Abstract:
The destruction of the central structures at Okinawa’s Shuri castle in October 2019 spurred new discussions about the meaning and significance of the site – the former royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom – restored and opened to the public in 1992 for the first time since its destruction in 1945. Some see the restored castle as a mere tourist attraction, and a false reproduction of an authentic structure irrevocably lost; others see it as a symbol of the rich heritage, vibrant culture, and glorious history of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and of the resilience and revival of its people.
Drawing upon newspapers and other materials both from around the time of the restoration in 1989-1992, and from before and after the tragic 2019 fire, as well as conversations with Naha/Shuri residents today and others, I explore the meaning and significance of the site for the people of Okinawa, as well as their understanding of its authenticity and character.
In the process, I also question how we might understand Shuri castle, as it was operated from 1992 to 2019 and as it will presumably be operated again, within a context of Public History or Museum Studies. Were the buildings restored in 1992 and destroyed in 2019 a “museum”? How can a comparison with historic house museums, castle museums, and other institutions in mainland Japan and around the world provide insights into the character of the site as a venue for tourism, education, cultural activities, and how does its deeper cultural significance figure into this?


昨年2019年10月、沖縄のシンボルである首里城の中心部7棟が火災で焼失しました。この事件をきっかけに、いまふたたび首里城の意味や意義が考えられるようになりました。首里城は1992年に戦後初めて復元されましたが、これをただの観光施設、いわば偽物と見なすひともいる一方、多くの沖縄県民にとっては琉球王国の輝かしい歴史と文化、そして琉球人全体の強靭さと戦後復興のシンボルです。
復元前後と火災前後の新聞や展示図録などに加えて、最近のうちなんちゅとの対話を手がかりに、本発表では、首里城への沖縄県民の気持ち、姿勢、考え方を検討します。
本発表では、首里城の果たしてきた「城郭博物館」や「歴史文化博物館」としての機能、博物館や史跡やシンボルとしての意義を指摘します。

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