**Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown | Okinawa | S06 E03 | All Documentary — Transcript & Summary | SozAI**
Source: https://sozai.app/transcript/anthony-bourdain-parts-unknown-okinawa/

Anthony Bourdain explores Okinawa's food, history of WWII battles, unique cultural identity, bull sumo (togu), and the island's tension with US military bases.

## Key Takeaways

- Okinawa's identity is distinct from mainland Japan, shaped by history, language, and food.
- The Battle of Okinawa caused immense loss of life, including many civilians.
- US military presence remains a significant and contentious issue for Okinawans.
- Okinawan cuisine, especially pork-based dishes, reflects a philosophy of eating varied, borrowed, and mixed foods.

## What the video covers

- Bourdain introduces Okinawa as a tropical island south of mainland Japan with a distinct culture and cuisine that differs from the mainland.
- The episode covers Okinawan cuisine centered on pork, including pork belly, ears, and other traditional dishes like chanpuru and yakisoba.
- Historical context is provided on the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, with roughly 50,000 Allied casualties and over 100,000 Japanese soldiers and conscripts killed, plus an estimated 150,000 civilian deaths.
- Okinawans' historical ambivalence toward being Japanese is discussed, including their distinct language and culture.
- Togu (ushizumo), a traditional bull fighting sport dating to the 17th century, is shown as a community tradition.
- A chef's personal story of growing up mixed-heritage in New Jersey and reconnecting with Okinawan identity is featured.
- The island hosts a large share of US military bases despite being a small prefecture, raising issues of sacrifice and the 'not in my backyard' debate.
- Okinawan karate and its influence, including female fighters, are highlighted.
- Local food culture, such as taco rice and convenience-store fare, shows the influence of American presence.
- The episode contrasts a relaxed Okinawan lifestyle with the more frenetic mainland Japanese attitude.

## Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to Okinawa and Its Spirit
2. 02:24 Okinawa's Distinct Identity and History
3. 08:00 Bull Fighting Tradition (Togu)
4. 12:00 Bourdain's Personal Heritage Story
5. 16:00 The Battle of Okinawa in WWII
6. 25:00 Okinawan Cuisine and Pork Culture
7. 31:40 US Military Presence and Sacrifice
8. 38:20 Karate, Culture, and Closing Reflections

Answers

## Questions about this video

What was the Battle of Okinawa and how many people died?

The Battle of Okinawa was a WWII campaign beginning April 1, 1945, against a U.S. invasion fleet. The Allies had around 50,000 casualties, including about 12,000 killed or missing, and more than 100,000 Japanese soldiers and conscripts died. Historians estimate roughly 150,000 civilians also lost their lives.

What is togu and why is it significant in Okinawa?

Togu, also called ushizumo, is a traditional bull-fighting sport dating back to the 17th century, where bulls are pinned against each other. The bulls are raised and conditioned by handlers, and the winner is the one that forces the opponent to turn and run. It is especially popular in agricultural communities.

Why does Okinawa host so many US military bases?

Although Okinawa is one of Japan's smaller prefectures, it hosts more than half of the foreign military presence in Japan. The episode frames this as a major source of tension, with Okinawans feeling they are asked to make sacrifices for the mainland, raising the 'not in my backyard' debate.

## Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

00:10

Speaker A

What does it mean to be strong? It implies hardness and flexibility.

00:50

Speaker A

getting colder [Applause] ah [Music] this is okinawa just south of mainland japan [Music] for all the relative rigidity of the mainland okinawa answers in its own unique way don't eat the same thing each day that's boring there's even an

01:31

Speaker A

Okinawa is a place with a fighting tradition, a history of ferocious resistance.

01:46

Speaker A

second world war how horrifying [Music] for the allies there were more than 50 000 casualties with around 12 000 killed or missing in action over nearly three months of fighting more than a hundred thousand japanese soldiers and okinawan conscripts were

02:05

Speaker A

[Music]

02:24

Speaker A

only become japan fairly recently that to a great extent okinawans didn't even consider themselves really japanese or vice versa did okinawans and japanese consider themselves to be different ethnicities spoke two different languages and culturally culinarily and in many other

02:41

Speaker A

But it's nothing like what you might think. Not at all.

