“Life That Came from the Sea” — AMICUS Junior High School Students Present a Musical Based on the Story of the Pigs, a Legacy 80 Years After the War

As we mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, it is a meaningful time to revisit the roots of Okinawa’s postwar recovery and to reflect on lessons that should be passed on to future generations. At Okinawa AMICUS International Junior High School, students will stage a musical adaptation of the moving true story known in Uruma City as “The Story of the Pigs.”

Following the Battle of Okinawa, the pig population, once numbering 140,000, had dropped to just 2,000. People were suffering from severe hunger. News of this reached Okinawan immigrants living in Hawaii. Believing that “sending live pigs—not just supplies—would lead to long-term, sustainable recovery,” they launched an ambitious project: they collected 550 pigs from across the United States and delivered them across the Pacific Ocean to Okinawa.

In September 1948, seven individuals, including Mr. Ryoshin Agena from Uruma City, braved floating sea mines and typhoons to complete the journey, eventually arriving at White Beach in Uruma City. The pigs brought life back to the land of Okinawa, and in just three years, the population recovered to 100,000. This effort greatly contributed to the rebuilding of Okinawa’s food culture and economy.

The seven individuals at the heart of this story never spoke of their actions, not wishing to be seen as seeking gratitude. As a result, the story remained largely unknown until recently. However, we must not forget the love they had for their homeland and the courage they showed to save lives.

AMICUS students have studied the story in depth using materials such as the manga “The Story of Ryoshin Agena: The Pigs Came from the Sea” published by the Uruma City Board of Education, along with valuable guidance and resources from Mr. Isshu Maeda (Uruma City Board of Education Archives), Mr. Yoshimitsu Hamabata (representative of the Hawaii Umibuta Memorial Society), and Professor Asao Uezu (University of the Ryukyus). The students will now take on the responsibility of passing on this history through their own performances.

The musical will be performed only once, on Saturday, June 28, at the Uruma City Art Theater (Hibiki Hall), the very place connected to the story. Like the proverb, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” this story invites us to reflect on the true meaning of support. We sincerely hope many parents and members of the community will come and witness this inspiring production.