City of concrete is a terrible title. All cities are made of concrete. A sea of concrete, or forest of concrete, or concrete jungle as you said in the first 36 seconds of the video. It needs to be an oxymoron.
I LOVE that you focus on architecture in some of your videos.... I see that you are finding an interest in it just as I have been recently. I just LOVE the Japanese styles that are so varied throughout the country. Unlike here in America where it feels like the vast majority of homes are 'McMansion' lol (and in those awful housing developments) I hope you can continue to spotlight more of it in your future travels, or even if you did it remotely through research. But I know that you are more of a 'go out and see it for yourself' type of videographer, which is so much better - but expensive lol I'm happy with pretty much anything you put out tho, mainly because of the jealousy I have of being able to live in and explore my FAVORITE culture/country. :) I can't wait to see what you do next! - Oh and THANK YOU for making such down-to-Earth, everyday life videos. Most of the the channel I watch that are about Japan in some way are either acting or a faux personality that gets in the way of the content. You are what the kids these days call 'real' lol :)
Growing up in Okinawa is something I cherish the most in my life. There were hard times sure but I learned to play climbing and jumping from one roof top to the others in my grandmothers neighborhood. Everyone knew me and would yell at me to be careful but no one ever stopped me and if I fell they would be there to get me up, check to make sure nothing was broken and tell me to be more careful. I love and miss all of the great people of Okinawa. Cherish every trip back.
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico but currently live in Okinawa, and I'm still always amazed by how similar both places are. I'm assuming it's the similar climate and the presence of the USA.
I am a former U.S. service member who has now lived in Okinawa for almost 5 years. My favorite thing about the cities is how truly “walkable” it is out here - in comparison to the States, where you have 4, 6, 8 lane highways cutting through small towns (I get it is a small island here, but still). You would be amazed how much living in a scenic or unsightly area affects your mental health.
@@lorili6885 A lot of areas in Japan that are not Americanized yet are also not walkable. It is just the part of living in rural Japan. I lived in China for 21 years and Okinawa for 3 without a car. The Naha area is pretty walkable with its monorail and bus network. It is not walkable north of Kadena because things are more spread out and the buses are not on time.
I lived in Koza Village 1970-72 when it was still mostly agricultural with local homes and shops and not renamed Okinawa City. I'm looking at this film and feeling sad. Everything they feared has happened after Japan took over (except for the US military bases) and turned the island into resort horror. It was always walkable back then, especially since that's how most people got around. There were private cars but mostly bus transportation in towns. I'm grateful I saw it when it was pristine.
Its so interesting that so many of the materials and details they use are so similar to what we use to build in the dominican republic. From the iron gates to the barred windows and the use of coral stone. And yeah, we also build mostly with concrete if you want to survive the hurricane season. Wood is mostly used by low income families.
White absorbs the least amount of heat, that's why. White tends to reflect more light than any color in the spectrum, contrary to black, which absorbs almost all light.
Exactly, that's why for example Mediterranean style houses are also white. Same thing in the Middle East, where houses tend to be sand colored with thick walls and small windows to keep the heat out.
@@dotsdot5608 Heat radiation doesn't have to do with coulor, but with surface area of a object and thermal mass of that object. However, white reflects more of the light spectrum, and as such less solar radiation is converted into Infrared/heat
As a Taiwanese, many of these characteristics of Okinawa mentioned in the video are surprisingly similar to Taiwan, especially Yilan or Keelung in the northeast of Taiwan. However, the distance between Okinawa and Taiwan is indeed much closer than the distance between Okinawa and the main island of Japan.
@@deadkiller4129 It's...not that. It predates the colonization of Japan and trust me, Japan wasn't exporting Ryukyuan culture. Ryukyuan culture just shares a lot of similarities with the nearby Taiwan because they are similar places and had open cultural mixing for hundreds of years, as Ryukyuans traded with the native Taiwanese as well as China, Korea, and Japan.
Damn this is such a throwback. Living in Okinawa was such a surreal experience. I knew a lot of guys that didn't enjoy it. Especially during typhoon season, but I enjoyed it. As it was a contrast of mainland Japan, and felt different
Visited Okinawa last week for the first time in 13 years. It was good to be back home and with my family for a little and to see all the differences between mainland Japan and Okianwa that I never noticed when I was a kid. This video was very nostalgic and great!
Watched this on Nebula, but came here to share some insights since we can't comment on there: 1) Concrete became the standard for local architecture because during WWII, Japanese authorities started replacing wooden structures due to the American fire bombing of the cities. After MacArthur took power and the US began building, they used skills and equipment from the Americans to rebuild. 2) Window Bars: 1910-1990s, protests, riots, and public unrest were common, and many people began using the bars on ground floors to protect from damage. Especially student riots and political riots, as they would smash windows with iron bars, bats, or bamboo poles. Upper floors had fewer break-ins, but were often damaged from typhoons and flying debris. This was common in Taiwan, which was possessed by Japan until 1945, and many of their laborers were slave labor from local Taiwanese populations. They brought the higher level window bars with them in the 1920s, and they've become standard from the Philippines to northern Japan. 3) White coloring on roofs and tiles are used to reflect heat, and are often mixed with limestone powder to help preserve the terracotta paneling/tiles. They also sometimes mix them with white tar, too help prevent leakage. 4) Balconies: SUPER POPULAR, but mostly used after the sun goes down. This is where most families and groups come together to do BBQs, since often it's illegal to do on the road, there are few sidewalks, and window balconies would let smoke inside. If you go to a tall hill during any celebratory period, you'll see hundreds or thousands of small fires, fireworks or mini-camps scattered about the roofs. It's really fun, and you can get some awesome pictures! 5) Brutalism: Brutalist homes are the mainstay in Taiwan, Japan and South Korea in recent years. Reduced upkeep, typhoon resistant, sleek exteriors. Most people are very, very proud of their new Brutalist Style homes, and if you have a chance, you should chat with them about why they like it so much. They love talking about it. 6) Support Pillars: Those are actually there for a few different reasons! A) They put a tarp over the top for daytime gatherings. B) they hang plants from the side extensions. C) They were also meant often for expanding floors. D) ODDLY, Japan & Taiwan used to be OBSESSED with pigeon races. They would use those pillars to support the cages, and sometimes use them for chicken cages as well. Hope this helps! I'm an American with a bizarre background including a grandfather who helped build Taipei 101, and I'm living in Taiwan for 5 years now. Keep up the cool work, and I'll see you on Nebula~
I am a civil engineer. Loved to see such an indepth explanation on architecture in Okinawa. Please Make more such amazing videos. Would love to watch them. Also, video quality and narration is top notch.
So, IMHO, as a person from south east asia (Indonesia) i will feel immediately at home in Okinawa since it has window bars, iron gate, water tank and concrete jungle 😂 * No typhoon in here though, just a LOT earthquake
Wow, when I hear “concrete jungle” I always think of NYC, but Okinawa definitely earns its nickname! Thanks for sharing Greg, always love the dedication and thought you put into your videos. Love from NY!
One of your most amusing videos. Congratulations! Puerto Rico is a pile of asphalt/concrete in the Caribbean. I hate it , it absorbs heat in daytime and irradiates at night, also amplifying noise. The houses with flat roofs leak soon or later. Concrete cracks with expansion/contraction.
