Amawari (阿麻和利, d. 1458) was a Ryukyuan lord (anji) of Katsuren Castle (Katsuren gusuku), known for his ambitions for the throne of the Ryūkyū Kingdom and scheme and attack against Gosamaru, anji of Nakagusuku.
According to legend, Amawari was born to a peasant family in Yara, in Chatan magiri[1]. Toppling the lord of Katsuren gusuku, Amawari seized his domain[1]. Taking advantage of opportunities for maritime trade, he gained a degree of wealth and power, and married Momotofumi Agari, daughter of King Shō Taikyū, further solidifying his power[1].
Anxious about Amawari's power, King Shō Taikyū arranged that a new castle be built at Nakagusuku, under the command and supervision of the anji (aristocrat/lord) Gosamaru, between Katsuren and the royal capital of Shuri. In 1458, Amawari accused Gosamaru of plotting to overthrow the king, and as a result came to lead the royal armies in an attack on Nakagusuku which ended in Gosamaru's death by suicide. Amawari then plotted to overthrow the king himself, but, his plan discovered by his wife and her attendant Oni Ōgusuku, he was attacked and defeated by royal forces led by the latter[1], and executed. An alternate theory, however, claims that the entire affair was organized by the royal government, in order to remove both Gosamaru and Amawari as powerful rivals and potential threats to the succession[2].
The tale of Gosamaru's betrayal and destruction by Amawari is among the more famous and popular of local historical legends. A kumiodori dance-play telling of Gosamaru's sons' quest for revenge against Amawari, was once performed as part of the kingdom's formal entertainment of Chinese investiture envoys, and has in more recent times become a popular favorite[3].
Though he is introduced as a traitor in most history books, Amawari is praised by the peasantry in the omoro, oral traditional songs and poems relating history and legend[1].