03:03

Speaker A

chain it's just over 300 miles from the mainland but worlds apart okinawa is different it's tropical clear waters from the best beaches in asia to the decidedly more laid-back less frenetic self-serious attitude than the mainland you can feel it

03:26

Speaker A

[Music]

04:05

Speaker A

these are professionals and like jake lamotta and chuck webner before them they shall live to fight or do other stuff another day having shed decidedly less blood than either of those two gentlemen [Applause] two animals two handlers and they do

04:26

Speaker A

[Applause]

04:39

Speaker A

till somebody gives up i think they pretty much go until somebody gets gives up but when it gets around the point system no no there's no point system basically when the other one turns around and runs away as the winner

04:54

Speaker A

[Music]

05:06

Speaker A

and they'll go home to be happy nobody's turned in a steak they're cutlets togu started as early as the 17th century with farmers pinning bull against bull they love it in agricultural communities like this so much so that it was briefly

05:20

Speaker A

Getting colder.

05:34

Speaker A

them conditioning them to be monsters in the ring on the other [Applause] [Applause] the official answer would be that gambling's illegal in japan intermission time for a corn dog some funnel cake curly fries no better much better yakitori yes they have that but

06:16

Speaker A

[Applause]

06:31

Speaker A

a bit of sake topped with seaweed powder some pickled ginger garnish and eat now [Music] oh it looks impressive oh yeah oh he's ready to go this guy i think is going to win this one well we haven't seen his opponent

06:50

Speaker A

Ah.

07:45

Speaker A

ramen you will of course find them in okinawa but what you need to know what you must know is that in okinawa pork is king okay they got tofu too here at urazun they do specifically okinawan food the

07:59

Speaker A

[Music]

08:22

Speaker A

ah pork belly yes [Music] okinawans love pork every part of the magical animal the pig [Music] at horizon the pork belly is slowly cooked in stock heavily infused with bonito flakes and awabari the ears are simmered until tender

08:43

Speaker A

This is Okinawa, just south of mainland Japan.

09:09

Speaker A

the navy he was stationed here met my mom and wound up back in new jersey because that's where my dad was from paterson and i i was born and raised there uh the school i went to was predominantly caucasian kids

09:24

Speaker A

[Music]

09:38

Speaker A

china oh god yeah right yeah open the refrigerator and there'd be some weird food you know hey what's that what are you and every time i heard that i was like wow am i like am i different and also one day my mom says we're going

09:51

Speaker A

For all the relative rigidity of the mainland, Okinawa answers in its own unique way. Don't eat the same thing each day, that's boring. There's even an Okinawan term for it: chanpuru, something mixed. Bits borrowed from all over, served up for anyone to eat.

10:03

Speaker A

being able to connect my heritage i felt something i was like wow i belong here how about the food what was in that refrigerator because i know a lot of kids who grew up with that same sort of uh uncertainty

10:20

Speaker A

But maybe you're more familiar with the name Okinawa from this. Has the setting for some of the most horrifyingly bloody battles of the Second World War.

10:33

Speaker A

when their friends came over man have things changed as far as attitudes um pretty much the engine of the new american cuisine are kids with childhoods like yours and i don't mean just what's hit what's the next big thing

10:48

Speaker A

How horrifying.

11:14

Speaker A

pacific the objective is okinawa one of the ring of island fortresses protecting japan 300 miles away on april 1 1945 a u.s invasion fleet of nearly 1 500 ships a landing force of 182 000 people that's 75 000 more than normandy

11:35

Speaker A

[Music]

11:57

Speaker A

the japanese mainland and victory the fighting was brutal for both sides the cost in lives and resources for the allied forces was tremendous and when it was over military planners looked at the mainland looked at what okinawa had cost

12:11

Speaker A

For the Allies, there were more than 50,000 casualties, with around 12,000 killed or missing in action, over nearly three months of fighting. More than a hundred thousand Japanese soldiers and Okinawan conscripts were killed defending the island. Civilians were stuck in the middle of the two armies and got crushed. No one will know for sure, but historians estimate 150,000 men, women, and children lost their lives during the battle.