This style of building from the iron gates to the Hannah blocks,. Is pretty common in any place that tends to have high humidity and are usual to tropical islands.I see this a lot in my parents home country of Haiti and in other travel blogs from Mexico. To jamaica and a lot of them are coming here in florida. Even extension pilliars common in haiti
Loved it! I lived 3 years on Okinawa an one year in Mainland Japan! First two 69 and 70 at Camp Hansen and Camp Courtney area. Last trip in 84 and lived at Kinser. I always loved the island and left my footprints in a lot of places. Thank you! A wonderful trip down memory lane. By the way Guam has a lot of concrete homes also.
Regarding water tanks above homes, as far as I know, in many places, a primary reason for individual water towers above homes is to maintain water pressure in the building. The towers are kept filled using small pumps. They also help when water service is disrupted. Great video!
You ought to do a little update with your family. I used to love watching you guys go out and spend the day on the town. Gave me motivation to get out and explore with my own kiddos. Love your videos man
Hi. I have been following your videos for a few years. I’m Danish but have lived in China since 2003. I recognise a lot of the “gaijin” stuff/observations/perspectives on simply being foreign AND committed to the new home. I also LOVE Japan. I visited for holiday and work more than 50 times (returning in June - first time after pandemic) and i want to let you know I absolutely enjoy your shows. I recognise most, I like what’s new to me, but above anything else I relay appreciate you dont turn things into silliness and “woooow-this-is-soooo-tender”. You seems to be very much your self and I like and respect that. Your videos with family and kids are very good. The dialogue between you and your daughter is fun. My wife is Chinese and the kids are “mixed” (as the Chinese put it) and sometimes those kids, with a foot in each culture, have very interesting observations. I really enjoy your content. You’re my favourite RUclips channel on Japan. I like that it’s not touristed and “look, I’m from the UK but I dyed my hair blues no belong to Harajuku…. :) Noe you know: You have an fan in China from Denmark. Please keep it up!
I am from Okinawa but never knew or more like never thought about how the concrete houses became common/popular and that the Hana blocks actually have functions. (We have some as well but I always thought it’s just a design) it was very refreshing to see the island from a different point of view:) thanks for the great video!! Looking forward to seeing more!!
I see many things that seem to be recurrent in many tropical places. Like in my country, Dominican Republic, also with a hot and humid climate and also in the path of storms (hurricanes, in our case), like the concrete buildings and houses, iron gates with interesting designs (also handcrafted by iron workers), the window bars (in our case, the security concern is a real one, though), even something similar to Hana Blocks (mostly in older constructions though), the balconies (I don't know how many rooftop bbq I've been too haha), coral limestone was widely used to build walls and stuff like that (mostly in public places though, specially in the 80's and 90´s). The idea of later adding to their home is very recurrent here too, you will even see houses that still have metal bars exposed in the roof so it's easier to keep building once they need to or once they have the money to do it. I guess some things just make sense when you live in tropics haha
I legitimately just left a similar comment, but I'm from Jamaica. I knew most of the Caribbean islands looked similar but I really noticed it might be a deeper tropical thing when I played geoguessr way back in the day and it was free and I could explore more countries. Maybe the confluence of factors really just converge for us to build similarly in the tropics
if you visit most newer east coast towns in the US they are raised up like that. it is for flooding against the storms that come in. insurance companies will not insure anything on the 1st floor so they are typically just a spot to park a car. that's just on the coast, once you go inland it quickly reverts back to normal.
So great to have you down in Okinawa. I've been living here doing work for the US Military, and visiting the rest of Japan has made me realize how unique Okinawa is in many respects. Even the language is different among the very oldest generation. But the architecture has been the crazy thing to me, the deterioration of the paint was the most jarring observation. So many buildings that are lived in, still look abandoned. Oh, and everything is covered in spiderwebs starting this time of year!
Okinawa will always be my favorite Japanese destination, all my extended family are from here and my grandmas house is still the original Okinawa home. No concrete whatsoever
Thanks for the thorough documentation :) Concrete everywhere here in Thailand as well. Great for keeping cool in the morning, but it's like living in a radiative oven at night. Anything can be painted white, concrete is driven by cost. Thai construction crews have become very efficient at pumping out the same style concrete house. Wood is expensive here, I can't recall seeing a wooden house under construction. The iron bars, everything locked, no one uses balconies, etc. Same things here, not much crime but people just want them. I believe these are driven by culture. Some houses have a tubing spray system installed in the floor for termites, seems like they could do this wood as well. Thanks again
Just wanted to let you know that I absolutely adore and appreciate how crystal clear all the visuals of this video are. Great job man, really makes get a feeling of what it would be like to be in Okinawa!
Thank you so much teaching about Okinawa. I lived there when I was in high school and have a special place in my heart for this island. I learned so much from your video
I loved the whole experience of being station on Okinawa 1970-72 And yes, I rented a one room concrete apartment off base. I performed on Bob Hope USO Show and watched Jane Fonda with Donald Sutherland who used my audience for their infamous Vietnam documentary. I lived in Koza and witnessed the Koza riot firsthand, and was there when Okinawa was freed from occupation by the United States. I have fond memories of sitting in with Okinawan local bands, snorkeling, dirt biking, and my favorite eating Charlei's Tacos! Every day was an adventure, I'll never forget. Thanx for sharing this wonderful video.
Okinawa was one of my favourite places to visit in Japan, and I'm glad you made this video, Greg, because it brings me back! (and I get to learn about Okinawan architecture while at it)
i’m so happy you’re on nebula now! that’s so exciting! and i’m so happy you’re making videos on okinawa! from your being japanese documentary, it seemed like such a facinating place with such a unique blend of cultures! i’m very excited to learn more about the people and place through your videos
When I went to Japan & Okinawa I was disappointed at the concrete I saw from the plane. I supposed it’s because they are islands home to millions of people. I would delight in seeing open spaces of nature.
Great video on a topic I haven’t seen covered much elsewhere. Very interesting to find out more about why the quirky buildings of Okinawa look the way they do. Looking forward to more videos on Okinawa!
I'm a Filipino resident in Japan for close to 3 decades and I've been to Okinawa I guess between to 50 to 70 times now, mostly just there for 1-2 days though, but I always get the feeling of being back home. Like the Philippines, in Okinawa the sun is so much brighter, the sky is much bluer, the people are friendlier, smile more, and are relaxed - sometimes too much, which is also like the Philippines! The buses normally run late too. The vegetation also is very similar (e.g. hibiscus, custard apple (Okinawa "atemoya" and Philippine "atis"), "talisay" trees, "santan" flowers etc.), and sometimes you can find some miniature versions of what we have in the Philippines. In a way, Okinawa is like a hybrid between the Philippines and mainland Japan. Edit: Oh I just remembered. Some places in Okinawa also have drunk, passed out people sleeping in the middle of the street.
I just visited Ishigaki and Iriomote last year so after seeing the houses there, this video was especially interesting! Thank you for this! So much of the design choices makes sense for the environment and I love that!
I just got back from a trip in Okinawa. What you have to understand is the history and how almost the entire Island was scorched during WWII. So there are no trees to cut down and importing them from the mainland is very expensive. Okinawa is the poorest prefecture in Japan and so even paint is expensive there for most folk. So naturally, the entire island has used concrete for construction.
My husband (Navy vet) was stationed in Okinawa 71-72, he has lots of stories about Naha, Okinawa, and some of the places in Japan and Korea where he was able to go on leave.
16:02 "It kinda reminds me of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. It was designed by the same fellow..." Okay, this unintentionally threw me for a loop as there was a very small pause after that and the idea of this and the Hanging Gardens being built by an immortal architect was hilarious. But great video! I'm going to visit it in May and as I'm really into urban exploring, I'll looking forward even more for the few days I'm visiting Okinawa!
