City of Concrete | Okinawa, Japan 

Save $20 on an annual subscription to Nebula go.nebula.tv/lifewhereimfrom Stay tuned for more videos on Okinawa. It's going to be a real traffic jam!

Growing up in Okinawa is something I cherish the most in my life. There were hard times sure but I learned to play climbing and jumping from one roof top to the others in my grandmothers neighborhood. Everyone knew me and would yell at me to be careful but no one ever stopped me and if I fell they would be there to get me up, check to make sure nothing was broken and tell me to be more careful. I love and miss all of the great people of Okinawa. Cherish every trip back.

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico but currently live in Okinawa, and I'm still always amazed by how similar both places are. I'm assuming it's the similar climate and the presence of the USA.

White absorbs the least amount of heat, that's why. White tends to reflect more light than any color in the spectrum, contrary to black, which absorbs almost all light.

Its so interesting that so many of the materials and details they use are so similar to what we use to build in the dominican republic. From the iron gates to the barred windows and the use of coral stone. And yeah, we also build mostly with concrete if you want to survive the hurricane season. Wood is mostly used by low income families.

I am a former U.S. service member who has now lived in Okinawa for almost 5 years. My favorite thing about the cities is how truly “walkable” it is out here - in comparison to the States, where you have 4, 6, 8 lane highways cutting through small towns (I get it is a small island here, but still). You would be amazed how much living in a scenic or unsightly area affects your mental health.

As a Taiwanese, many of these characteristics of Okinawa mentioned in the video are surprisingly similar to Taiwan, especially Yilan or Keelung in the northeast of Taiwan. However, the distance between Okinawa and Taiwan is indeed much closer than the distance between Okinawa and the main island of Japan.

Damn this is such a throwback. Living in Okinawa was such a surreal experience. I knew a lot of guys that didn't enjoy it. Especially during typhoon season, but I enjoyed it. As it was a contrast of mainland Japan, and felt different

So, IMHO, as a person from south east asia (Indonesia) i will feel immediately at home in Okinawa since it has window bars, iron gate, water tank and concrete jungle 😂 * No typhoon in here though, just a LOT earthquake

I love Okinawa. To me it has vibes you would get from travelling to places like Indonesia.

This style of building from the iron gates to the Hannah blocks,. Is pretty common in any place that tends to have high humidity and are usual to tropical islands.I see this a lot in my parents home country of Haiti and in other travel blogs from Mexico. To jamaica and a lot of them are coming here in florida. Even extension pilliars common in haiti

Wow, when I hear “concrete jungle” I always think of NYC, but Okinawa definitely earns its nickname! Thanks for sharing Greg, always love the dedication and thought you put into your videos. Love from NY!

Thank you for your insight into Okinawan building practices and its history. Looking forward to the other upcoming videos about the island!

Visited Okinawa last week for the first time in 13 years. It was good to be back home and with my family for a little and to see all the differences between mainland Japan and Okianwa that I never noticed when I was a kid. This video was very nostalgic and great!

I love how the buildersand owners just had fun with the designs. It's creative

Watched this on Nebula, but came here to share some insights since we can't comment on there: 1) Concrete became the standard for local architecture because during WWII, Japanese authorities started replacing wooden structures due to the American fire bombing of the cities. After MacArthur took power and the US began building, they used skills and equipment from the Americans to rebuild. 2) Window Bars: 1910-1990s, protests, riots, and public unrest were common, and many people began using the bars on ground floors to protect from damage. Especially student riots and political riots, as they would smash windows with iron bars, bats, or bamboo poles. Upper floors had fewer break-ins, but were often damaged from typhoons and flying debris. This was common in Taiwan, which was possessed by Japan until 1945, and many of their laborers were slave labor from local Taiwanese populations. They brought the higher level window bars with them in the 1920s, and they've become standard from the Philippines to northern Japan. 3) White coloring on roofs and tiles are used to reflect heat, and are often mixed with limestone powder to help preserve the terracotta paneling/tiles. They also sometimes mix them with white tar, too help prevent leakage. 4) Balconies: SUPER POPULAR, but mostly used after the sun goes down. This is where most families and groups come together to do BBQs, since often it's illegal to do on the road, there are few sidewalks, and window balconies would let smoke inside. If you go to a tall hill during any celebratory period, you'll see hundreds or thousands of small fires, fireworks or mini-camps scattered about the roofs. It's really fun, and you can get some awesome pictures! 5) Brutalism: Brutalist homes are the mainstay in Taiwan, Japan and South Korea in recent years. Reduced upkeep, typhoon resistant, sleek exteriors. Most people are very, very proud of their new Brutalist Style homes, and if you have a chance, you should chat with them about why they like it so much. They love talking about it. 6) Support Pillars: Those are actually there for a few different reasons! A) They put a tarp over the top for daytime gatherings. B) they hang plants from the side extensions. C) They were also meant often for expanding floors. D) ODDLY, Japan & Taiwan used to be OBSESSED with pigeon races. They would use those pillars to support the cages, and sometimes use them for chicken cages as well. Hope this helps! I'm an American with a bizarre background including a grandfather who helped build Taipei 101, and I'm living in Taiwan for 5 years now. Keep up the cool work, and I'll see you on Nebula~