12:31

Speaker A

[Music] from the very beginning mainland japanese defense preparation was only 60 percent when u.s military done their own okinawa right so that they had to keep the u.s military forces as long as possible in okinawa so that they could prepare defense to

12:54

Speaker A

What most don't know is that Okinawa had only become part of Japan fairly recently. To a great extent, Okinawans didn't even consider themselves really Japanese, or vice versa. Did Okinawans and Japanese consider themselves to be different ethnicities? Did they speak two different languages? Culturally, culinarily, and in many other ways, they looked in different directions.

13:16

Speaker A

japanese imperial army he fought hard and bravely against the allies until he saw japanese soldiers murdering okinawans for food and water and his faith melted away ghetto on is a private home turned restaurant serving very traditional okinawan dishes

13:36

Speaker A

Yet Okinawans were asked to make the ultimate sacrifice, and they did.

14:07

Speaker A

swordfish wrapped in seaweed and simmered in stock and fermented sake dried sea snake wrapped in kombu and slow simmered [Music] burdock root wrapped in pork loin and slow cooked in katsuo stock [Music] okinawan taro flash fried then dressed

14:31

Speaker A

That's not just ancient history. It informs the present still.

14:55

Speaker A

good during the uh the battle after the united states forces down in okinawa general headquarters of the okinawa defense forces issued the order regardless of military people or the civilians you cannot use other than standard language and if you use the okinawan language

15:16

Speaker A

Okinawa is the largest of over 100 islands making up the Ryukyu island chain. It's just over 300 miles from the mainland but worlds apart. Okinawa is different. Tropical, clear waters, from the best beaches in Asia to a decidedly more laid-back, less frenetic, less self-serious attitude than the mainland. You can feel it. You can see it. It's just different here.

15:33

Speaker A

japanese do you think most people feel here there's a fundamental difference between japanese culture and okinawan culture japanese culture is wary and culture but okinawan culture is absence of militarism people are happy or lucky people do you think that easy going

15:54

Speaker A

Two thousand pounds of heavily muscled beef enters the arena. You could feel the ground shake under its heavy hooves. His opponent awaits.

16:12

Speaker A

bases are here on okinawa almost all of them okinawa seems to be asked to make a lot of sacrifices uh for the mainland will that ever stop you are talking about inimi not in my backyard yes [Music] for a place with his bloody history

16:43

Speaker A

Togu, also known as ushizumo, sumo. Yes, but sumo for bulls. These are professionals, and like Jake LaMotta and Chuck Wepner before them, they shall live to fight or do other stuff another day, having shed decidedly less blood than either of those two gentlemen.

17:02

Speaker A

the ban was later reinforced in 1879 when japan formally annexed the island it is believed that these prohibitions led directly to the development of a new style of martial art indisputably born in okinawa karate or empty hands technique

17:20

Speaker A

[Applause]

17:47

Speaker A

of hard and soft techniques golf means hard linear attacks closed hand strikes and kicks ju means soft open hand circular blocking sweeping and takedown movements [Music] sensei tetsuhiro hokama is a legendary master of goju ryu people come from all over the world to

18:14

Speaker A

Two animals, two handlers, and they do, like the Burgess Meredith job in Rocky, and like fighters or sumo wrestlers, the bulls are ranked by their ability, their record in the ring. The highest being yokozuna.

18:51

Speaker A

building up stronger larger more protective deposits around the bones basically weaponizing even your weakest and smallest extremities and it hurts even to watch it's bad james pankovich brit and black belt in shore and ryu karate moved to okinawa in 2009 to study

19:18

Speaker A

This is Kenny Eamon. He lives up the road.

19:34

Speaker A

that one what are these i could like adi sunbones so these are pufferfish so we got some they're gonna do some deep-fried fish for us unofficial national fish of okinawa and porcupine fish both battered and deep fried they're going to do sashimi

19:56

Speaker A

Is there a time limit, or do they just go till somebody gives up?