Great video, I lived on Okinawa 5 years in the 90's, then another 5 years now, I was quite shocked at all the changes over 30 years, even visiting family every 5-7 years we still didn't realize how much had changed. You mentioned all of the stairs and ladders to the roofs on homes here, I always thought a lot of homes had roof access also for tsunami's, especially in the lower areas. You showed the original concrete home construction, not sure, but it looks like there are still a bunch of those original flat roof homes still around the island, a bunch in Kitanakagusuku, even my in-laws still have an old flat room home that is quite old but has been renovated several times, also Camp Foster just demolished an entire neighborhood of the old style homes due to radon gases and just the need to upgrade and consolidate homes into newer towers or more efficient homes. We are about to leave, but will hopefully move back here again in the future, I'm sure things will continue to evolve and change, and we are looking forward to seeing Shuri castle rebuilt as we visited many times in the past and really enjoyed seeing that castle.
Thanks for covering Okinawa :D I visit often since I have family there. I also find the topic of choice in this video interesting as well since I never really thought about it too much. I figure most of the reason why buildings were built that way was to withstand typhoons, since having been through a few of them over there, Okinawa just shrugs them off whereas if it hits the mainland it can get pretty hairy. Looking forward to seeing the other videos you have planned!
Thank you so much for the quality of your videos ! I like when your thoroughly search and clearly states when your point is subjective or not, and the fact that you use data to back up your facts. I have watched all the new ones on plastic, recycling, the deer problem, the Kyoto ban to name of few. Please ! Carry on the good work ! I'm still hungry for more 😊
I'm Chinese of Fujian descent and actually another explanation for the origin of the shisa is not Chinese guardian lions but the fengshiye 风狮爷 (or hong sai-ya in Minnan dialect) in the Fujian region of China. Because the region of Fujian was also particularly prone to typhoons, it was said the lions were a guardian who would 'eat up' the strong winds hence they are placed on rooftops with their mouth open. I believe this is a more accurate explanation for the origins of the shisa because traditionally, specifically the Fujian region of China was where the Ryukyu kingdom had the most cultural contact with China. In fact the 36 families of Kume-mura were immigrants from Fujian province of China, they formed much of the upper echelons of Ryukyuan society, assisting the local king and community with education, philosophy, arts, culture, trade etc.; in particular one of the most famous figures in the Ryukyu kingdom of Fujian descent is Sai On (蔡温) who was key advisor and instructor to King Sho Kei. Indeed for someone of Fujian descent, Ryukyuan/Okinawan cuisine and culture is indeed particularly familiar for Fujian people, it is said that many Ryukyuan chefs travelled to Fujian to learn how to cook during that period, and indeed Naha is official sister cities with Fuzhou in China and there are multiple monuments (e.g. Fukushuen 福州园 in downtown Naha, Ryukyu-kan 琉球馆 in Fuzhou) located in both cities to commemorate this unique relationship. Another very surprising cultural similarity has been the turtleback style tombs which is largely a unique regional feature of southeastern China. Interestingly red-tiled roofs are also a very distinctive feature of southern Fujian architecture 闽南建筑 which is also very popular across Taiwan where >70% of the population is Minnan, I'm not sure if Okinawa has these styles based on cultural influence or if it was mere coincidence
I've done lots of streetviewing around Japan and have often been curious about the half walls and some of the other features of their construction that you talked about here. Really informative video and answered some long-standing questions I had. Thanks!
Thank you for this video! I went to Naha 5 years ago and also noticed a lot of architectural peculiarities. I found it especially noteworthy that some elements of the Okinawan architecture looked very much like Taiwan - all those unpainted concrete walls, window bars, rooftop tanks, over-the-top design that you mentioned were very much reminiscent of Taiwanese buildings. Which is not very surprising, considering the geographic proximity. As others have mentioned in this thread, other East and South East Asian countries like Indonesia and Philippines also bear many similarities. Perhaps much is dictated by the climate and weather but cultural exchange must have played quite a role as well.
Very much enjoyed this video and the neat aspects of Okinawan architecture. Thank you for sharing this and putting the effort into making it. Very much appreciated.
Very interesting, I would have never expected that Okinawa of all places would go this hard on brutalism. I mean, in Europe brutalism is something that was in fashion for government projects but was never really embraced by the general population, it's extremely rare to see private homes in consciously brutalist style (as opposed to "accidentally brutalist" ones where unpainted concrete amd boxy shape is just a way to save money) like the Okinawan ones you show around 15 minute mark.
In my mind, Okinawa was more traditional/old fashioned; probably because I’ve heard so much about Okinawans being famous for their traditional diet, so I assumed that propensity lent itself toward other areas of life, as well. I guess, in the area of architecture, I was wildly off the mark.
Can't speak for Okinawans, but I was stationed there. I tried to get away from Americans as much as possible while on the island. If there was anything I found common among Okinawans, it was a sense of being practical with their use of space. While Japan is known for this inside homes, Okinawans extended this to outside areas. There are gardens, livestock areas, etc. just about everywhere in the smaller cities. Naha and the surrounding area are mostly urban than, the areas in the central parts tend to be urban + island-agrarian mix, and the northern part has a large and dense jungle/rainforest. The brutalist design also seems to allow this more practical land use. At the very least, the design and use work more seamlessly than I've seen anywhere else.
I really enjoyed this video and learnt a lot. Thank you for your videos on different Japanese building types, town planning and the ins and outs of what makes Japanese towns and cities the way they are.
Water tanks on roofs make tons of sense. From having a backlog of water from the mains to it generating more water pressure if coupled with a ground level pump
Thank you ! I really-really like your videos about Japan ! Who would have known they were such specificities linked with Okinawa city 😮. Carry on the good work !
As a small child, I grew up in Okinawa. A typhoon came, and every morning you see the weather, with a typhoon getting closer and closer everyday. One day, it was unclear whether the typhoon was going to hit not and I went to my elementary school. Then the typhoon switched course, and by the time it was noon, we were told to get home. As we were walking home - my friends and I found a stairwell, situated in a way so this huge wall of the gymnasium and a parking lot funneled into to the concrete stairwell. What this did was funnel all the wind and water blowing into those four story tall walls into this one focal point. Walking down into the stairwell was impossible. Wind would blast us up no matter how hard we tried... which was super cool to us. We flung ourselves into the stairwell, as the wind would throw us up - the wind would stop suddenly while mid-jump and those kids ended up dangerously close, when another blast would kind of slow them down before impact. Anyway, just a distant memory now, but those were some awesome times.
Glad to see you are also on Nebula. Im going to be watching you in both places. This is very educational. Many older homes in Chinese-dominated districts in Bangkok (usually pop up during ww1 and 2) were built the exact same way. Now i think I know why.
Brutalism has a very specific design philosophy and intent, and even political approach in how buildings are constructed. In Brutalism, while you would have utilitarian aspects in their desgins, a lot of buildings experimented with shapes, textures, and layouts, so much so that some Brutalist buildings can look truly futuristic, geometric, downright beautiful. Some even incorporate greenery both on the building and around it through public green spaces. Brutalist builings also tend to be imposing, greater than the person observing them, concrete monuments of engineering. They are also distinct decade differences and differences between countries Brutalist buildings, but all sharing the common core principals of design. Mostly used for apartment blocks and secular buildings, not for individual homes as concrete used for individual homes tends to stray more towards other modernism architectural styles instead. Okinawan homes look more like eclectic or vernacular mish mash of different things, not exactly adhering to Brutalist design philosophy. To me Japan never really had brutalist buildings, going more for its own concrete building styles like Metabolism, and these vernacular styles seen in Okinawa and many other across Japan.
