The Ryukyu Kingdom Royal Procession is the main feature of the Shurijo castle festival, a major prefectural event held in the city of Naha. The procession re-enacts the arrival at Ryukyu of various emissaries from the Imperial Chinese court.

1,300 people participate in the event, including the people playing the roles of the Ryukyu king and queen and the Ming and Qing emissaries, plus the troupes of traditional performing actors dressed in elegant costumes playing 'rujigaku' and other classical music genres. They parade gravely along Kokusai-dori, the central thoroughfare of Naha city.

To increase the liveliness of the event, the parade includes many entertainers. All participants are chosen from the public. During the festival, traditional performing arts are presented at the stage inside the castle of Shurijo.

The Ryukyu Kingdom Royal Procession is a gorgeous and spectacular parade. It is a festival of history and fantasy that makes you feel as if you had slipped into the times of the Ryukyu kingdom.

The sanshin (the Ryukyu shamisen) is a chordophone with three strings, used widely in Okinawa prefecture and the Amami area of Kagoshima prefecture.
   Sanshin has its roots in the Chinese three-stringed sanxian instrument. It is said that the sanshin was introduced to the city of Sakai in the 16th century. The Japanese shamisen developed from this.
   Sanshins are products of skilled craftsmanship. Authentic sanshins can only be made by the professionals. However, places that introduce Okinawan culture may have classes that teach kankara sanshin craft.
   Kankara sanshin were first made in the period after the Second World War, when the traditional materials to make sanshin were unavailable. Kankara sanshin is a kind of substitute model using empty tin cans for the main body.
   Kankara sanshin can be easily made by anyone, and have been recently introduced in school lessons. It is also becoming popular for tourists to make them as a souvenir.
   Sanshin is the instrument that bests represents Okinawan music. It is the heart of Okinawa that makes you relax、just by hearing at it.