20:09

Speaker A

traditional sea grapes the classic regional side dish dressed in rice vinegar what you buy downstairs from vendors for a small fee restaurants will cook it for you upstairs [Music] wow oh my god wow so okinawa's most famous export perhaps is karate

20:42

Speaker A

I think they pretty much go until somebody gives up. But when it gets around the point system... no, no, there's no point system. Basically, when the other one turns around and runs away, that's the winner. A few times, one bull will actually get around to the side and be able to flip the other over. The loser survives. Once in a while you'll have injuries, but most of the time the bulls go home, and they'll go home to be happy. Nobody's turned into a steak. They're cutlets.

20:59

Speaker A

control and subdue the opponent usually if you could in a humane way but then if you had to finish them then then you had the ability to finish them the striking is important but a lot of the technique is

21:11

Speaker A

Togu started as early as the 17th century, with farmers pitting bull against bull. They loved it in agricultural communities like this so much that it was briefly banned in some places, because farmers were spending too much time at the fights and not enough time growing sugarcane.

21:43

Speaker A

open the demonstration of hokama sensei's open hand kyushu technique becomes a little too real for my taste human engineering with a terrifying logic one attacks the weak point all i know how to do in this situation by the way is pull guard and look for

22:06

Speaker A

Like Tyson and the young Tyson, their handlers raised these beasts from calves, caring for them on one hand and training and conditioning them to be monsters in the ring on the other.

22:19

Speaker A

he was saying in the old days that if there was a fight happening somewhere in town people would would go and have a look and they'd say are they fighting with fists or open hands and if they're fighting a fist they say

22:31

Speaker A

[Applause]

23:00

Speaker A

and to okinawans it must seem like they never left [Music] today there are roughly 30 000 troops stationed on the island put that many americans in a place especially young mostly male americans many of them homesick and it tends to

23:16

Speaker A

[Applause]

23:44

Speaker A

adjustments that people do and saddled with neighbors like thousands of marines and sometime in the 80s adjusted food as we knew it to this a mutant classic taco rice taco and rice that's taco rice wow wow it's big

24:07

Speaker A

The official answer would be that gambling's illegal in Japan.

24:25

Speaker A

entertainer who began singing in american bases after the war wow that's good there are dueling claims as to how taco rice might have morphed into existence but saurishima bakuro is certain in the 1980s american servicemen introduced the standard taco to okinawans and her

24:46

Speaker A

Intermission time. For a corn dog? Some funnel cake? Curly fries?

25:04

Speaker A

americans missing home and locals so i i consider myself a pretty pro-military guy but why are the marines here look i like marines but you know i'm not robert mcnamara but it seems to me if you go to work with

25:20

Speaker A

No, better. Much better. Yakitori? Yes, they have that, but when in Okinawa, do as the Okinawans do: yakisoba. Start with pork belly, as one always should. Some hacked-up sausage, cabbage, carrots. Fry that stuff up on the griddle. Add some cucumber, noodles, and sauce: soy, mirin, brown sugar, vinegar, and a bit of sake. Topped with seaweed powder and some pickled ginger garnish. And eat.

25:34

Speaker A

much near the base near the base it makes a difference right i mean you know right away i mean it's tattoo parlors strip clubs vape shops i mean you know and also it's very loud um that's a big issue

25:51

Speaker A

[Music]

26:12

Speaker A

semper fi not everybody here agrees with vivian by a long shot okinawans may be easy going and laid back but the island is also a relative hotbed of political activism largely inspired or provoked by what okinawans see as high-handed treatment from a

26:32

Speaker A

Oh, it looks impressive. Oh yeah. Oh, he's ready to go. This guy, I think, is going to win this one. Well, we haven't seen his opponent.

26:51

Speaker A

and even though it's one of the smallest japanese prefectures in terms of livable area they accommodate more than half of the foreign military presence [Applause] even more problematic much of okinawa's arable land suitable for farming on an island whose whole traditional identity

27:08

Speaker A

Oh yeah.

27:28

Speaker A

have a like a protest going on i would say over 80 percent of the people are uh all retired person why do you think that is um and this is only in my opinion but uh japanese uh imperial army uh did a lot

27:42

Speaker A

[Music]

27:58

Speaker A

this is kg yoda he's an okinawan farmer and this is nishimachi a small noodle shop that bears only the owner's name and serves only okinawan style soba pork belly or ribs is the meat the broth a mix of fish chicken pork and

28:16

Speaker A

My money's on him.