Oh interesting. On my last video about the rich neighbourhoods of Tokyo, I showed what to me looked like similar style concrete buildings, and people said they were brutalist. I tried researching brutalist buildings for a few hours, but I still obviously don't quite get what makes a brutalist building brutal. Thanks for the comment.
These are almost like neo-brutalism. Brutalism has a specific time and place in history and I think represents a rather fascistic bastardisation of Modernism > Art Brut > Cubism/De Stijl. The big depressing Soviet blocks of Brutalism are nothing more than trashy soul-crushing Soviet Constructivism on steroids. What I find baffling is that Brutalism is sort of the winner in modern construction techniques, but it's not so baffling when you consider that most new construction is corrupt money-laundering soullessness and modular Brutalist styles are economical ways of churning out blocks of living spaces. For Okinawa, some of the new examples are Brutalist but others are eclectic and almost erring on a return to Craftsman-in-concrete. And for the concrete buildings built post-WWII, I wouldn't term those as Brutalist, just boring old cantilevered concrete construction.
Im in okinawa right now and i was surprised with the amount of stainless steel water tanks around. I was also surprised with cement brick walls that are built straight up and not overlapping like most brick laying techniques.
The homes in Okinawa look very similar to those in India and southeast Asia. From the concrete, concrete hole designs, to the metal gates, window bars, balconies, terraces, water tanks, underhouse parking, alleys -- pretty much everything.
I used to live in Nagahama, Yomitan which was one of the landing points for US soldiers in the battle for Okinawa. I´m so happy to have found this video as it reminds me of my time in Okinawa. As for the built in ladders, there was one outside the door to the apartment I lived in. I don´t know how they were supposed to be used, but I used it to do chin ups!!
Under house parking is not something I knew actually existed and wanted. Not only for the added space for parking or just other stuff, but also because I've always loved the idea of having a house being on an off-level height relative to the ground, whether they're below ground level or above ground level.
Great video. This kind of small-scale brutalist architecture looks dystopian to my eyes... but I guess it makes sense in a place with so many typhoons. I can imagine an Okinawan version of the Three Little Pigs where the stone house is substituted with concrete (and the protagonists are Shisa, of course).
Have to say I don't find this kind of architecture *itself* so Dystopian, especially not just cause concrete: generally it's *uniformity* that gives me Dystopian vibes even if they put a bit of a pseudo-homey facade on it like so many brick apartment complexes where I'm from can be. If they get funky with the variation, maybe mix up the styles and materials, nothing wrong with it, very different from 'bland and institutional.' Kind of curious what they do with the interiors, though. Inside, I don't care for too much stark modernism. Especially a lot of trendy bathrooms these days seem pretty harsh and full of glass and metal and mirror and such and can look too uncomfortable, even institutional despite clear expense: I'd much prefer cozy, more onsen-style with some wood and maybe river-stone and, you know, more organic. settings even with more-modern fixtures or whatever. But generally, on a bet, I'd figure those with the means put a lot of the effort inside where it's not so weather-battered.
@@OllamhDrab dead on, a 70s cedar contemporary house in america while being the wooden equivelant of brutalism on the outside have very comfy interiors
You make incredible architecture videos! I'm sad i never had the chance to study architecture in japan like i had planned due to various reasons, this makes me happy to remember all the different types of architecture there that I would like to someday see myself!
I feel like shopping for a home would be a unique experience in Okinawa. I've never seen such a diverse range of homes and designs in one city of only a few hundred thousand. I live in the Chicago suburbs, and most houses fall under a few similar designs and aesthetics. Okinawa seems to have a unique house on every corner.
Fun fact....The name Ryukyu means dragon head 🐲 If ya look at the layout of islands it resembles a dragon serpentining through the ocean with Okinawa being the terminus or head. There is also something to do with China's royalty as the castle was the temporary throne, {or China's royal land} for visiting Chinese diplomats and their ceremony's. On the architecture, it's a shame they didn't do a "Brutalist" interpretation of the islands classic style. This modern design trend fits really well with the Japanese ascetics AND this islands severe weather. Thanks for this great educational creation. New subscriber just from this wonderful video
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Stay tuned for more videos on Okinawa. It's going to be a real traffic jam!
Glad you are on Nebula now! Watching here again 😁
Iron is pronounced "eye"-"ern", not "eye"-"run"
City of concrete is a terrible title. All cities are made of concrete. A sea of concrete, or forest of concrete, or concrete jungle as you said in the first 36 seconds of the video. It needs to be an oxymoron.
I LOVE that you focus on architecture in some of your videos.... I see that you are finding an interest in it just as I have been recently. I just LOVE the Japanese styles that are so varied throughout the country. Unlike here in America where it feels like the vast majority of homes are 'McMansion' lol (and in those awful housing developments) I hope you can continue to spotlight more of it in your future travels, or even if you did it remotely through research. But I know that you are more of a 'go out and see it for yourself' type of videographer, which is so much better - but expensive lol
I'm happy with pretty much anything you put out tho, mainly because of the jealousy I have of being able to live in and explore my FAVORITE culture/country. :) I can't wait to see what you do next! - Oh and THANK YOU for making such down-to-Earth, everyday life videos. Most of the the channel I watch that are about Japan in some way are either acting or a faux personality that gets in the way of the content. You are what the kids these days call 'real' lol :)
سلام اريد تعلم اللغة اليابانية باليابان ولا ادري كيف فهل تساعدينني؟
Growing up in Okinawa is something I cherish the most in my life. There were hard times sure but I learned to play climbing and jumping from one roof top to the others in my grandmothers neighborhood. Everyone knew me and would yell at me to be careful but no one ever stopped me and if I fell they would be there to get me up, check to make sure nothing was broken and tell me to be more careful. I love and miss all of the great people of Okinawa. Cherish every trip back.
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico but currently live in Okinawa, and I'm still always amazed by how similar both places are. I'm assuming it's the similar climate and the presence of the USA.
Ey, fellow boricua here! I can’t wait to visit Okinawa!
There is still a presence of the US in Okinawa?
@@TheJProducti0nsYou can see the US military bases here 2:31. A large proportion of their land is owned by the US
Saludos fellow boricua.
I see a lot of architectural cues that remind of visiting Florida. Another place with a lot of feisty storm weather and a pre-occupation with crime...
I am a former U.S. service member who has now lived in Okinawa for almost 5 years. My favorite thing about the cities is how truly “walkable” it is out here - in comparison to the States, where you have 4, 6, 8 lane highways cutting through small towns (I get it is a small island here, but still). You would be amazed how much living in a scenic or unsightly area affects your mental health.
oh, interesting, here I was thinking that Okinawa was not walkable, accessible or friendly for elderly at all.
@@cikis14 He means compared to America where walking is a foreign concept and you never see anyone outside their cars ever.
Okinawa is the most “americanized” place in japan and its not walkable AT ALL
@@lorili6885 A lot of areas in Japan that are not Americanized yet are also not walkable. It is just the part of living in rural Japan. I lived in China for 21 years and Okinawa for 3 without a car. The Naha area is pretty walkable with its monorail and bus network. It is not walkable north of Kadena because things are more spread out and the buses are not on time.
