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The 1970s saw a considerable resurgence in efforts by individuals, especially in the arts, to revive Okinawan traditions and pride in Okinawan identity. Paralleling the "Hawaiian Renaissance" taking place around the same time,<ref>Adrienne LaFrance, "[http://www.civilbeat.com/2011/10/13158-who-remembers-the-hawaiian-renaissance/ Who Remembers the Hawaiian Renaissance?]," ''Honolulu Civil Beat'', 7 Oct 2011.</ref> this so-called "Okinawan Renaissance" saw revived activity and interest in many of the traditional arts, and the emergence of pop music groups like Champloose, Nenes, and Rinken Band who incorporated ''[[sanshin]]'', classical and folk music elements, Okinawan language, and other cultural elements into their music; this was accompanied, too, by increased interest in Okinawan culture by people in mainland Japan, and elsewhere, aided along by the broader boom in world music at that time. While many arts are still struggling to some extent today, as are efforts to have Okinawan language, culture, and history incorporated in a larger way into public school curricula, to a large extent this cultural "renaissance" continues today.
The 1970s saw a considerable resurgence in efforts by individuals, especially in the arts, to revive Okinawan traditions and pride in Okinawan identity. Paralleling the "Hawaiian Renaissance" taking place around the same time,<ref>Adrienne LaFrance, "[http://www.civilbeat.com/2011/10/13158-who-remembers-the-hawaiian-renaissance/ Who Remembers the Hawaiian Renaissance?]," ''Honolulu Civil Beat'', 7 Oct 2011.</ref> this so-called "Okinawan Renaissance" saw revived activity and interest in many of the traditional arts, and the emergence of pop music groups like Champloose, Nenes, and Rinken Band who incorporated ''[[sanshin]]'', classical and folk music elements, Okinawan language, and other cultural elements into their music; this was accompanied, too, by increased interest in Okinawan culture by people in mainland Japan, and elsewhere, aided along by the broader boom in world music at that time. While many arts are still struggling to some extent today, as are efforts to have Okinawan language, culture, and history incorporated in a larger way into public school curricula, to a large extent this cultural "renaissance" continues today.
Where many Okinawans had previously emphasized their Japanese identity, flying Japanese flags in defiance of American occupation, many now turned to an Okinawan or Ryukyuan identity as separate from, or even opposed to, Japanese identity. Activist Chibana Shôichi famously burned a Japanese flag at a national sports event in 1987 in his hometown of [[Yomitan]], at which the Crown Prince, Akihito, was in attendance.<ref name=siddle136/>
Shuri castle was rebuilt in 1992, and many other sites, including Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and the like have similarly been rebuilt and serve today either as active temples & shrines, or as museums and community centers. The castle, along with the royal mausolea at [[Tamaudun]], the reconstructed royal villas at [[Shikinaen]], and a number of [[gusuku]] ruins elsewhere on the island, were named a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]] in 2000, and a G8 Summit was held in [[Nago]] that same year. Continuing on from the 1975 Ocean Expo, this marks certain significant discourses, as to acknowledging and celebrating Ryukyuan history and culture, and its membership within Japan.
Shuri castle was rebuilt in 1992, and many other sites, including Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and the like have similarly been rebuilt and serve today either as active temples & shrines, or as museums and community centers. The castle, along with the royal mausolea at [[Tamaudun]], the reconstructed royal villas at [[Shikinaen]], and a number of [[gusuku]] ruins elsewhere on the island, were named a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]] in 2000, and a G8 Summit was held in [[Nago]] that same year. Continuing on from the 1975 Ocean Expo, this marks certain significant discourses, as to acknowledging and celebrating Ryukyuan history and culture, and its membership within Japan.