On Friday, July 25, 2025, the new theme park “JUNGLIA Okinawa” opened in northern Okinawa!!
Spread across a vast 60-hectare site, the park offers a wide variety of attractions.
□What Is Yambaru Friends?
This time, we’re introducing an attraction starring a character based on the flightless bird that lives only in the Yambaru region of northern Okinawa.
This is an indoor attraction, including a theater section, that even small children can enjoy, making it a great way to escape the heat.
This report contains spoilers, so please keep that in mind.
◇Basic Information
Experience time: About 25 minutes
Age: All ages. *Guests under 10 must be accompanied by someone age 16 or older.
Animals you encounter: Seven Yambaru animals (Yanbaru kuina, shisa, Ryukyu robin, Ryukyu long-haired rat, Okinawa woodpecker, Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle, and a frog group)
Photography: Both video recording and still photography are prohibited in all scenes.
Capacity: Not disclosed, but as this is a theater-based attraction, it can accommodate a relatively large number of guests.
◇A Lot of Fun Even for Adults!
The main characters are “Jan,” a Yanbaru kuina from northern Okinawa, and “Shishi,” a character inspired by Okinawa’s traditional guardian shisa.
Many people may assume it is mainly for children, but there are plenty of elements that adults can get hooked on too.
The story progresses through conversations with guests, so the content changes each time depending on the audience. That means every visit can unfold differently, helping keep the experience fresh.
□Yambaru Friends Experience Report!
◇Don’t Let Your Guard Down During the Pre-Show!!
A man named “Hiroshi,” who knows more about Yambaru and its forests than anyone, appears with the greeting “Haisai.”
The walls of this room are lined with displays about Yambaru.
But these are not ordinary displays.
While Hiroshi is absorbed in explaining the displays, the Yanbaru kuina display panel starts moving.
It then moves over to the panel beside it featuring the Ryukyu robin and starts causing mischief.
The mischief starts out cute, but gradually escalates and spreads all around the room until it feels like there is too much happening for your eyes to keep up with.
Don’t just watch what is directly in front of you—look carefully around the walls of the venue too.
There is so much visual fun packed into the show that you probably won’t catch everything in a single viewing.
After Hiroshi collapses, the Yanbaru kuina starts talking to you.
That Yanbaru kuina is “Jan.”
Jan invites everyone into the forest, asking, “Want to come play in the Yambaru forest?”
You then head into the Yambaru forest through a hole in the wall that Shishi has opened with his whole body.
□You Can Talk with “Jan” in the Yambaru Forest
Here, Jan chooses one guest to talk with.
After answering Jan’s questions, the guest gets a chance to ask Jan a question in return.
The exchange can change quite a bit depending on what you ask. If you want to be selected, try wearing brightly colored clothes, raising your hand faster than anyone else, or finding another way to stand out.
It may also help to think in advance about what you would like to ask.
When I saw the show, the selected guest asked, “Jan, have you been to the spa?” Jan replied, “If I got into a spa, I’d turn into a chicken hot pot with great broth,” which got a big laugh and relaxed the whole room.
Jan is extremely curious about the world outside the forest, so by asking each other all kinds of questions, you might end up feeling like friends♪
◇Wait, Is That Voice…?
The voice of the shisa character “Shishi” is none other than Gori from the comedy duo Garage Sale.
The role is a perfect fit for Okinawa-born Gori, but the performance sounds so natural that it is surprisingly hard to notice—even if you know in advance that it is him.
Be sure to listen closely to the voice.
The voice actor for “Jan” has not been announced.
◇Animals Keep Appearing One After Another!
Here, the animals you saw on the wall panels during the pre-show begin to appear.
The Ryukyu robin, Ryukyu long-haired rat, Okinawa woodpecker, Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle, and frog group—friends that live in Okinawa’s Yambaru region—keep appearing one after another, making the scene livelier and livelier.
◇Do You Get Wet?
At one point, a passing rain shower like a squall begins—but don’t let your guard down.
There is a scene where guests can get wet too.
If you are not expecting it, it can be a surprise, so be careful.
And if you are carrying electronics or anything else that must not get wet, make sure you prepare for water exposure!!
□Yambaru Friends Merchandise
A wide range of merchandise featuring Yambaru Friends characters Jan and Shishi is available, making it a fun souvenir of your attraction experience.
We plan to introduce all of the Yambaru Friends merchandise in detail in a separate merchandise article, so please check that out too.
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