Abstract

Born and raised in Taiwan, Chosei Kabira went on to work in radio and television broadcasting in postwar Okinawa. This book is a substantially expanded edition of a rare personal record based on interviews conducted by his eldest son, John Kabira, enriched with
Kabira's own reflections on his life, family history, and feelings toward Okinawa.Tracing both the history of Okinawa from the Meiji era through the Shōwa period and the story of the Kawahira family, the book vividly portrays how the experiences of a generation that lived through war were passed down to their sons and grandsons born in the postwar era.

Author’s Information

Chosei Kabira was born in Taiwan in 1927. He has served as Managing Director of Ryukyu Broadcasting, Chairman of the Okinawa Broadcasting Association, and Chief Executive Officer of NHK. Later, he became an auditor of the Broadcast Culture Foundation. He has also served as Honorary Professor and Honorary Director of Showa Women's University, Director of the Japan Bible Society, Director of the Okinawa Association, and Chairman of the Tokyo Okinawa Prefectural Association. He has received numerous awards, including the Okinawa Prefecture Meritorious Service Award, the Ryukyu Shimpo Award, the Okinawa Times Award, the Galaxy Award, the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association Award, the NHK Broadcast Culture Award, and the Michigan State University Outstanding Graduate Award.

John Kabira was born in Okinawa Prefecture in 1958. While attending International Christian University (ICU), he transferred to UC Berkeley in the United States and graduated from ICU. While at CBS Sony, he made his debut as a DJ at FM Yokohama. In 1988, he became a navigator for J-WAVE upon its opening. He has also appeared in numerous television programs, from soccer programs to dramas and documentaries. Guinness World Record® for 2025: "Most appearances as a soccer video game commentator." Recipient of Galaxy Awards, Japan Broadcasting Culture Awards, Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association Awards, and others.