I see many things that seem to be recurrent in many tropical places. Like in my country, Dominican Republic, also with a hot and humid climate and also in the path of storms (hurricanes, in our case), like the concrete buildings and houses, iron gates with interesting designs (also handcrafted by iron workers), the window bars (in our case, the security concern is a real one, though), even something similar to Hana Blocks (mostly in older constructions though), the balconies (I don't know how many rooftop bbq I've been too haha), coral limestone was widely used to build walls and stuff like that (mostly in public places though, specially in the 80's and 90´s). The idea of later adding to their home is very recurrent here too, you will even see houses that still have metal bars exposed in the roof so it's easier to keep building once they need to or once they have the money to do it. I guess some things just make sense when you live in tropics haha

I love the rapid fire approach to this video, as you were able to address so many different topics in just 20 minutes.

if you visit most newer east coast towns in the US they are raised up like that. it is for flooding against the storms that come in. insurance companies will not insure anything on the 1st floor so they are typically just a spot to park a car. that's just on the coast, once you go inland it quickly reverts back to normal.

I've been to Okinawa twice. I love it so much. The whole island is just like a place in my dream. I would love to live there!

This feels so much like the Caribbean! I am from the Mexican Caribbean and the vibe is almost exactly the same.

Loved it! I lived 3 years on Okinawa an one year in Mainland Japan! First two 69 and 70 at Camp Hansen and Camp Courtney area. Last trip in 84 and lived at Kinser. I always loved the island and left my footprints in a lot of places. Thank you! A wonderful trip down memory lane. By the way Guam has a lot of concrete homes also.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="389">6:29</a> white roof tile can keep house cooler, white can reflect over 60%++ of sun's rays.

So great to have you down in Okinawa. I've been living here doing work for the US Military, and visiting the rest of Japan has made me realize how unique Okinawa is in many respects. Even the language is different among the very oldest generation. But the architecture has been the crazy thing to me, the deterioration of the paint was the most jarring observation. So many buildings that are lived in, still look abandoned. Oh, and everything is covered in spiderwebs starting this time of year!

Very interesting, I would have never expected that Okinawa of all places would go this hard on brutalism. I mean, in Europe brutalism is something that was in fashion for government projects but was never really embraced by the general population, it's extremely rare to see private homes in consciously brutalist style (as opposed to "accidentally brutalist" ones where unpainted concrete amd boxy shape is just a way to save money) like the Okinawan ones you show around 15 minute mark.

It’s always a good day when you post!

One of my favorite channels now and forever

I always love watching your videos. Is like waiting for new episodes in national geographic Japan. Awesome content as always!

Just wanted to say that I enjoy your style of calm, walk by commentary of interesting finds so much ! Thank you so much for your work :)

Thanks for the thorough documentation :) Concrete everywhere here in Thailand as well. Great for keeping cool in the morning, but it's like living in a radiative oven at night. Anything can be painted white, concrete is driven by cost. Thai construction crews have become very efficient at pumping out the same style concrete house. Wood is expensive here, I can't recall seeing a wooden house under construction. The iron bars, everything locked, no one uses balconies, etc. Same things here, not much crime but people just want them. I believe these are driven by culture. Some houses have a tubing spray system installed in the floor for termites, seems like they could do this wood as well. Thanks again

Just wanted to let you know that I absolutely adore and appreciate how crystal clear all the visuals of this video are. Great job man, really makes get a feeling of what it would be like to be in Okinawa!

love this tour through the city with you! thank you so much for the sight seeing and information

Hi from an architecture fan in Okinawa - and thanks for posting this. :)

I am a civil engineer. Loved to see such an indepth explanation on architecture in Okinawa. Please Make more such amazing videos. Would love to watch them. Also, video quality and narration is top notch.

Yay! More Okinawa to come! That is very good news. Great video. Looking forward to hearing the interviews.

Great video on a topic I haven’t seen covered much elsewhere. Very interesting to find out more about why the quirky buildings of Okinawa look the way they do. Looking forward to more videos on Okinawa!

