Before letters were commonly used in society, “knots” with ropes tied together and “woodcuts” with cuts in pieces of wood were used to record numbers and things, communicate intentions, etc. In the past, knots and woodcuts played an important role as records and communication tools in unwritten societies in various regions around the world. In Okinawa, from the Ryukyu Kingdom period to the middle of the Meiji period, knots called “warazan (warazan)” were used among farmers and common people who could not use letters. Straw arithmetic is a knot unique to the Ryukyu cultural area, but it rapidly disappeared due to the spread of education after the Meiji period, and now it is only used in some rituals. However, Okinawa's straw arithmetic is the only remaining knot in Japan, and it is rare even when studying Japanese yunawa culture.
Straw arithmetic was investigated by Yasushi Tashiro during the Meiji period, and most of the original specimens collected at that time are preserved at the National Museum of Ethnology. Until now, the University of the Ryukyus Museum has promoted the creation of a database of straw arithmetic specimens through research that remains in rituals within the prefecture and joint research with the National Museum of Ethnology. Now, with the completion of this joint research, a straw arithmetic symposium and a special exhibition using original specimens of straw arithmetic will be held with the aim of widely returning the completed straw arithmetic database and research results so far to Okinawan citizens. The original specimens from the National Museum of Ethnology exhibited in this special exhibition are straw calculations collected in various parts of Okinawa about 140 years ago by Yasushi Tashiro, and this is the first homecoming exhibition on the main island of Okinawa in 140 years.

●Lectures
3/30 (Sun) 13:00-15:15
Large Lecture Room, Faculty of Agriculture
No reservation required, no participation fee
Online participation possible (Zoom)

“Stable Tashiro and Straw Arithmetic”
Lecturer: Nobayashi Atsushi (National Museum of Ethnology/Professor)

“Okinawa's Straw Arithmetic and Sun”
Lecturer: Takeshi Sasaki (Assistant Professor, University of the Ryukyus Museum, Fujukan)

“Background of the use of straw arithmetic”
Lecturer: Tomiyama Kazuyuki (Professor Emeritus, University of the Ryukyus)

● Warazan making experience
3/30 (Sun) 15:30 to 17:00
Middle Lecture Room, Faculty of Agriculture
Reservation required; participation fee is free
Create relatively simple straw arithmetic and learn basic reading and creation methods of straw arithmetic.

● “Warasan Homecoming Special Exhibition” to be held at the same time
Weekdays only during the period from 3/20 (Thu) to 4/11 (Fri) 10:00 to 16:00
University of the Ryukyus Museum Fujukan 1F Cultural Exhibition Room
Exhibit content: Tashiro Yasushi Warasahara specimens from the National Museum of Ethnology (approx. 20 items)
University of the Ryukyus Museum's collection of raw materials (10 items) /restoration materials (approx. 30 items) /Sun materials (approx. 30 items)

Advance applications are required