Recentering Okinawa, one story at a time

Though Okinawa accounts for only 0.6% of Japan’s total land, it hosts 70.3% of exclusive-use U.S. military bases. | USMC Photo

by KRIS KOSAKA
March 2, 2026

What comes to mind when you hear the name Okinawa?

Is it a tropical paradise booming with tourists? The historic home to the diverse cultures of the Ryukyu Kingdom? Or one of the most militarized places in the world — a controversial hub of the U.S. armed forces in Japan?

Brazilian Mateus R. Oliveira, 39, a graphic designer and cultural anthropologist based in Tokyo, is making these questions on knowledge production in Okinawa the focus of his doctoral research.