The Dark Truth of Japan's Paradise Island | Trouble in Paradise

Okinawa is known to many as a postcard perfect paradise. In 2019, before the pandemic stopped travel, the island welcomed 10 million tourists. But despite mass tourism, Okinawa is also the poorest prefecture in Japan.

VICE World News host Hanako Montgomery travels to Okinawa to find out why.

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[l..y..]

I usually like watching vice but now I realize how one sided their perspectives are. Uchinanchu (Okinawan people) have been ravaged by war and have been the pawn for Main Land Japan and the American Military. As Okinawans, we have very little control over what happens here. The Japanese government keeps us in poverty, has cut budgets and has forced public schools to change history books to omit the forced suicides of Okinawan people by the Japanese Military. The American military is also at fault for inflating housing cost by giving an rent allowance of up to $4000 dollars a month, making it difficult for the typical Okinawan individual/family to be able to afford living in the same neighborhoods as American military personnel since renting to an American Military is much more lucrative.
The drinking problem is merely a side effect of what is really happening here and if you are too blind to see what is the actual source of our suffering, please don’t make a documentary that makes us looks like lazy idiots that are incapable of being sober.
-An Okinawan who doesn’t consume alcohol

[annaaiko]

Way to go Vice— going back and deleting all the negative comments and criticisms. It’s surprising how there are now little to no comments about how surface level this interview is. And to even interview mainland Japanese nationalists about alcoholism and the spirit of Ryukyu islanders? Okinawa, my home, deserves so much more than this topical interview. Some parts I even found the interviewer to be quite patronizing. They have gone through so much and it hurts my heart to know that Vice of all channels won’t do justice for the whole story of Okinawa. This video covers a FRACTION of what viewers need to understand about this island. Okinawans are so war-torn from having to build themselves back up over and over again, between the Japanese taking over (who I might add literally tried to irradiate Okinawan culture) followed by the island being devastated AGAIN with WW2. Nearly two-thirds of the island’s population was killed. During the war groups of Okinawan families were forced by the Japanese to commit suicide (there is a place now called The Suicide Cliffs) and were fear-mongering telling the locals that Americans would rape and kill women and children. I could go on and on about this— but despite everything they still have so much resiliency and absolute hearts of gold— THAT is because of our saying “nankurunaisa.” I just wish people would understand this before making quick shallow judgements— like this video. Adding some freaking history would go such a long way.

[vanessalauren]

My Grandma Chiyoko was born in Okinawa and moved to Tokyo at the age of 5 with her parents and 13 siblings so they could find better jobs!
My Grandma was the most beautiful loving person but she still carried a lot of heartache her whole life she said when her family left Okinawa. They lived in a 2 bedroom apartment in Tokyo with 15 people and she use to always say she missed her home in Okinawa.
I used to ask her, "Grandma do you miss your hometown?", and she would reply "YES because life was hard there but we were happy!"
When my Grandpa brought her back to California he bought her a house on the outskirts of town as close to the country he could afford so she could garden and sit outside and enjoy her beer in peace Haha.

Okinawa is beautiful and I hope to visit someday. ♥️

[jujitsu]

The Ryukyu kingdom once had such a rich culture. It’s sad to see what America and Japan have done to it

[notreallyhim]

Okinawa is not the only place with issues and rampant poverty, this is how most, if not all holiday island destinations are.

The macro economy of Okinawa simply can't grow much based on tourism alone, and lacking technological innovation, like the rest of Japan, will set you back, especially if you don't have much products to export etc.

[Raifu]

It's really to tough to hear my home talked about this way and realize that my mother was part of the statistic, but I've seen everything touched on in the documentary. My mom was also a young mother raising 3 boys and I remember she would work late at night to make ends meet before she met my father. On another note, I think it's tough to cover entirely the issues present in Okinawa to include the US military influence and issues, and the history of trauma on the island from World War 2. I have a lot of love for my home and I wish things were better for Okinawans and not just catering to those visit and never stay.

