Rob Kajiwara Bio

Quick Bio （English)

Robert Fija Kajiwara (also known as Rob Kajiwara) is a musician, writer, and human rights activist. He is both Native Luchuan (also known as Okinawan or Uchinaanchu) and Hawaiian.
Kajiwara has appeared in over 60 news and media publications in more than 15 countries* and is founder and president of the Peace For Okinawa Coalition headquartered in Okinawa City, Okinawa, with an extension office in Honolulu, Hawaii. He has been a regular speaker with the Ryukyu Independence Action Network since 2018, and at the United Nations Human Rights Council since 2019. He has also spoken at numerous other venues such as the United States Capitol Hill, the Japan Diet, Yale University, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa University, Okinawa International University, the Southwest Conference on Asian Studies, and many more.

* Some media have mistakenly published incorrect information about Kajiwara. Additionally some Americans and Japanese have been intentionally propagating libel about Kajiwara and other Luchu / Uchinaanchu on the internet. Please use discretion to determine accurate information.

Nationalities:
Luchuan | Hawaiian

Languages:

Uchinaaguchi (Okinawan)
English
中文 (Chinese Mandarin)
Uchinaa Yamatuguchi (Okinawan Japanese)

Education:

PhD in History - Manchester Metropolitan University (in progress '21)
Master of Asian International Affairs - University of Hawaii at Manoa (in progress '21)
MA in History - University of Nebraska at Kearney ('19)
BA in History, Asia/Pacific focus - University of Hawaii at Manoa ('15), Graduated summa cum laude
AA in Teaching, Certificate in Global Studies - Leeward Community College ('14), Graduated with honors

Screenplay:

More Than Just a Brick in the Wall.

Articles:

"Hawaiians Discriminated Against in Hawaii." 21 April 2021. HawaiianKingdom.net
"Why Okinawans Are Outraged Over Aegis Ashore Cancellation." 8 July 2020. The Diplomat.
"New Military Base Increases Calls For Okinawa's Independence." 20 February 2019. Honolulu Civil Beat.

Books:

Honors and Awards:

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellow, University of Hawaii East Asia Council and Center For Chinese Studies. (Summer 2021)
Named "2020 Humanitarian of the Year" by Warlock Asylum International News. (2020)
Awarded the University of Hawaii at Manoa Asian Studies Program Achievement Scholarship. (2019)
Gifted the personal sanshin from Fumiko Shimabuku (Shimabukuro). (2019)
Named a Special Envoy for Ke Aupuni O Hawaii (the Hawaiian Kingdom). (2018)
Completed cultural, historical, and language training for Nakagusuku Village, Okinawa. (2017)
Graduated summa cum laude from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. (2015)
Nominated to the Golden Key Honors Society. (2015)
Awarded the University of Hawaii at Manoa Student Scholarship (2013-2015)
2x Awarded the Sunshine Brooks Scholarship. (2013-2014)
Graduated with honors from Leeward Community College. (2014)
Nominated to the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. (2014)
3x Member of the Dean's List at Leeward Community College. (2012-2013)

Also known as:
English: Robert Kajiwara (or Rob Kajiwara)
うちなーぐち：比嘉孝昌 (Fija Takamasa)
中文：魏孝昌 (Wei Xiao Chang)
日本語：梶原ロバート (Kajiwara Robaato)

Rob Kajiwara Uruma City Ryukyu Independence Action Network

Robert Fija Kajiwara speaking in Uruma City in 2018 with the Ryukyu Independence Action Network

Rob Kajiwara Okinawa sanshin music group performance

Kajiwara at a group music performance in Okinawa, pre-COVID.

Rob Kajiwara Henoko, Okinawa Camp Schwab Gate

Kajiwara at the peace demonstration in front of the Camp Schwab Gate at Henoko, Okinawa in 2016.

Kajiwara speaking at the United Nations press club (ACANU) in Geneva, Switzerland, 2019.

Petition to save Henoko, Okinawa

Kajiwara has been an outspoken advocate for both Native Ryukyuan and Native Hawaiian rights. On December 8, 2018 he started a petition calling for a halt to the construction work of a new military base at Henoko, Okinawa. The petition quickly garnered international attention, amassing over 100,000 signatures within just 10 days, and currently has over 212,000 signatures, including from many notable celebrities.

バイオ・うちなーぐち（琉球語・沖縄語）

比嘉孝昌（英語名前：ロバートカジワラ）や　琉球人・うちなーんちゅ　とぅ　ネイティブハワイ人ミックス　音楽家、作家、先住民権利活動家。比嘉や　やん　ゆく　をぅとーてぃ　六十ニュース　とぅ　メディア。*　比嘉や　うちなー　わだんぬ　しんかぬ　創設者とぅ会長、沖縄市本部とぅハワイ・ホノルル支社。２０１８年から比嘉や　頻繁ぬスピーカー琉球独立実勢ネットワークまじゅん、２０１９年から彼や　頻繁ぬスピーカー国連をぅとーてぃ。なー　他ぬ所頻繁例米ワシントンぬキャピトルヒル、日本国会、イェール大学、琉球大学、沖縄大学、沖縄国際大学、南西会議アジア研究、他ぬ所。

* 一部ぬメディアや　誤虚偽ぬ情報公開比嘉んかい。なー　アメリカ人　とぅ　やまとぅんちゅや　目的中傷習しインターネット　をぅとーてぃ　比嘉とぅ他琉球人・うちなーんちゅんかい。慎重くゐみそーり、避虚偽ぬ情報。