The 50th Anniversary of the establishment of Ginowan City

Special Exhibit "The 50th Anniversary of the establishment of Ginowan City"

(to Sunday, August 26)
@Ginowan City Museum 　　　　
Admission is Free
9:00 to 17:00 (Last Entry: 16:30) / Closed on Tuesdays 

Ginowan City celebrates the 50th anniversary of its establishment this year!

I took a field trip to learn about the changes of shops and functions of the city, centering on Route 58 and 330, with a guide of a chief curator from Ginowan City Museum. 

I would like to show you what I found briefly. I hope this will help you to enjoy this special exhibit。 

Let's drive on Route 58.

Driving from Ojana to Mashiki, you will see Bank of Ryukyus, Ojana Branch on your right.

In 1970s, they say there was a chicken shop serving the best roast chicken♪(See ⑬ on the map)

Before KFC was open in Okinawa, the shop had been popular so that, if they had heard a word "chicken," it had reminded local people of "Country Chicken."

In those days, there were barracks in Ojana, Camp Mercy in Mashiki, and Camp Boone in Ujidomari, which made over 46% of Ginowan City occupied by military land together with Futenma Air Station and Camp Zukeran.

Reaching the former Isa Junction, we can see something like a tower.

It is "SAFETY TRAFFIC TOWER." The tower was erected in 1965 for commemorating the torch fire passing through Okinawa for 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and for wishing the safety traffic at the junction, because the traffic was so heavy in those days. 

The top design was modeled after a torch fire for Olympic Games.

Guess who sculpted the tower! 

A great artist in Okinawa, Mr. Shinzan Yamada did! 

He built Peace Prayer Statue in Peace Memorial Hall in Itoman City.

Surprisingly, Mr. Shinzan Yamada was closely associated with Ginowan City.

I would like to tell more about it in the next article!

TO BE CONTINUED...