On October 5, 1891, Nobumoto Ohama was born in Tonoshiro, Ishigaki Island.
From an early age, Nobumoto was a voracious reader and an active child, running around the seas and mountains of Ishigaki Island.
He graduated from the local Okawa Vulgar Elementary School and Yaeyama High School, but the intelligent and curious Nobumoto went on to the Okinawa Prefectural Normal School in Shuri, Naha City. He continued his studies at the School of Law at Waseda University in Tokyo.
Although there was a strong prejudice against Nobumoto as a native of Yaeyama, which was farther away than Okinawa Prefecture, which was considered an undeveloped area at that time, Nobumoto gradually gained recognition from the people around him as he strived for both literary and military activities, including serving as the first head of the karate club and graduating from the university at the top of his class.
Even after graduation, Nobumoto did not spare any effort to improve himself. He joined Mitsui & Co., a large company, and became a lawyer. After that, he taught at Waseda University and also studied in England, France and Germany for about two years to broaden his knowledge and experience.
In 1962, he formed the “Okinawa Problem Discussion Group” with Seiji Kaya, Kazuo Okochi, and others, which evolved into the Okinawa Problem Solution Promotion Council in 1964, and became a representative member. He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in 1972, the same year Okinawa returned to Japan.
He also took on the role of Chairman of the Okinawa International Maritime Exposition to contribute to the development of post-war Okinawa, and led it to success.
“A man’s worth is not determined by where he is born. It is determined by how hard you work to improve yourself.”
These are the words of Nobumoto, who became one of Japan’s leading cultural figures, carving out a future for himself and Okinawa through his single-minded efforts from the land of Yaeyama, which at the time was lagging behind in the development of infrastructure such as water and electricity, let alone the education system.
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