A new stage production in Okinawa has brought the rich history of the Ryukyu Kingdom to life through opera, captivating audiences with a dramatic portrayal of royal love and resilience. The performance, staged in Urasoe as part of celebrations marking the city’s 55th anniversary, centers on Queen Aoriya and the young seventh king of the Ryukyu Kingdom as they face the nation’s greatest crisis in 1609 the invasion known as “Satsuma,” which threatened the kingdom’s sovereignty.