It's a rare occasion that a day goes by without me posting something here.
Yesterday happened to be one of those days.
Up in the northern Okinawa, Japan is a village on the Motobu Peninsula called Gushiken.
That's pretty much where I've been hanging out for the past few days.
An event I'm trying to document takes place there, once a year.
It is called a Shinigu.
The ladies in the photo above are rehearsing a dance they will perform tomorrow.
Several dances and songs are done to thank the gods for bountiful harvests and good fortune.
The Shinigu could be considered a form of prayer, or worship.
The dancers are asking the gods of the seas, forests, sky, and field for continued success.
Only women are allowed to perform Shinigu.
It was my good fortune to be allowed to photograph their preparations.
For the next few evenings, I will be out of town trying to get the whole story for you.
It's always so interesting to learn about traditions and events of Japan from following your blog. The Shinugu sounds like a darn good idea, too.
ReplyDeleteCathy,
ReplyDeleteThank you. These gals are unbelievably sweet, too. Living the good life sees them well into the 100's.