As an artist, I sort most of my Okinawa designs into three categories: landscapes, nature, and people. I’ve drawn so many beaches, sunsets, and seawalls that I’m running out of new ways to make water look wet.
But people? After all these years, I’ve barely scratched the surface.
In 2019, I published a book called Happiness in Okinawa Is… Since then, the people of Okinawa have been patiently waiting for their next appearance in my work. Seven years is a long time to leave an entire population on the sidelines, so in 2026, I’m finally putting the spotlight back on them.
Part of the reason is that I’ve grown tired of the postcard version of Okinawa. According to travel magazines and tourism posters, everyone here is relaxed, perpetually happy, and destined to live to 100. They practice karate at sunrise, contemplate their ikigai, eat tofu, and sip green tea while gazing at the ocean.
Meanwhile, Okinawa has the lowest average income in Japan and has historically struggled with academic test scores. And when Tokyo makes decisions about strengthening national defense on the island, Okinawans don’t exactly get the final say. Geography puts Okinawa close to Japan’s biggest strategic adversary, and the island carries a disproportionate share of that responsibility.
Paradise, apparently, comes with paperwork.
What Okinawa Taught Me
After ten years here, I’ve learned that happiness isn’t the same thing as having a perfect life. Okinawa has its share of problems, just like everywhere else. But there’s something about the way people enjoy the little things that has stayed with me.
Life gets a lot easier when you stop treating it like a race you’re perpetually losing. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow isn’t here, and today is what we’ve got. Happiness isn’t necessarily getting everything you want. Sometimes it’s realizing that what you already have is pretty good.
That’s the spirit behind this new art series: bright colors, playful characters, and a healthy dose of silliness. Because real Okinawan life isn’t a tourism poster. It’s convenience store workers, farmers, kindergarten teachers, and ordinary people finding their own little reasons to smile.
Sometimes it’s catching a fish. Sometimes it’s enjoying a beer after work. And sometimes, apparently, it’s keeping a healthy herd of goats. Don’t worry. We’ll get to the goats.
These aren’t stories about historical heroes or mythical island superheroes. They’re about the people who make Okinawa what it is, one ordinary day at a time.
Welcome to The People of Okinawa.