I lived in Koza Village 1970-72 when it was still mostly agricultural with local homes and shops and not renamed Okinawa City. I'm looking at this film and feeling sad. Everything they feared has happened after Japan took over (except for the US military bases) and turned the island into resort horror. It was always walkable back then, especially since that's how most people got around. There were private cars but mostly bus transportation in towns. I'm grateful I saw it when it was pristine.
Its so interesting that so many of the materials and details they use are so similar to what we use to build in the dominican republic. From the iron gates to the barred windows and the use of coral stone. And yeah, we also build mostly with concrete if you want to survive the hurricane season. Wood is mostly used by low income families.
White absorbs the least amount of heat, that's why. White tends to reflect more light than any color in the spectrum, contrary to black, which absorbs almost all light.
That makes sense.
Thought the same thing
Exactly, that's why for example Mediterranean style houses are also white. Same thing in the Middle East, where houses tend to be sand colored with thick walls and small windows to keep the heat out.
white releases heat longer than black also.
I don't get it
@@dotsdot5608 Heat radiation doesn't have to do with coulor, but with surface area of a object and thermal mass of that object.
However, white reflects more of the light spectrum, and as such less solar radiation is converted into Infrared/heat
As a Taiwanese, many of these characteristics of Okinawa mentioned in the video are surprisingly similar to Taiwan, especially Yilan or Keelung in the northeast of Taiwan.
However, the distance between Okinawa and Taiwan is indeed much closer than the distance between Okinawa and the main island of Japan.
Another Taiwanese here and I totally agree, if someone just showed me a random picture I may mistake it for Taiwan
It's similar to Taiwan because it's similar to Fujian, China, duh 😅😅
Not particularly surprising, Japan colonised Taiwan for quite some time after all, and Japan still maintains a fairly close relationship with Taiwan
@@deadkiller4129 It's...not that. It predates the colonization of Japan and trust me, Japan wasn't exporting Ryukyuan culture. Ryukyuan culture just shares a lot of similarities with the nearby Taiwan because they are similar places and had open cultural mixing for hundreds of years, as Ryukyuans traded with the native Taiwanese as well as China, Korea, and Japan.
@@deadkiller4129 it's not about history but about climate bro
Damn this is such a throwback. Living in Okinawa was such a surreal experience. I knew a lot of guys that didn't enjoy it. Especially during typhoon season, but I enjoyed it. As it was a contrast of mainland Japan, and felt different
I love Okinawa. To me it has vibes you would get from travelling to places like Indonesia.
Visited Okinawa last week for the first time in 13 years. It was good to be back home and with my family for a little and to see all the differences between mainland Japan and Okianwa that I never noticed when I was a kid. This video was very nostalgic and great!
Its called luchu
I love how the buildersand owners just had fun with the designs. It's creative
Living in Miyakojima for a year now, this has given me a lot of insight on things I usually find interesting while walking around. Thank you!
Watched this on Nebula, but came here to share some insights since we can't comment on there:
1) Concrete became the standard for local architecture because during WWII, Japanese authorities started replacing wooden structures due to the American fire bombing of the cities. After MacArthur took power and the US began building, they used skills and equipment from the Americans to rebuild.
2) Window Bars: 1910-1990s, protests, riots, and public unrest were common, and many people began using the bars on ground floors to protect from damage. Especially student riots and political riots, as they would smash windows with iron bars, bats, or bamboo poles. Upper floors had fewer break-ins, but were often damaged from typhoons and flying debris. This was common in Taiwan, which was possessed by Japan until 1945, and many of their laborers were slave labor from local Taiwanese populations. They brought the higher level window bars with them in the 1920s, and they've become standard from the Philippines to northern Japan.
3) White coloring on roofs and tiles are used to reflect heat, and are often mixed with limestone powder to help preserve the terracotta paneling/tiles. They also sometimes mix them with white tar, too help prevent leakage.
4) Balconies: SUPER POPULAR, but mostly used after the sun goes down. This is where most families and groups come together to do BBQs, since often it's illegal to do on the road, there are few sidewalks, and window balconies would let smoke inside. If you go to a tall hill during any celebratory period, you'll see hundreds or thousands of small fires, fireworks or mini-camps scattered about the roofs. It's really fun, and you can get some awesome pictures!
5) Brutalism: Brutalist homes are the mainstay in Taiwan, Japan and South Korea in recent years. Reduced upkeep, typhoon resistant, sleek exteriors. Most people are very, very proud of their new Brutalist Style homes, and if you have a chance, you should chat with them about why they like it so much. They love talking about it.
6) Support Pillars: Those are actually there for a few different reasons! A) They put a tarp over the top for daytime gatherings. B) they hang plants from the side extensions. C) They were also meant often for expanding floors. D) ODDLY, Japan & Taiwan used to be OBSESSED with pigeon races. They would use those pillars to support the cages, and sometimes use them for chicken cages as well.
Hope this helps! I'm an American with a bizarre background including a grandfather who helped build Taipei 101, and I'm living in Taiwan for 5 years now.
Keep up the cool work, and I'll see you on Nebula~
Thank you for your insight into Okinawan building practices and its history. Looking forward to the other upcoming videos about the island!
I am a civil engineer. Loved to see such an indepth explanation on architecture in Okinawa. Please Make more such amazing videos. Would love to watch them. Also, video quality and narration is top notch.
So, IMHO, as a person from south east asia (Indonesia) i will feel immediately at home in Okinawa since it has window bars, iron gate, water tank and concrete jungle 😂
* No typhoon in here though, just a LOT earthquake
Iron bars are common too in Malaysia and Singapore Hey we have iron bars on windows in our Singapore flat even though we were 5 floors up😃
@@doriswaddington2418 gotta be cautious against those flying burglars
It's also like a properly designed version of manila as it experiences typhoons as well 😂
As someone from Philippines too, yeah!
Yeah, I was about to say; pretty much looks like a lot of SEA
This feels so much like the Caribbean! I am from the Mexican Caribbean and the vibe is almost exactly the same.
Life where I'm from has the best documentary, when it comes to Japan 🇯🇵 ❤️ ❤️❤️
Very interesting; thanks! I'll be driving around for about 10 days in January; looking forward to exploring the rural areas of the main island...
Ah, memories. I miss Okinawa ❤.
Wow, when I hear “concrete jungle” I always think of NYC, but Okinawa definitely earns its nickname! Thanks for sharing Greg, always love the dedication and thought you put into your videos. Love from NY!
Same but I think in Sao Paulo brazil
One of your most amusing videos. Congratulations!
Puerto Rico is a pile of asphalt/concrete in the Caribbean. I hate it , it absorbs heat in daytime and irradiates at night, also amplifying noise. The houses with flat roofs leak soon or later. Concrete cracks with expansion/contraction.
okinawa iis so beautiful i almost fell in love with all the houses shown!
I love the rapid fire approach to this video, as you were able to address so many different topics in just 20 minutes.
I don't know if I've ever heard someone say rapid and 20 minutes in the same sentence, but I'm happy you enjoyed!
@@LifeWhereImFrom 20 well spent minutes!
One of my favorite channels now and forever
This style of building from the iron gates to the Hannah blocks,. Is pretty common in any place that tends to have high humidity and are usual to tropical islands.I see this a lot in my parents home country of Haiti and in other travel blogs from Mexico. To jamaica and a lot of them are coming here in florida.
Even extension pilliars common in haiti
Oh, fascinating!
Yeah! I thought exactly the same! It reminds me of Brazilian average houses
Good luck for your family in Haiti, it must not be easy currently :
Loved it! I lived 3 years on Okinawa an one year in Mainland Japan! First two 69 and 70 at Camp Hansen and Camp Courtney area. Last trip in 84 and lived at Kinser. I always loved the island and left my footprints in a lot of places. Thank you! A wonderful trip down memory lane. By the way Guam has a lot of concrete homes also.
