Excursion   The conference organizer offers some excursion program after conference. Participants will be recommended to apply in advance. Please mention on the REGISTRATION FORM. EX-1: World Heritage Date : November 16 (Thurs) Departrure : OCC at 13:00 – Tour disbands at Naha Airport around 16:15 Fare : JPY7,000 per person Tour Highlights ; Shuri Castle : Shuri Castle shows the strong influence of Chinese architecture because the Ryukyu Kingdom was a vassal state of China. Ryukyu was a small kingdom, including Okinawa, in vassalage to both Japan and China. The castle was a unique mixture of Japanese and Chinese architectural styles. Nineteen structures stood within its walls. It was the residence of the king and the seat of local government until 1879, when Okinawa was made a prefecture of Japan. The castle was obliterated during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the reversion of Okinawa in 1972, the Japanese Government rebuilt Shuri Castle. It was opened to the public in 1992. West of the castle, stands Shureimon Gate, which had been used to welcome the Chinese ambassador. It was rebuilt in 1958. Tamaudon : These are the tombs of the Sho family – the royal family of the former Ryukyu Kingdom. There are three large tombstones. The center one contains coffins, the left one the remains of kings and queens and right one the remains of princes, princesses and consorts. Sonohiyan Utaki : A stone gate located next to Shureimon Gate. It was built in 1511 by the Ryukyuan royal family as an offering to the god of prophecy. According to legend, this god was able to foresee any mishap that might befall the king when he left home. Shikinaen Garden : Shikinaen was constructed in the end of the 17th century as the second residence of the Ryukyu kings. It features beautiful, relatively simple, wooden palace buildings with Okinawan style, red tile roofs and a spacious Japanese style landscape garden. The pleasant garden can be viewed from a circular path, which leads through the woods, along the ponds, over the bridges and past a pretty hexagonal building on a small islet. While designed in a style seen elsewhere in Japan, the garden is given a distinct Okinawan flavor by its buildings and subtropical flora. EX-2: Southern Okinawa Date : November 16 (Thurs) Departrure : OCC at 13:00 – Tour disbands at Naha Airport around 17:10 Fare : JPY7,000 per person Tour Highlights ; Ryukyu lacquerware : The development of lacquerware in Ryukyu can be traced back to the 14th century when diplomatic relations were first established with China. High quality lacquerware was a very important export item from the start of the Ryukyu Dynasty era and throughout. Fine lacquerware was sent in tribute to the Chinese emperor and as a gift to the Shogun and his family in Edo. While lacquerware was among the finest quality artistic products of Ryukyu, it was also a fairly common household item, typically used during rituals. Along with the representative Tsuikin style of hammering and thinning colored lacquer lumps to make design patterns, are other local techniques such as Chinkin (gold leaf inlaying) and Raden (mother-of-pearl inlaying). Ryukyu Glassware : It has a history of only 100 years. First, people made lamps, medicine bottles and candy jars in Ryukyu style until WW II, then after the war, they began making Ryukyu glassware by recycling beer and coke bottle which were brought by the US forces. Visit a workshop to see the process of making colorful glassware. Awamori Brewery : Awamori is the local Okinawan liquor distilled from rice. Awamori became renowned worldwide in large part due to the charm of the aged variety called Kusu. The technique used in aging is one of the special characteristics of making Kusu. It is from the aging that its unique mellow smooth taste and aroma are achieved. During the golden age of the Ryukyu Kingdom, it is said that homeowners might entrust care of their money chests to others but always carried the keys to their Awamori storehouses themselves. EX-3: Northern Okinawa Date : November 16 (Thurs) Departrure : OCC at 13:00 – Tour disbands in the city of Naha around 19:30 Fare : JPY7,000 per person Tour Highlights ; Churaumi Acquarium : Part of Okinawa's Ocean Expo Park, the Churaumi Aquarium is the second largest aquarium in the world and the largest in all Japan. In the Okinawan dialect "chura" means "beautiful"; "umi" means sea. The aquarium presents dozens of tanks that display the splendor of the ocean. Tours of the aquarium begin on the fourth floor and move down. The top floor has an open roof to allow in sunshine, as the aquarium is attempting to grow coral and return it to the sea. The second and first floors hold the second largest fish tank in the world and contain 7,500 tons of water held in by 130 tons of glass. Inside swim whale sharks, manta rays and large tuna. Another tank holds nothing but predatory sharks. Visit will also be made to the site where OIST campus is to be built top>