In front of the Shuri Station of the Okinawa Urban Monorail - or “Yui Rail” - is Shuri Junior High School. During the Ryukyuan Kingdom, the sports grounds at Shuri Junior High used to be the “Chifijin-Udun,” the residence of the Kikoe-Ogimi who was the highest ranking priestess in the Kingdom. There are also other royal estates and ruins from prominent samurai family residences. Even though they’ve now become private homes, the locals have placed and continue to maintain informational placards detailing the history of these homes. It’s fun to stroll around and discover what used to be where in the Ryukyu Era.
In addition, the grounds at Shuri High School used to be the “Nakagusku-Udun," residence of the princes who would inherit the Kingdom and the highest educational institute established by the Ryukyuan government. Later, the academy changed its name to “Kokugaku,” relocating near the Ryūtan Pond. Back then, Kokugaku’s motto was “Kaiho Yōshū”; “Kaiho” meaning “country surrounded by water”, and “Yōshū” roughly meaning “to promote excellent people.” They strongly believed the nation’s development was tied to the talent and excellence of its citizens. This “Kaiho Yōshū” banner has been restored and now hangs at the Shuri High School gymnasium.
After the advent of prefectures replaced feudal domains, the Okinawa Prefecture Normal School was relocated to the ruins of Kokugaku, followed by Ryukyu University after WWII, and now the Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts.
The castle town of Shuri has a storied legacy of culture and education.
