The first major book of translations was Okinawa: Two Postwar Novellas, published in 1989, featuring the complete translation of the first two Okinawan texts to receive the prestigious Akutagawa Prize, Ōshiro Tatsuhiro’s 1967 novella The Cocktail Party (カクテルパーティ, 1967) and Higashi Mineo’s Child of Okinawa (沖縄少年) published in 1972. In addition to the translations Rabson’s introductory essay does a great job contextualizing the setting of postwar Okinawa in which both novellas are set. The Cocktail Party, in particular, which engages directly with issues of power imbalances in US-occupied Okinawa, has become the subject of multiple academic studies and is a staple of course related to Okinawan culture, literature or history. Rabson’s translation is an important step in the develop of Okinawan literature as an independent area of study, distinct from merely a sub-genre of Japanese literature. 

In 2011, Living Spirit: Literature and Resurgence in Okinawa, a special edition of the literary journal Mānoa was published dedicated to Ryukyuan and Okinawan literature. Edited by Frank Stewart and Katsunori Yamazato, this collection is notable because it features classical works of Ryukyuan literature in addition to modern Okinawan texts. Of note are translations of ryūka, traditional Ryukyuan poetry, and Tamagusuku Chōkun's Possessed by Love, Thwarted by the Bell, a kumi odori play from the 18th century as well as modern poetry from Takara Ben and Kawamitsu Shinichi, among others. Additionally, fiction from major writers such as Sakiyama Tami and Matayoshi Eiki, in addition to more stories from Medorum and Oshiro are included. Lastly, this volume is worth noting because of its interdisciplinary approach, as it features song translations of both traditional folk songs as well as the songs of shamans in addition to photographs from Higa Yasuo.

The latest anthology that we have is Islands of Protest which was published in 2016 and edited by Davinder Bhowmik and Steve Rabson. This anthology features work mainly publish in the post-war period, though importantly it includes a translation of Yamagusuku Seichu's 1911 short story "Kunenbo Orange Trees", which was a pioneering piece one of the best representative of early 20th century Okinawan fiction we have in translation. Other highlights include two pieces by Sakiyama Tami that examine the tension of tradition and modernity in rural Okinawa, Ōta Ryōhaku's post-colonial exploration of war memory "Black Diamonds" (see also this excellent article by UH Alum Yoshiaki Otta on the story), and Chinen Seishin's The Human Pavilion which links multiple generations of modern Okinawan histories.