Regarding water tanks above homes, as far as I know, in many places, a primary reason for individual water towers above homes is to maintain water pressure in the building. The towers are kept filled using small pumps. They also help when water service is disrupted. Great video!
You ought to do a little update with your family. I used to love watching you guys go out and spend the day on the town. Gave me motivation to get out and explore with my own kiddos. Love your videos man
6:29 white roof tile can keep house cooler, white can reflect over 60%++ of sun's rays.
I've been to Okinawa twice. I love it so much. The whole island is just like a place in my dream. I would love to live there!
Hi. I have been following your videos for a few years. I’m Danish but have lived in China since 2003. I recognise a lot of the “gaijin” stuff/observations/perspectives on simply being foreign AND committed to the new home.
I also LOVE Japan. I visited for holiday and work more than 50 times (returning in June - first time after pandemic) and i want to let you know I absolutely enjoy your shows.
I recognise most, I like what’s new to me, but above anything else I relay appreciate you dont turn things into silliness and “woooow-this-is-soooo-tender”.
You seems to be very much your self and I like and respect that. Your videos with family and kids are very good. The dialogue between you and your daughter is fun. My wife is Chinese and the kids are “mixed” (as the Chinese put it) and sometimes those kids, with a foot in each culture, have very interesting observations.
I really enjoy your content. You’re my favourite RUclips channel on Japan. I like that it’s not touristed and “look, I’m from the UK but I dyed my hair blues no belong to Harajuku…. :)
Noe you know: You have an fan in China from Denmark. Please keep it up!
I am from Okinawa but never knew or more like never thought about how the concrete houses became common/popular and that the Hana blocks actually have functions. (We have some as well but I always thought it’s just a design) it was very refreshing to see the island from a different point of view:) thanks for the great video!! Looking forward to seeing more!!
I see many things that seem to be recurrent in many tropical places. Like in my country, Dominican Republic, also with a hot and humid climate and also in the path of storms (hurricanes, in our case), like the concrete buildings and houses, iron gates with interesting designs (also handcrafted by iron workers), the window bars (in our case, the security concern is a real one, though), even something similar to Hana Blocks (mostly in older constructions though), the balconies (I don't know how many rooftop bbq I've been too haha), coral limestone was widely used to build walls and stuff like that (mostly in public places though, specially in the 80's and 90´s). The idea of later adding to their home is very recurrent here too, you will even see houses that still have metal bars exposed in the roof so it's easier to keep building once they need to or once they have the money to do it. I guess some things just make sense when you live in tropics haha
Otra Dominicano! Pero que cosa.
Hey una reunion
Not gonna lie I thought the thumbnail photo was taken from PR lol. Seems kind of similar to San Juan and the Metro Area
I legitimately just left a similar comment, but I'm from Jamaica. I knew most of the Caribbean islands looked similar but I really noticed it might be a deeper tropical thing when I played geoguessr way back in the day and it was free and I could explore more countries. Maybe the confluence of factors really just converge for us to build similarly in the tropics
@@BrownMInc True, looks very Caribbean style hahaha
if you visit most newer east coast towns in the US they are raised up like that. it is for flooding against the storms that come in. insurance companies will not insure anything on the 1st floor so they are typically just a spot to park a car. that's just on the coast, once you go inland it quickly reverts back to normal.
So great to have you down in Okinawa. I've been living here doing work for the US Military, and visiting the rest of Japan has made me realize how unique Okinawa is in many respects. Even the language is different among the very oldest generation. But the architecture has been the crazy thing to me, the deterioration of the paint was the most jarring observation. So many buildings that are lived in, still look abandoned. Oh, and everything is covered in spiderwebs starting this time of year!
Isn't it great?! I like it when people take it easy and don't care about what things look like and just focus on the practicality of living.
Hey dude I miss ur old videos sharing nice moments with ur friends and family in amazing places! 😢
Hi from an architecture fan in Okinawa - and thanks for posting this. :)
Was stationed in Okinawa 4 years. Love each day of it❤
Okinawa will always be my favorite Japanese destination, all my extended family are from here and my grandmas house is still the original Okinawa home. No concrete whatsoever
Thanks for the thorough documentation :) Concrete everywhere here in Thailand as well. Great for keeping cool in the morning, but it's like living in a radiative oven at night. Anything can be painted white, concrete is driven by cost. Thai construction crews have become very efficient at pumping out the same style concrete house. Wood is expensive here, I can't recall seeing a wooden house under construction.
The iron bars, everything locked, no one uses balconies, etc. Same things here, not much crime but people just want them. I believe these are driven by culture.
Some houses have a tubing spray system installed in the floor for termites, seems like they could do this wood as well. Thanks again
Yes to that you are on Nebula, I will be watching your videos over there form now on.
Just wanted to let you know that I absolutely adore and appreciate how crystal clear all the visuals of this video are. Great job man, really makes get a feeling of what it would be like to be in Okinawa!
Thank you so much teaching about Okinawa. I lived there when I was in high school and have a special place in my heart for this island. I learned so much from your video
I loved the whole experience of being station on Okinawa 1970-72
And yes, I rented a one room concrete apartment off base.
I performed on Bob Hope USO Show and watched Jane Fonda with Donald Sutherland who used my audience for their infamous Vietnam documentary.
I lived in Koza and witnessed the Koza riot firsthand, and was there when Okinawa was freed from occupation by
the United States.
I have fond memories of sitting in with Okinawan local bands, snorkeling, dirt biking, and my favorite eating Charlei's Tacos!
Every day was an adventure, I'll never forget.
Thanx for sharing this wonderful video.
Okinawa was one of my favourite places to visit in Japan, and I'm glad you made this video, Greg, because it brings me back! (and I get to learn about Okinawan architecture while at it)
It’s always a good day when you post!
i’m so happy you’re on nebula now! that’s so exciting! and i’m so happy you’re making videos on okinawa! from your being japanese documentary, it seemed like such a facinating place with such a unique blend of cultures! i’m very excited to learn more about the people and place through your videos
I always love watching your videos. Is like waiting for new episodes in national geographic Japan. Awesome content as always!
Fantastic video!! For as much time as I spend watching Japanese RUclipsrs, it's crazy how little I've seen of Okinawa until now!!
When I went to Japan & Okinawa I was disappointed at the concrete I saw from the plane. I supposed it’s because they are islands home to millions of people. I would delight in seeing open spaces of nature.
OMG YOU'RE FINALLY ON NEBULA! Woohoo! That's so exciting!
Great video on a topic I haven’t seen covered much elsewhere. Very interesting to find out more about why the quirky buildings of Okinawa look the way they do. Looking forward to more videos on Okinawa!
OMG! YOUR A NEBULA MEMEBER!!!! IM SO EXCITED FOR YOU AND THIS CHANNEL!!! LETSSS GOOOOOO
I'm a Filipino resident in Japan for close to 3 decades and I've been to Okinawa I guess between to 50 to 70 times now, mostly just there for 1-2 days though, but I always get the feeling of being back home. Like the Philippines, in Okinawa the sun is so much brighter, the sky is much bluer, the people are friendlier, smile more, and are relaxed - sometimes too much, which is also like the Philippines! The buses normally run late too. The vegetation also is very similar (e.g. hibiscus, custard apple (Okinawa "atemoya" and Philippine "atis"), "talisay" trees, "santan" flowers etc.), and sometimes you can find some miniature versions of what we have in the Philippines. In a way, Okinawa is like a hybrid between the Philippines and mainland Japan.