28:32

Speaker A

slices of omelet add your pickled ginger and togarashi hot sauce and hu-ra it seems the anti-base sentiment also coincide with an anti-central government sentiment do you do barron at a hugely disproportionate burden of bases isn't some activism called for

28:50

Speaker A

[Music]

29:16

Speaker A

[Music] long before the war the americans arrived long before the satsuma invaded from the mainland okinawa was a kingdom the ryukyu kingdom a prosperous and peaceful island chain with no standing army they were farmers traders and necessarily diplomats whose eyes

29:39

Speaker A

Oh.

29:57

Speaker A

more used to and predisposed to dealing with the outside world and its influences [Music] today just a short ferry ride from the main island a sense a feeling of that long gone empire remains kobejima is a small island that has been

30:15

Speaker A

[Applause]

30:36

Speaker A

damage in the war and uh no military bases no american uh yeah well up until 72 there was an american base there was but then on 72 and on the reversion the base was taken away no nothing only the japanese self-defense forces

31:01

Speaker A

[Music]

31:35

Speaker A

kumajima style go big or go home to eat some fresh caught tuna that comes straight from the market to be butchered into sashimi also caught this morning some sea snails for the grill and mazuku seaweed which can be cooked but today is enjoyed raw

31:56

Speaker A

A pretty decisive winner there.

32:29

Speaker A

it gets no ring no octagon the rules are simple known as okinawan sumo it looks easy it's not your hands are wrapped in your opponent's belt object is to get him onto his back both shoulders before he does it to you

32:51

Speaker A

[Applause]

33:54

Speaker A

that brings my opponent to the ground [Music] thank you for going easy on me awesome [Music] so i've given up many vices in my life many shameful filthy guilty pleasures that i used to like that i will that i just don't do anymore

34:30

Speaker A

I'm not accusing anybody of gambling, but I see some money changing hands.

34:52

Speaker A

i keep coming back to every time i come back to japan one thing that still has an unholy grip on me for no reason that i can gather it's the convenience store formerly of near akron ohio that mutated into a massive japanese

35:14

Speaker A

He can do it. I can do it.

35:46

Speaker A

egg salad from lawson need a beverage [Music] [Music] you would be advised to avoid international avenue unless you're homesick for fellow americans head down the side streets shuttered storefronts give way to packed izakayas a few beers and somebody breaks out a

36:25

Speaker A

If you're looking for sushi, kaiseki, or ramen, you will of course find them in Okinawa. But what you need to know, what you must know, is that in Okinawa, pork is king. Okay, they've got tofu too. Here at Urazun, they do specifically Okinawan food, the Okinawan way.

36:41

Speaker A

island's most esteemed masters and their students come for what is recognized internationally as the cure for all martial arts related ailments alcohol would you like a drink i think i would like a beer emmett maybe a shot of

36:54

Speaker A

This is the tofu, which you just eat a little at a time. Is that strong?

37:13

Speaker A

but then they distill it like whiskey so it becomes stronger um but also now it will age um it's been in here with the snake maybe like three years because goodbye [Music] there seems to be a conflict of interest

37:39

Speaker A

It is a little strong. Yeah, it has a cheese-type texture. That's good. Not bad, right? It looks like blue cheese.

38:01

Speaker A

our warriors part of their lifestyle in the same with the karate is part of our lifestyle they're saying please eat less talking more easy sashimi of well let's just say it's an animal you like this is horse meat horse

38:19

Speaker A

Ah, pork belly. Yes.

38:58

Speaker A

some of the most exciting fighters that i've seen lately who really show the most heart uh are women uh is there uh is there a future for women in uh karate okay okay tony is asking what's the future for um

39:34

Speaker A

[Music]

40:03

Speaker A

to protect yourself your family you can be really kind people i think always have this love to everyone [Music] [Music] you

Topics: Anthony Bourdain Okinawa Parts Unknown Japan Okinawan cuisine Battle of Okinawa togu bull fighting US military bases karate travel documentary

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