Very much enjoyed this video and the neat aspects of Okinawan architecture. Thank you for sharing this and putting the effort into making it. Very much appreciated.

Thank you so much teaching about Okinawa. I lived there when I was in high school and have a special place in my heart for this island. I learned so much from your video

Great to see you in Nebula! ⭐

Okinawa was one of my favourite places to visit in Japan, and I'm glad you made this video, Greg, because it brings me back! (and I get to learn about Okinawan architecture while at it)

okinawa iis so beautiful i almost fell in love with all the houses shown!

Life where I'm from has the best documentary, when it comes to Japan 🇯🇵 ❤️ ❤️❤️

Thanks for making these videos. I really appreciate the details and knowledge your videos provide. Wishing you lots of success🎉

I am from Okinawa but never knew or more like never thought about how the concrete houses became common/popular and that the Hana blocks actually have functions. (We have some as well but I always thought it’s just a design) it was very refreshing to see the island from a different point of view:) thanks for the great video!! Looking forward to seeing more!!

OMG YOU'RE FINALLY ON NEBULA! Woohoo! That's so exciting!

OMG! YOUR A NEBULA MEMEBER!!!! IM SO EXCITED FOR YOU AND THIS CHANNEL!!! LETSSS GOOOOOO

Beautiful videography and informative as always Greg!

Okinawa will always be my favorite Japanese destination, all my extended family are from here and my grandmas house is still the original Okinawa home. No concrete whatsoever

i’m so happy you’re on nebula now! that’s so exciting! and i’m so happy you’re making videos on okinawa! from your being japanese documentary, it seemed like such a facinating place with such a unique blend of cultures! i’m very excited to learn more about the people and place through your videos

I really enjoyed this video and learnt a lot. Thank you for your videos on different Japanese building types, town planning and the ins and outs of what makes Japanese towns and cities the way they are.

So early! I’ve loved your videos for years. Thanks for hours of quality entertainment!! 🎉

This is such a cool video, thank you!

Thank you so much for the quality of your videos ! I like when your thoroughly search and clearly states when your point is subjective or not, and the fact that you use data to back up your facts. I have watched all the new ones on plastic, recycling, the deer problem, the Kyoto ban to name of few. Please ! Carry on the good work ! I'm still hungry for more 😊

Thank you ! I really-really like your videos about Japan ! Who would have known they were such specificities linked with Okinawa city 😮. Carry on the good work !

You ought to do a little update with your family. I used to love watching you guys go out and spend the day on the town. Gave me motivation to get out and explore with my own kiddos. Love your videos man

Your cinematography is very beautiful! Love the shots and composition lately.

Very informative video as usual !! thanks Greg !

Yes to that you are on Nebula, I will be watching your videos over there form now on.

Ah, memories. I miss Okinawa ❤.

Fantastic video, love the architecture examples.

Brutalism has a very specific design philosophy and intent, and even political approach in how buildings are constructed. In Brutalism, while you would have utilitarian aspects in their desgins, a lot of buildings experimented with shapes, textures, and layouts, so much so that some Brutalist buildings can look truly futuristic, geometric, downright beautiful. Some even incorporate greenery both on the building and around it through public green spaces. Brutalist builings also tend to be imposing, greater than the person observing them, concrete monuments of engineering. They are also distinct decade differences and differences between countries Brutalist buildings, but all sharing the common core principals of design. Mostly used for apartment blocks and secular buildings, not for individual homes as concrete used for individual homes tends to stray more towards other modernism architectural styles instead. Okinawan homes look more like eclectic or vernacular mish mash of different things, not exactly adhering to Brutalist design philosophy. To me Japan never really had brutalist buildings, going more for its own concrete building styles like Metabolism, and these vernacular styles seen in Okinawa and many other across Japan.

Hey dude I miss ur old videos sharing nice moments with ur friends and family in amazing places! 😢

Love your videos, thanks for all the hard work!

Was stationed in Okinawa 4 years. Love each day of it❤

Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to your next vdo on Okinawa.

I just visited Ishigaki and Iriomote last year so after seeing the houses there, this video was especially interesting! Thank you for this! So much of the design choices makes sense for the environment and I love that!

Fantastic video!! For as much time as I spend watching Japanese RU-vidrs, it's crazy how little I've seen of Okinawa until now!!

Loved it, thank you for showing us Okinawa building style

your videos keep getting better

I love your channel so much!! Especially videos when you are outside of Tokyo, so glad you keep making these fun educational videos!

I've done lots of streetviewing around Japan and have often been curious about the half walls and some of the other features of their construction that you talked about here. Really informative video and answered some long-standing questions I had. Thanks!

