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8. Îmârû, Helping Each Other
What is Îmârû?
It is an Okinawan dialect of yui-mawaru.
"Yui" means "local cooperation."
Before World War II, yui were very important.
People helped each other in farm work.
They took turns helping in each other's fields.
This turn-taking was called "Îmârû."
Yui was a system to help each other based on people's good will.
Today, we do not see this yui system very much.
However, the basic idea is seen in the moai system.
When someone is in great need of money, friends and relatives hold a moai and collect money.
Each member gives some money to help the person in need.
These days a moai is held not only for collecting money, but also for becoming closer friends.
Of course, if someone is in need, the group is always ready to help.
Its basis is Îmârû, or to help each other.
The spirit of Îmârû is still part of daily life.
Now, many elderly people live alone, but they are not lonely.
Neighbors care for them and visit them often.
If an elderly person does not appear even one day, neighbors go to see if anything is wrong.
These are not special acts of kindness in Okinawa.
It is natural for people to help each other according to the spirit of Îmârû.