Evangelia Papoutsaki MA Leeds, PhD Cardiff, MRSNZ

While tourism is undeniably the lifeblood of the markets today, glimpses of the past linger in the smaller arcades, where echoes remain of a time when this was the main shopping district for locals—before shopping malls drew people away from central Naha for their daily needs. Still, I’m glad the markets have adapted and found a way forward.

Aki-san, an 84-year-old former accountant, marathon runner and the current Head of the Shintenji Shopping Arcade Association,...

I fell in love with Naha's public markets during my first visit in 2017.

This week in Okinawa has been nothing short of amazing!

Ichariba chode/イチャリバチョーー (“once we meet, we become family”) After several weeks of an idyllic existence, cocooned from the rest of the...