A 10-minute walk from the Okinawa City Monorail "Yui Rail" Kencho-mae Station. Just one street away from Kokusai-dori, you'll find the brick apparel shop "Ryukyu Pirasu." The store is lined with colorful T-shirts and other goods, and even though it was a weekday afternoon, it was bustling with tourists from Japan and abroad.

The shop is filled with clothes that will give you a tropical feel

Ryukyu Pirasu is an apparel shop that develops original products in collaboration with artists active in Okinawa. They have teamed up with around 20 artists, including bingata craftsmen, photographers, and illustrators, to produce and sell a wide range of items, from clothing such as T-shirts and dresses to island sandals and accessories.

"Just wearing the clothes from here makes me feel like I'm in a tropical country."

This was offered to me by Suzuki Miyuki, a shop staff member.

"I'm not originally from Okinawa, but I've always loved Okinawa. When I lived on the mainland, I often went to Okinawa product fairs and antenna shops. There, I picked up a Ryukyu Pirasu T-shirt, thinking, 'What a lovely design.' I thought that if I ever got the chance to move to Okinawa, I'd like to work here."

Suzuki's dream came true when he moved to Okinawa five years ago and started working at Ryukyu Pirasu. He is now promoting Okinawa's history and culture through apparel.

Okinawa's culture and history are imbued in each piece

One of the features of Ryukyu Pirasu is the subtle "Okinawan-ness" in the design. For this reason, customers who visit the store say that it is "simple and easy to use for everyday use."

"Tourists are happy with our t-shirts, saying, 'I can wear them not only during my trip, but also for a long time after I return home!' Also, the simple design may be the reason we have so many local regulars," says Suzuki. Incidentally, Suzuki himself says that he regularly wears the company's t-shirts.

They also put a lot of effort into injecting an Okinawan vibe into the T-shirts.

"Each T-shirt expresses Okinawa's culture and history, as well as the story that the artist put into it. For example, T-shirts made by Bingata artisans have vividly drawn traditional Okinawan patterns or beautiful Okinawan landscapes captured by photographers. Some even have a story that is connected by the print on the front and back. By experiencing the stories that are put into each and every piece, you are sure to feel the charm of Okinawa more deeply."

We want you to enjoy the exhibition just like you would at a museum, where you can enjoy a variety of artworks.

The inside of the store is like an exhibition of numerous works of art using T-shirts as canvases. In fact, many customers enjoy picking up each T-shirt carefully, as if they were looking around a museum.

"We have pieces from a variety of artists, so you're sure to find something you like. If you look at a design and wonder, 'What story does this have?', feel free to ask a staff member. We hope you'll find a piece you like and wear it as everyday wear, so you can feel Okinawa in your daily life."

Ryukyu Peace is a brick-built shop facing Ukishima Street near Kokusai Street, where many works filled with the tropical breeze and the artists' passion invite visitors into the "story of Okinawa."

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琉球ぴらす　浮島店
電話：098-863-6050
住所：〒904-0014   沖縄県那覇市松尾2-2-14ライオンズマンション浮島通り
アクセス：県庁前駅より徒歩10分
HP：https://www.ryukyu-piras.com/
SNS：https://www.instagram.com/ryukyu_piras/
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