You make incredible architecture videos! I'm sad i never had the chance to study architecture in japan like i had planned due to various reasons, this makes me happy to remember all the different types of architecture there that I would like to someday see myself!

Regarding water tanks above homes, as far as I know, in many places, a primary reason for individual water towers above homes is to maintain water pressure in the building. The towers are kept filled using small pumps. They also help when water service is disrupted. Great video!

Really enjoy the video. Thank you

This makes me miss Okinawa. Thank you for this video!

Amazing, I really enjoyed. Please, more content like this🤩

Thank you for this video! I went to Naha 5 years ago and also noticed a lot of architectural peculiarities. I found it especially noteworthy that some elements of the Okinawan architecture looked very much like Taiwan - all those unpainted concrete walls, window bars, rooftop tanks, over-the-top design that you mentioned were very much reminiscent of Taiwanese buildings. Which is not very surprising, considering the geographic proximity. As others have mentioned in this thread, other East and South East Asian countries like Indonesia and Philippines also bear many similarities. Perhaps much is dictated by the climate and weather but cultural exchange must have played quite a role as well.

From this video I find that Okinawa seems good to visit, especially for vacation. The vibes, I just can feel it. ✨ 🌅

I visit Naha all the time for work. Thanks for the info, very interesting.

Nice to have you take a stroll through my neck of the woods!

This is a very interesting video, thank you!

Amazing video. I love your content

Very interesting; thanks! I'll be driving around for about 10 days in January; looking forward to exploring the rural areas of the main island...

Hi. I have been following your videos for a few years. I’m Danish but have lived in China since 2003. I recognise a lot of the “gaijin” stuff/observations/perspectives on simply being foreign AND committed to the new home. I also LOVE Japan. I visited for holiday and work more than 50 times (returning in June - first time after pandemic) and i want to let you know I absolutely enjoy your shows. I recognise most, I like what’s new to me, but above anything else I relay appreciate you dont turn things into silliness and “woooow-this-is-soooo-tender”. You seems to be very much your self and I like and respect that. Your videos with family and kids are very good. The dialogue between you and your daughter is fun. My wife is Chinese and the kids are “mixed” (as the Chinese put it) and sometimes those kids, with a foot in each culture, have very interesting observations. I really enjoy your content. You’re my favourite RU-vid channel on Japan. I like that it’s not touristed and “look, I’m from the UK but I dyed my hair blues no belong to Harajuku…. :) Noe you know: You have an fan in China from Denmark. Please keep it up!

Congrats on being part of the Nebula family!! 🎉 👏

Thanks for covering Okinawa :D I visit often since I have family there. I also find the topic of choice in this video interesting as well since I never really thought about it too much. I figure most of the reason why buildings were built that way was to withstand typhoons, since having been through a few of them over there, Okinawa just shrugs them off whereas if it hits the mainland it can get pretty hairy. Looking forward to seeing the other videos you have planned!

Very interesting as usual.

Great content. Thanks

Love the statues so cool 😎

I just visited okinawa this march and that's what i feel! Since I'm interested in brutalist architecture I found it a delightful bonus

i love the vibes

I enjoyed this . Thanks!

Great video, I lived on Okinawa 5 years in the 90's, then another 5 years now, I was quite shocked at all the changes over 30 years, even visiting family every 5-7 years we still didn't realize how much had changed. You mentioned all of the stairs and ladders to the roofs on homes here, I always thought a lot of homes had roof access also for tsunami's, especially in the lower areas. You showed the original concrete home construction, not sure, but it looks like there are still a bunch of those original flat roof homes still around the island, a bunch in Kitanakagusuku, even my in-laws still have an old flat room home that is quite old but has been renovated several times, also Camp Foster just demolished an entire neighborhood of the old style homes due to radon gases and just the need to upgrade and consolidate homes into newer towers or more efficient homes. We are about to leave, but will hopefully move back here again in the future, I'm sure things will continue to evolve and change, and we are looking forward to seeing Shuri castle rebuilt as we visited many times in the past and really enjoyed seeing that castle.

Great architectural case study❤

When I play the GeoGuessr Japan map, I could almost instantly tell when I was Okinawa, it didn't click til now that it was all the concrete buildings.

Glad to see you are also on Nebula. Im going to be watching you in both places. This is very educational. Many older homes in Chinese-dominated districts in Bangkok (usually pop up during ww1 and 2) were built the exact same way. Now i think I know why.

I really enjoyed this video, particularly as I like aspects of brutalist architecture. thanks for making it!

growing up in okinawa, i never really thought into detail of the structures of houses. It's nice to know these facts now.

Patiently waiting for that follow up video

Very concrete and solid video