Edit: Oh I just remembered. Some places in Okinawa also have drunk, passed out people sleeping in the middle of the street.
Just wanted to say that I enjoy your style of calm, walk by commentary of interesting finds so much ! Thank you so much for your work :)
I just visited Ishigaki and Iriomote last year so after seeing the houses there, this video was especially interesting! Thank you for this! So much of the design choices makes sense for the environment and I love that!
growing up in okinawa, i never really thought into detail of the structures of houses. It's nice to know these facts now.
I just got back from a trip in Okinawa. What you have to understand is the history and how almost the entire Island was scorched during WWII. So there are no trees to cut down and importing them from the mainland is very expensive. Okinawa is the poorest prefecture in Japan and so even paint is expensive there for most folk. So naturally, the entire island has used concrete for construction.
My husband (Navy vet) was stationed in Okinawa 71-72, he has lots of stories about Naha, Okinawa, and some of the places in Japan and Korea where he was able to go on leave.
16:02
"It kinda reminds me of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. It was designed by the same fellow..."
Okay, this unintentionally threw me for a loop as there was a very small pause after that and the idea of this and the Hanging Gardens being built by an immortal architect was hilarious.
But great video! I'm going to visit it in May and as I'm really into urban exploring, I'll looking forward even more for the few days I'm visiting Okinawa!
I was stationed in okinawa when i did my service in the army. Lovely country
I just visited okinawa this march and that's what i feel! Since I'm interested in brutalist architecture I found it a delightful bonus
Great video, I lived on Okinawa 5 years in the 90's, then another 5 years now, I was quite shocked at all the changes over 30 years, even visiting family every 5-7 years we still didn't realize how much had changed. You mentioned all of the stairs and ladders to the roofs on homes here, I always thought a lot of homes had roof access also for tsunami's, especially in the lower areas. You showed the original concrete home construction, not sure, but it looks like there are still a bunch of those original flat roof homes still around the island, a bunch in Kitanakagusuku, even my in-laws still have an old flat room home that is quite old but has been renovated several times, also Camp Foster just demolished an entire neighborhood of the old style homes due to radon gases and just the need to upgrade and consolidate homes into newer towers or more efficient homes. We are about to leave, but will hopefully move back here again in the future, I'm sure things will continue to evolve and change, and we are looking forward to seeing Shuri castle rebuilt as we visited many times in the past and really enjoyed seeing that castle.
Great to see you in Nebula! ⭐
Thanks for covering Okinawa :D
I visit often since I have family there. I also find the topic of choice in this video interesting as well since I never really thought about it too much. I figure most of the reason why buildings were built that way was to withstand typhoons, since having been through a few of them over there, Okinawa just shrugs them off whereas if it hits the mainland it can get pretty hairy.
Looking forward to seeing the other videos you have planned!
Your cinematography is very beautiful! Love the shots and composition lately.
Yay! More Okinawa to come! That is very good news. Great video. Looking forward to hearing the interviews.
Thank you so much for the quality of your videos ! I like when your thoroughly search and clearly states when your point is subjective or not, and the fact that you use data to back up your facts.
I have watched all the new ones on plastic, recycling, the deer problem, the Kyoto ban to name of few.
Please ! Carry on the good work !
I'm still hungry for more 😊
I'm Chinese of Fujian descent and actually another explanation for the origin of the shisa is not Chinese guardian lions but the fengshiye 风狮爷 (or hong sai-ya in Minnan dialect) in the Fujian region of China. Because the region of Fujian was also particularly prone to typhoons, it was said the lions were a guardian who would 'eat up' the strong winds hence they are placed on rooftops with their mouth open. I believe this is a more accurate explanation for the origins of the shisa because traditionally, specifically the Fujian region of China was where the Ryukyu kingdom had the most cultural contact with China. In fact the 36 families of Kume-mura were immigrants from Fujian province of China, they formed much of the upper echelons of Ryukyuan society, assisting the local king and community with education, philosophy, arts, culture, trade etc.; in particular one of the most famous figures in the Ryukyu kingdom of Fujian descent is Sai On (蔡温) who was key advisor and instructor to King Sho Kei. Indeed for someone of Fujian descent, Ryukyuan/Okinawan cuisine and culture is indeed particularly familiar for Fujian people, it is said that many Ryukyuan chefs travelled to Fujian to learn how to cook during that period, and indeed Naha is official sister cities with Fuzhou in China and there are multiple monuments (e.g. Fukushuen 福州园 in downtown Naha, Ryukyu-kan 琉球馆 in Fuzhou) located in both cities to commemorate this unique relationship. Another very surprising cultural similarity has been the turtleback style tombs which is largely a unique regional feature of southeastern China. Interestingly red-tiled roofs are also a very distinctive feature of southern Fujian architecture 闽南建筑 which is also very popular across Taiwan where >70% of the population is Minnan, I'm not sure if Okinawa has these styles based on cultural influence or if it was mere coincidence
I've done lots of streetviewing around Japan and have often been curious about the half walls and some of the other features of their construction that you talked about here. Really informative video and answered some long-standing questions I had. Thanks!
Thank you for this video! I went to Naha 5 years ago and also noticed a lot of architectural peculiarities. I found it especially noteworthy that some elements of the Okinawan architecture looked very much like Taiwan - all those unpainted concrete walls, window bars, rooftop tanks, over-the-top design that you mentioned were very much reminiscent of Taiwanese buildings. Which is not very surprising, considering the geographic proximity. As others have mentioned in this thread, other East and South East Asian countries like Indonesia and Philippines also bear many similarities. Perhaps much is dictated by the climate and weather but cultural exchange must have played quite a role as well.
Very much enjoyed this video and the neat aspects of Okinawan architecture. Thank you for sharing this and putting the effort into making it. Very much appreciated.
Very interesting, I would have never expected that Okinawa of all places would go this hard on brutalism. I mean, in Europe brutalism is something that was in fashion for government projects but was never really embraced by the general population, it's extremely rare to see private homes in consciously brutalist style (as opposed to "accidentally brutalist" ones where unpainted concrete amd boxy shape is just a way to save money) like the Okinawan ones you show around 15 minute mark.
It was surprising to me as well!
In my mind, Okinawa was more traditional/old fashioned; probably because I’ve heard so much about Okinawans being famous for their traditional diet, so I assumed that propensity lent itself toward other areas of life, as well. I guess, in the area of architecture, I was wildly off the mark.
Brutalism was in fashion for governments only because the concrete associations had deeper pockets to bribe
@@user-no2mz9hl4f Salt water, humidity, and monsoons forces building in concrete unless you want to constantly rebuild
Can't speak for Okinawans, but I was stationed there. I tried to get away from Americans as much as possible while on the island. If there was anything I found common among Okinawans, it was a sense of being practical with their use of space. While Japan is known for this inside homes, Okinawans extended this to outside areas. There are gardens, livestock areas, etc. just about everywhere in the smaller cities. Naha and the surrounding area are mostly urban than, the areas in the central parts tend to be urban + island-agrarian mix, and the northern part has a large and dense jungle/rainforest.
The brutalist design also seems to allow this more practical land use. At the very least, the design and use work more seamlessly than I've seen anywhere else.
I really enjoyed this video and learnt a lot. Thank you for your videos on different Japanese building types, town planning and the ins and outs of what makes Japanese towns and cities the way they are.
