In the East China Sea , there once thrived a kingdom.

Red and white added to the beauty of a royal palace that served as the venue for colorful diplomatic formalities.

Envoys from China , Japan , and states in Southeast Asia visited the kingdom between the 15th and 19th centuries.

On the roof of the king's residence was a royal symbol: a dragon, overseeing the peace and security of the people.

The kingdom that existed here for 450 years was called Ryukyu. Now, that same location is part of Japan , and is called Okinawa Prefecture .

Okinawa . Extending 400 kilometers north to south, and composed of some 160 islands large and small, Okinawa forms one prefecture.

These islands are sub-tropical; flowers bloom throughout the year.

Through exchange with various countries, Okinawa cultivated a unique culture that is richly international.

And now the final G8 Summit Meeting of the 20th century is to be held here, in the region that was once the Ryukyu kingdom in Okinawa Prefecture .

Every previous Summit in Japan has been held in Tokyo . This will be the first time that regional cities have hosted the meetings. From among the numerous locations proposed as candidates, Kyushu and Okinawa were selected on this occasion because they are the regions closest to the rest of Asia .

Okinawa, with its sub-tropical climate, is one of the leading resort areas in Japan .

Emerald waters and white beaches. More than 4 million tourists visit Okinawa every year.

Okinawan coral reefs are among the world's most important in terms of lifeform diversity. The diversity of the coral itself rivals that of the entire Great Barrier Reef . Here, concentrated in a very small area, the reefs form a veritable natural aquarium.

The ocean is only one facet of Okinawa 's charm. Forty-six percent of the prefectural land is covered in vegetation. And each island has different indigenous species of wildlife.

This bird was discovered 20 years ago, and recognized as a new species.

The wings are almost vestigial, and it cannot fly at all.

 The bird lives only in the northern part of the main island.

This is a kind of wildcat that was discovered 35 years ago. It lives on the small island of Iriomotejima , which has a perimeter of 120 kilometers.

The wildcat continues to draw international attention because so few mammal species have been newly discovered in the 20th century. Numerous indigenous species in Okinawa have survived because they inhabit islands.

Approximately 2,000 years ago, during what is regarded as the Neolithic Period in Japan , the people of Okinawa created a separate cultural sphere from that of the Japanese islands to the north. They began to build a unique culture adapted to a sub-tropical climate.

Even today, certain examples of proto-Japanese survive in the Okinawan dialect.

The population of Okinawa Prefecture is 1.3 million. Many people make a living from farming and fishing, and from tourism.

The recent past has seen the emergence of young entrepreneurs involved in computer graphics and other aspects of the multimedia industry.

Viewed from Tokyo , Okinawa is a remote region in the extreme southwest.

But let's take a look at the map with Okinawa placed in the middle.

Within a 1,000-kilometer radius of Okinawa island, one finds Taiwan , Shanghai , and the southern part of the Korean peninsula.

At 2,000 kilometers, Tokyo , Manila and Beijing are also included.

Viewed in this light, Okinawa is centrally positioned in East Asia .

Its excellent location guided the development of Okinawa 's unique history.

In the south of the main island is a beautiful centuries-old castle.

The early 15th century saw the emergence of a dynasty that utilized the advantages of this region's location at the crossroads between East Asian cities.

It was the Ryukyu Dynasty, and it held sway in what is now Okinawa for 450 years.

Gold, silver, and precious stones adorn the king's crown.

In Asian society, the status of the Ryukyu kings was similar to that of such national figureheads as kings in Korea and Vietnam .

Okinawa 's prosperity was a product of trade. Okinawan ships plied routes to and from Japan , China , and Southeast Asia . Entrep?t trade brought great wealth to these small islands.

The emperor of China bestowed this gold seal only on monarchs with whom diplomacy and trade were approved. It is estimated that in the 15th century, about 20 percent of China 's external trade was with the Ryukyu Dynasty.

Spices from Southeast Asia were shipped to Japan . Horses and swords from Japan were shipped to China . It is said that people from the Ryukyu islands were to be found in every port from East Asia to Southeast Asia .

In the residence of the Ryukyu king hung a bell bearing an inscription. The words reflected the determination of the Ryukyu kingdom to survive as a trading nation.

"Bankoku-shinryo."

Bankoku means "universal." Shinryo means "bridge."

In order to serve as a "universal bridge," the nation pursued a policy of peace and friendly relations.

Surprisingly, the nobility of the Ryukyu islands did not bear arms. Instead, their duties included studying music. They perfected various songs and dances that were used to entertain diplomatic envoys from other nations. This is one of the dances that was performed for an envoy of the Chinese emperor.

A three-stringed instrument called the sanshin picks out notes on the characteristic Okinawan musical scale.

The playing of the sanshin was one of the fundamental elements of a nobleman's education.

A single dancer portrays a pair of mandarin ducks, symbols of mutual affection. It's a wonderfully gentle dance in which each bird acknowledges the other, and expresses a wish to live in harmony.

Music was assigned a crucially important status among the efforts of the Ryukyu kingdom to preserve friendly relations with neighboring states. 

For example, one of the most important Cabinet posts was that of the "Dance Magistrate," a government official entrusted with the administration of music.

