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Valley of Gangala

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Mural located in Motobu Museum

Wordless Wednesday: Affordable Beachfront Property

Travel Photo: Rock Will Tell You If It's a Boy or Girl

Niya-thiya Cave or Senin Gama

The cavern is located on Ie Island, Okinawa, Japan and, it has historical significance.

A thousand islanders took shelter here and, survived the Battle of Okinawa. 

In the right lower corner of this image, is a stone of hysterical significance, to me anyway.

Call it the Pregnancy Rock if, you like. Here's what the inscription teaches us.

Pick up that stone, chained to the short pillar and, see how much it strains your muscles.

If  a woman, lifts the stone before long, she'll become pregnant.

The stone heavy ?  That means, the baby will be a boy.

If, it's light, a baby girl will be born.

Related Post:

The Pregnancy Rock in Okinawa (Photo) It's a Myth I Hope

Culture Photo: Prayer and Blessings in a Cave

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 50MM

Exposure:  f/1.8   1/25   ISO 3200

Location: Sururu Gama, Kouri Island, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  MAR 19 2017  1:58PM

Okinawa Folktale: Unimuchi

Call It a Devil Cake

Mochi (muchi) is rice cake, served to young and old during the New Year.

An uni or, oni roughly translated, would mean, devil.

On the 8^th day of December (Chinese calendar) unimuchi is served in Okinawan homes.

It is believed, that this date precedes the coldest day of the year.

Cakes, wrapped in gettoo leaves, are opened and families ask the spirits for protection.

Consuming the unimuchi is believed to ward off bad health and bring good luck.

If you don't care for gruesome stories, there's no need, to read any further.

 

The Demon Lived in a Cave

High on cliffs, overlooking the ocean, the monster stayed concealed during daylight hours.

In his youth, he was a perfectly normal child and, cared for his younger sister.

The parents, had moved on to the world of the spirits, at an early age.

A hard working teen, he earned what he could, while sister, kept a garden and cooked.

Survival was the name of the game and, he did well, as the man of the house.

Reaching Manhood He Changed Drastically

The lad, sprouted small horns on his head and, developed a hairy body.

He became violent and mean, as if he were a madman.

The villagers, ganged up and, ran him out of town so, he headed for the hills.

Not long afterwards, bad things began to happen, in the once peaceful hamlet.

 

It began slowly. Overnight, a small animal (chicken, cat, piglet) would disappear.

Little things like this happen, naturally, sometimes so, no one panicked.

As the months went by bigger things, fell victim, to the darkness.

When livestock, such as cattle, hogs, horses and goats, were taken in the night, people noticed.

Eventually, humans were being dragged away. It was the demon.

Sketch by Atsushi Maezato

 

Something Had to be Done

 

Little sister suspected, the culprit might have been her big brother, turned ogre.

As a family member, she felt responsible, for the villager's grief.

Knowing the approximate location of the monster's dwelling, she devised a plan.

Her Nini (big brother) used to love the rice cakes, she prepared for him.

She fixed up a basket, loaded with steamed rice cakes, wrapped in gettoo leaves.

Inside the rice cakes, nicely concealed, were shards of broken roof tiles.

She hiked up the hill and, placed the basket of food on a rock, near the cliff edge.

Sweating from her journey, she approached the cave, thinking it might cool her.

As she approached the entrance, it turned her stomach.

The cave was dark, reeking of rotting flesh and death.

She called out “Nini, are you here?”

The demon appeared. He growled and grabbed his sister, to take into the cavern.

“Tell me why, you came here and, it better be for a good reason or, I'll eat you, too.”

She told him about the rice cakes, sitting on the rock, outside. “Over there.”

Sketch by Atsushi Maezato

 

She led the way, to the spot where the basket had been stashed and watched him eat.

He began devouring them whole, not paying attention, to what he was eating.

Soon, he began bleeding from the mouth, screaming in pain.

When he was writhing in pain and faced towards the sea, she shoved him off the cliff.