Water tanks on roofs make tons of sense. From having a backlog of water from the mains to it generating more water pressure if coupled with a ground level pump
love this tour through the city with you! thank you so much for the sight seeing and information
Thank you ! I really-really like your videos about Japan !
Who would have known they were such specificities linked with Okinawa city 😮.
Carry on the good work !
Nice to have you take a stroll through my neck of the woods!
From this video I find that Okinawa seems good to visit, especially for vacation. The vibes, I just can feel it. ✨ 🌅
As a small child, I grew up in Okinawa. A typhoon came, and every morning you see the weather, with a typhoon getting closer and closer everyday. One day, it was unclear whether the typhoon was going to hit not and I went to my elementary school. Then the typhoon switched course, and by the time it was noon, we were told to get home. As we were walking home - my friends and I found a stairwell, situated in a way so this huge wall of the gymnasium and a parking lot funneled into to the concrete stairwell. What this did was funnel all the wind and water blowing into those four story tall walls into this one focal point. Walking down into the stairwell was impossible. Wind would blast us up no matter how hard we tried... which was super cool to us.
We flung ourselves into the stairwell, as the wind would throw us up - the wind would stop suddenly while mid-jump and those kids ended up dangerously close, when another blast would kind of slow them down before impact.
Anyway, just a distant memory now, but those were some awesome times.
Glad to see you are also on Nebula. Im going to be watching you in both places.
This is very educational. Many older homes in Chinese-dominated districts in Bangkok (usually pop up during ww1 and 2) were built the exact same way. Now i think I know why.
So early! I’ve loved your videos for years. Thanks for hours of quality entertainment!! 🎉
Brutalism has a very specific design philosophy and intent, and even political approach in how buildings are constructed. In Brutalism, while you would have utilitarian aspects in their desgins, a lot of buildings experimented with shapes, textures, and layouts, so much so that some Brutalist buildings can look truly futuristic, geometric, downright beautiful. Some even incorporate greenery both on the building and around it through public green spaces. Brutalist builings also tend to be imposing, greater than the person observing them, concrete monuments of engineering. They are also distinct decade differences and differences between countries Brutalist buildings, but all sharing the common core principals of design. Mostly used for apartment blocks and secular buildings, not for individual homes as concrete used for individual homes tends to stray more towards other modernism architectural styles instead. Okinawan homes look more like eclectic or vernacular mish mash of different things, not exactly adhering to Brutalist design philosophy. To me Japan never really had brutalist buildings, going more for its own concrete building styles like Metabolism, and these vernacular styles seen in Okinawa and many other across Japan.
Oh interesting. On my last video about the rich neighbourhoods of Tokyo, I showed what to me looked like similar style concrete buildings, and people said they were brutalist. I tried researching brutalist buildings for a few hours, but I still obviously don't quite get what makes a brutalist building brutal. Thanks for the comment.
@@LifeWhereImFrom congratulations you just found your next video topics
Yeah... Soviet style apartment buildings are pretty brutal. Both to look at and to live in. I lived in one.
These are almost like neo-brutalism. Brutalism has a specific time and place in history and I think represents a rather fascistic bastardisation of Modernism > Art Brut > Cubism/De Stijl. The big depressing Soviet blocks of Brutalism are nothing more than trashy soul-crushing Soviet Constructivism on steroids.
What I find baffling is that Brutalism is sort of the winner in modern construction techniques, but it's not so baffling when you consider that most new construction is corrupt money-laundering soullessness and modular Brutalist styles are economical ways of churning out blocks of living spaces.
For Okinawa, some of the new examples are Brutalist but others are eclectic and almost erring on a return to Craftsman-in-concrete. And for the concrete buildings built post-WWII, I wouldn't term those as Brutalist, just boring old cantilevered concrete construction.
It's Modernist Architecture . Very similar in Vietnam.
Im in okinawa right now and i was surprised with the amount of stainless steel water tanks around. I was also surprised with cement brick walls that are built straight up and not overlapping like most brick laying techniques.
Thanks for making these videos. I really appreciate the details and knowledge your videos provide. Wishing you lots of success🎉
The homes in Okinawa look very similar to those in India and southeast Asia. From the concrete, concrete hole designs, to the metal gates, window bars, balconies, terraces, water tanks, underhouse parking, alleys -- pretty much everything.
As an architecture student, I greatly value this video!
I used to live in Nagahama, Yomitan which was one of the landing points for US soldiers in the battle for Okinawa. I´m so happy to have found this video as it reminds me of my time in Okinawa. As for the built in ladders, there was one outside the door to the apartment I lived in. I don´t know how they were supposed to be used, but I used it to do chin ups!!
Under house parking is not something I knew actually existed and wanted. Not only for the added space for parking or just other stuff, but also because I've always loved the idea of having a house being on an off-level height relative to the ground, whether they're below ground level or above ground level.
Great video. This kind of small-scale brutalist architecture looks dystopian to my eyes... but I guess it makes sense in a place with so many typhoons. I can imagine an Okinawan version of the Three Little Pigs where the stone house is substituted with concrete (and the protagonists are Shisa, of course).
Have to say I don't find this kind of architecture *itself* so Dystopian, especially not just cause concrete: generally it's *uniformity* that gives me Dystopian vibes even if they put a bit of a pseudo-homey facade on it like so many brick apartment complexes where I'm from can be. If they get funky with the variation, maybe mix up the styles and materials, nothing wrong with it, very different from 'bland and institutional.'
Kind of curious what they do with the interiors, though. Inside, I don't care for too much stark modernism. Especially a lot of trendy bathrooms these days seem pretty harsh and full of glass and metal and mirror and such and can look too uncomfortable, even institutional despite clear expense: I'd much prefer cozy, more onsen-style with some wood and maybe river-stone and, you know, more organic. settings even with more-modern fixtures or whatever. But generally, on a bet, I'd figure those with the means put a lot of the effort inside where it's not so weather-battered.
@@OllamhDrab dead on, a 70s cedar contemporary house in america while being the wooden equivelant of brutalism on the outside have very comfy interiors
You make incredible architecture videos! I'm sad i never had the chance to study architecture in japan like i had planned due to various reasons, this makes me happy to remember all the different types of architecture there that I would like to someday see myself!
Beautiful videography and informative as always Greg!
16:20 I feel like the Okinawa Museum may have been built to slightly resemble the famous Yonaguni Monument, though then again I'm not too sure.
I love your channel so much!! Especially videos when you are outside of Tokyo, so glad you keep making these fun educational videos!
Okinawans are so friendly and nice, I loved it there!
This is giving a laid back Indian small town vibe with it's big balconies, external staircases and ground parking.
I feel like shopping for a home would be a unique experience in Okinawa. I've never seen such a diverse range of homes and designs in one city of only a few hundred thousand. I live in the Chicago suburbs, and most houses fall under a few similar designs and aesthetics. Okinawa seems to have a unique house on every corner.
It beats the US concrete grid city where half of the area is carparks and one random highway that goes through the middle of a suburb.
Fun fact....The name Ryukyu means dragon head 🐲 If ya look at the layout of islands it resembles a dragon serpentining through the ocean with Okinawa being the terminus or head. There is also something to do with China's royalty as the castle was the temporary throne, {or China's royal land} for visiting Chinese diplomats and their ceremony's. On the architecture, it's a shame they didn't do a "Brutalist" interpretation of the islands classic style. This modern design trend fits really well with the Japanese ascetics AND this islands severe weather. Thanks for this great educational creation. New subscriber just from this wonderful video