Reading Notes W12: Memoirs of a Declining Ryukyuan Women, Part B

The author starts off recalling her visit to her friend, immediately we understand that she is disconnected from her mother and inquiring about the health of her mother. She is relieved to hear of her mother’s unflagging endurance yet used them opportunity to Segway into the state of Ryukyu. The S city which may represent Shuri (maybe the suburban area since its where the wealthy resided (402). The N stood for Naha, they were both capitals of Okinawa. Emigration abroad has been banned so therefore people have not been able to find jobs outside of the island and poverty has encroached on Ryukyu.

The author suggests that the tattoos they wore, maybe part of tradition prevented them from traveling and moving beyond their homes (community). Being that the Ryukyuan people were lower class citizens. Yet, the women were the only ones branded, while the men could leave and pursue an education/career. Their sons, not their husbands would send a small allowance that apparently according to the author was not enough to live on. The author suggest that the intellectuals of her community were able to obtain some sense of accomplishment. However, they were not fully accepted and only felt comfortable to be themselves and embrace their cultures is when they were among themselves. (They stuck together). The reality was that they were living from pay check to pay check.

The author thoughts are interrupted with the awareness that she is supposed to pick up her uncle. We can clearly see she does not have a relationship with her uncle outside of handing a small errand for him. He was a Ryukyuan but was clearing ashamed of it and feels like to get ahead that he must not disclose it. He is conceited, cold, and clearly does not respect women. She retells the story of how her uncle came to send the 10.00 to his stepmother at his other home. Her uncle comes from property, he has no compassion for the state of his family. He disappeared after the army, abandoning them any only came to the authors family because he thought that the family still had money. Yet, he stays with them to avoid not staying at his home for whatever reason. He has no sympathy, but disgust of family’s lowly position. Once he realizes he can’t gain anything from them he leaves again without even saying goodbye.  

Yet, apparently there was a letter explaining why he was leaving. He explained that if anyone found out he was from Ryukyu that he would lose his business and creditability. He is a shallow man that has even lied to his wife. He is ashamed of his family and who he really is. The author sympathizes with him because he had worked hard to build a better life for himself, however how could you not take care of your family.