The duties of the Dance Magistrate included writing dance music, and entertaining emissaries from abroad. But in addition he himself was dispatched abroad as a special envoy, and engaged in diplomatic negotiations.

Karate is an example of a martial art that has spread around the world. Karate itself is famous, but its origins in the Ryukyu kingdom are less well-known.

The key precept is not to attack an opponent, but to protect oneself.

In the days of the Ryukyu Dynasty, when peace was a major priority, the wearing of swords was restricted. "The way of the empty hand" was developed as a method to defend oneself without the use of a weapon.

Karate was practiced as part of everyday life. This training method is a way of increasing the power of one's grip. Each day, one more stone is added to those already inside each jar, making it steadily heavier.

As well as a means of conditioning the body, karate was also a mental discipline.

Rather than "win," the concept at the heart of Okinawan karate is: "do not lose." The learner keeps practicing on the premise that ideally, one should never use what is being learned.

Through peace diplomacy, the Ryukyu kingdom was able to serve as a "universal bridge" for 450 years.

Then in the 19th century, the region was integrated into Japan , which by that time was a modern nation. Okinawa Prefecture came into being.

To this day, the Ryukyu tradition of peace and friendship survives and thrives.

For people in Okinawa , music remains an indispensable part of everyday life. Live music performances can be enjoyed all over Okinawa .

This was one of the biggest hits in recent years: "Haisai Ojisan."

In the Okinawan dialect, "haisai" means "Hello!"

The song reflects a warm-hearted spirit of welcome that excludes no one.

Dances to entice the gods. Dances to entice people. Music and dances are essential to Okinawan festivals and rituals, and they all share a certain quality: the kind-hearted acceptance of others.

Okinawa 's geographical location led to tragedy in World War II.

In 1945, Okinawa was one of the final battlegrounds in the struggle between the Japanese Imperial Army and the Allied Forces.

With the US military playing a central role, the Allies drove Japanese forces out of the islands of the Pacific Ocean, and closed in on Okinawa as the base for the final thrust against Japan .

A documentary made by the US navy described how it was important for the allied forces to seize Okinawa :

"With Okinawa in our hands, we could control the China coast; send swarms of planes to smother Japan ."

To take Okinawa , a massive force was assembled. The US military said it numbered no fewer than 540,000 men.

Fierce fighting continued for three-and-a-half months. Japan threw everything it had into the war effort. Women and old people who would never have been conscripted under normal circumstances were mobilized for military service.

Okinawan prefectural authorities estimate that 200,000 people died.

Of that number, more than 120,000 were inhabitants of Okinawa .

One quarter of the prefectural population was killed.

The southern tip of the main island of Okinawa was the scene of especially fierce fighting. Now cenotaphs stand here, bearing the names of those who died in the battle for Okinawa . This memorial is called "Cornerstone of Peace."

It is not dedicated exclusively to Japanese war dead. Among the others remembered here are people from the United States , the United Kingdom , the Republic of Korea , North Korea and Taiwan .

It was made by the people of Okinawa prefecture as a prayer for the souls of everyone who died, winners and losers.

Many inhabitants of Okinawa died. But the power of the people's desire to achieve international peace transcended even that tragedy.

This was a license-plate for a US military vehicle.
After World War II,  Okinawa was administered by the United States . It came to be called the
"keystone of the Pacific."

In 1951, the Japan-United States Security Treaty was signed.

After 27 years of US administration, Okinawa was returned to Japan in 1972.

American bases still remain in Okinawa .

Approximately 10 percent of Okinawa prefecture is occupied by US bases.

Among people in Okinawa , there is a strong feeling that the bases should be reorganized and consolidated.

In response, the Japanese and US governments have been implementing the plans included in the Special Action Committee on Okinawa Final Report, agreed by both countries in 1996, to realign, consolidate, and reduce U.S. facilities and areas.

This is the venue for the Meeting of Heads of State and Government at the last G8 Summit of the 20th century. The building is to be named in accordance with a suggestion from the people of Okinawa . Bankoku Shinryokan. The " Universal Bridge " Hall.

The music of Okinawa is beginning to strike a chord with fellow Asians. This song has been translated into ten languages spoken in Asia .

　　　River flowing on
　　　 Where, where does it flow?
　　　People flowing on
　　　Where, where do they flow?
　　　Wherever the flow takes you
　　　I'll be there when
　　　You blossom
　　　As a flower
　　　You bloom

The song is called Hana, meaning Flower. It was written by one of Okinawa 's leading musicians, Shokichi Kina. The lyrics compare human life, to the blooming of a flower, and of living life to the full.

Hana went to Number One in the charts in Bangkok and Beijing . Altogether it has sold 15 million copies in countries including Vietnam , the Philippines , Indonesia , Malaysia , Myanmar , the Republic of Korea , and Mongolia . No other Asian song has ever had such a broad appeal across national boundaries.

Exactly what aspect of the song touches the hearts of so many Asians?

　　　So go ahead and cry!
　　　Go ahead and laugh!
　　　One day, one day
　　　You will blossom
　　　You will bloom.

This year, the G8 Summit will be held in Kyushu and Okinawa in July.

The prospect of a Summit in Okinawa is drawing great interest in Asian countries.