[minaarakaki]

The documentary does cover some of Okinawa's issues well. I just don't understand why the "local" group chosen to drink with
was "Uyouku". That is a very limited population of us locals in Okinawa.

[prheatwave]

I lived in Okinawa for 13 yrs, the poverty issue is due to mainland Japan not investing in Okinawa. The Japanese people looks and treats Okinawan's as second class citizens like Australian's treat the Aboriginal's. Sad very sad situation. I can remember the old days back in the early 60's and 70's Okinawa was such a beautiful place the people would all speak their own language Uchina Guchi "Hogen", living in Okinawa for 13 years I was blessed to have learned the true Okinawan "hogan" language and lived, learned their culture and way of life. I can't wait to return one day although Ive seen the changes Okinawa will never be the same.

[FreshAirRules]

The interviewer is very skilled. Asking probing questions yet not too intrusive, drawing answers out well and attentively listening. Really top notch. This really takes a lot of skill and tact. We don't see this often these days. Most are like steam rollers, very unresponsive, just plowing through their list of questions. This video explores the tragic life when alcohol takes a dominant place in people's lives. It truly is the family demolisher. You'd think they'd take better precautions though against getting pregnant when so young. Very strange how they can be so naive. Basically as a hostess, they're hoping for a whale to sweep them away to a comfortable, pampered life. Good luck with that.

[yeshuarising]

That professor spoke some real words right there...when you try to get ahead in life...those around will either crush you or help you. Sad reality of life everywhere 😪 😢

[wulf]

I lived there for four years, even during the COVID outbreak. That island and those people are wonderful. I miss it dearly. But I would refrain from calling Okinawans Japanese. They have a unique culture, language, music, and food that is very distinct from Japan traditional.

[Knowledgeispower]

The island and people are incredibly wonderful. They face the same challenges as many around the world. But there attitude towards work is very different from the mainland. But no matter what, they are truly wonderful and loving people. I miss my time there.

[sooklee]

From 13th Century, the nations of Okinawa suffered under the colonizers. I heard so many wonderful things about the locals. I pray for you.

[PlayinWithGhosts]

My father was stationed in Kadena and I was fortunate to live in Okinawa. Being older and reflecting, it's wild watching this. Just goes to show that the underbelly of civilization is painfully similar no matter where you live.

[NoMoreCrumbs]

The look on her face when she says "It is what it is" was so crushing to see. To be so young and to feel like your life is already in tatters. What a devastating documentary

[pinkywinky]

I’ve been to Okinawa twice. Stayed for over a week on both times and it’s the most relaxed I’ve been since moving to Japan almost 20 years ago. The vibe is just different there. My sister and her family lived right in front of a white sand beach with a breathtaking view of the sunset. I literally cried on the plane when I went back to the mainland. If there were more job opportunities there we would definitely move to Okinawa. It’s a shame that it’s the poorest prefecture. 😓

[sherrymaki]

I'm Okinawan and this video is very racist towards Okinawans!! The poverty issue is due to Japanese colonialism! Japan forces 70% of their bases onto Okinawans against our will, and these bases occupy land which could be used instead for other industries. Okinawans know the bases hurt Okinawans in many ways - a high incidence of accidents, sexual assaults, environmental degradation. And the amount of money going to Okinawans through jobs has been dropping over the years. Saying that the poverty is due to alcoholism is extremely racist and ignores the underlying issue of Japanese colonialism and US occupation.

Also, she should not have been talking to Japanese nationalists. They do not represent most Okinawans. This was a very poorly-made and harmful video.

[Kemkal]

Love how she just downs a handful of "stuff that prevents a hangover". Talk about trusting.

[grapsietv]

That last interview was very eye opening, also great job to the host she kept the balance between asking questions and listening extremely well. 🙌

[aryan_]

I never really expected Okinawa to be the poorest prefecture in Japan, when you consider the fact that it has some of the lowest crime rates. So this video was pretty surprising for me...