Champloo: An Okinawa Identity Symposium

For generations, Okinawans have carried our history, culture, language, traditions, and stories across oceans and borders. In New York, the North East, throughout North America, and across the globe that heritage continues to evolve. We are building communities that honor where we come from while asking important questions about where we are going.

This November, the Okinawan American Association of New York (OAANY) is creating a space for those conversations.

On Saturday, November 7, 2026, we will host our inaugural event, “Champloo: An Okinawan Identity Symposium,” at New York University. Champloo—a word associated with mixing and bringing things together—captures the spirit of what we hope this gathering will be: different generations, perspectives, experiences, and expressions of Okinawan identity coming together in one room.

The day will feature a keynote address, four moderated panels, cultural performance, dinner, and opportunities for community members to connect and build relationships. Our conversations will explore topics ranging from Okinawan identity across borders and the role of Kenjinkai, to reclaiming Ryukyuan history and imagining the future of Okinawan spaces and diaspora communities.

As we look toward the 2027 Uchinaanchu Taikai, we see an especially meaningful opportunity to strengthen connections between Okinawa and the global Uchinanchu diaspora. Champloo is one small but important step in that direction.