Shuri Castle: Okinawa as a Site of Vulnerability and Resilience

The chapter that follows combines historical literature and Constructivist International Relations (IR) theory to reexamine the case of Okinawa’s Shuri Castle as a site of repeated disasters. It thereby interrogates why Okinawa continues to be both vulnerable and resilient in the face of existential threats such as war, fire and natural hazards. In response to these challenges, Okinawan agency is shown to have played a significant and often under-emphasized role in shaping how disasters are framed, internalized and ultimately overcome. This includes overcoming stereotypical representations of Okinawan victimhood, as well as the creation of new narratives that promote market resilience and increased political self-determination.