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Yamazato Eikichi was an Okinawan playwright, writer, painter, and political commentator and activist known for his works celebrating the history and culture of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] and essays opposing loyalty to Japan.

Yamazato Eikichi was an Okinawan playwright, writer, painter, and political commentator and activist known for his works celebrating the history and culture of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] and essays opposing loyalty to Japan.

Born in [[1902]], he attended the ''Nihon Bijutsu Gakkô'' (Japan Art School), and while in Tokyo became a member of Mavo, a now-famous 1920s radical performance art group. He returned to Okinawa in 1927, at the age of 25, and became a playwright and novelist, publishing the latter serially in newspapers.

Born in [[1902]], he attended the ''Nihon Bijutsu Gakkô'' (Japan Art School), but ultimately left the school before completing the program.<ref>"[https://ryukyushimpo.jp/okinawa-dic/prentry-43233.html Yamazato Eikichi]," Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia, Ryukyu Shimpo, 2003.</ref> While in Tokyo became a member of Mavo, a now-famous 1920s radical performance art group. He returned to Okinawa in 1927, at the age of 25, and became a playwright and novelist, publishing the latter serially in newspapers.

His plays include ''Ikkô-shû hônan-ki'' (一向宗法難記), ''Naha yomachi mukashi kishitsu'' (那覇四町昔気質), and ''Giwan Chôho no shi'' (宜湾朝保の死, "Death of [[Giwan Choho|Giwan Chôho]]"). Perhaps his most famous play, ''[[Shurijo akewatashi|Shurijô akewatashi]]'' (The Surrender of [[Shuri castle]]) portrays the forced turn-over of Shuri castle to [[Meiji government]] authorities in [[1879]] in concert with the [[Ryukyu shobun|dissolution and annexation of the kingdom]]. Originally written in 1916, it premiered in 1930, and has been staged numerous times since then.

His plays include ''Ikkô-shû hônan-ki'' (一向宗法難記), ''Naha yomachi mukashi kishitsu'' (那覇四町昔気質), and ''Giwan Chôho no shi'' (宜湾朝保の死, "Death of [[Giwan Choho|Giwan Chôho]]"). Perhaps his most famous play, ''[[Shurijo akewatashi|Shurijô akewatashi]]'' (The Surrender of [[Shuri castle]]) portrays the forced turn-over of Shuri castle to [[Meiji government]] authorities in [[1879]] in concert with the [[Ryukyu shobun|dissolution and annexation of the kingdom]]. Originally written in 1916, it premiered in 1930, and has been staged numerous times since then.