, but for speaking, I rely on Japanese—and they speak to me in Japanese!
TIPS FOR FUTURE STUDENTS
For Uchinanchu, I recommend joining a Taiko or Ryubu Buyou group in your home country, because when you come to Okinawa, there are specific schools where you can train and practice the dances in a relaxed way using Japanese. Communication helps you lose the fear and improve both your listening and speaking.
If you are already part of an artistic group, keep in mind that it will never be exactly the same as in your country. My advice is: don’t think “I prefer it in my country” or “my country is better.” You have to accept the local culture, try to live it and get used to it. If you don’t accept it, things only get harder and more discouraging.