The devil, was gone forever and, ice cold wind blew in the girl's face.

By the Lunar calendar, it was the eighth day of December.

The tradition, of eating unimochi, continues in Okinawa, today.

Try some, without the tiles.

References:

Okinawan Folk Stories ISBN978-4-99009-0

Adapted from: Onimochi P. 189

End of the Trail for Minamoto Tametomo

Cave is a Cultural Property

 

 

Last week's discovery in Motobu, led to a search for this cavern.

The site, where Minamoto Tametomo arrived in Okinawa was the first half of the story.

The good Doc, who drives me around, agreed, we'd go hunting for his point of departure.

 All we had to go on, was a tiny image of a cave, somewhere in the Makiminato area of Urasoe.

Neither one of us was drunk but, that smartphone of mine tracked, where we went.

The part, going into the ocean, must be a satellite hiccup; we stayed high and dry.

But, the rest of the map, looks pretty accurate. We zigged and zagged plenty in our hunt.

As the Story Goes

Minamoto Tametomo, sailed out of a port in Urasoe and, never returned.

His wife and son, lived in a cave, near the sea and, waited for him to come home.

Machinato or, Makiminato means, "waiting harbor" so, that's what the area was named.

Image credit: Urasoe City Cultural Property Guidebook 

After covering almost every centimeter of the coast along Makiminato, we became enlightened.

Weaving in and out of alleys, hitting dead ends and, sweating, wasn't getting us anywhere.

If, we were going to find that cavern, we had to get some help so, up the hill we went.

Image credit: Urasoe City Cultural Property Guidebook 

We got everything we needed at the Urasoe City office, in English and, it was free !

It helps, to communicate in Japanese or, the local dialect, even if it's just a smidgen.

A woman at the counter, gave us guidebooks and, maps of Urasoe, in a language, we can read.

It was still a little tricky, locating this cave but, we gotterdun.

Knowing this is sort of a sacred site, I wouldn't enter the cave, just take a peek inside.

Then, I turned around and, took this photo, to show the stairway, leading to the entrance.

Hopefully, the geocache enthusiasts, respect this cultural asset, as well.

The only way, I'd enter a site, like this, is if, I was invited to attend a ritual in there.

 This sign, off to the right of the site, gives the story in Japanese and English.

There are different versions of the story, concerning the fate of Tametomo. 

One thing, for sure is, the son he left behind, did become King of the Ryukyu Islands.

READ MORE AT:

Cultural Properties of Urasoe

Okinawan at Heart

Samuraiwiki

Travel Photo: Things Were Looking Grim

General's Last Night

 

 

This cave was the final command post for the Japanese Army, during the Battle of Okinawa.

Generals Ushijima and Cho had their headquarters here and, knew the war was ending.

On the night of June 21, 1945, they made their final preparations.

The American forces, would soon overtake them and, surrender was out of the question.

The Generals, said their farewells and, ordered the troops to fight until death. 

Shortly after four, the next morning, they left the cave.

Spreading a sheet a little way from the cavern the entrance they did a samurai thing.

They had failed the Emperor so, poked their swords in their bellies.

If you enjoy morbid travel stories: Read It All in an Army History Book.

6 Photos of a Golden Buddha in a Cave

Images Made with the New Pentax K1

 

 

 

The highways are insane with Golden Week travelers these days so, I avoided them.

It was a good day, to go down underground and visit Buddha, I figured.

Using nothing but, available light, I pushed the ISO's on the camera, to see what it would do.

The Pentax was handheld, using my knees or a concrete post to steady the shots.

This first photo was taken at ISO 3200 and, didn't come out too shabby.

 Here's another image taken at ISO 3200, giving you a closer look.

Someday, I'll have to ask the monk at Kin Temple if, it would be alright, to dust Buddha off.

It would be best, to get permission.  Don't wanna lose my passport into heaven, you know.

Next, I took a shot at ISO 1600, to see if there would be much difference.

Moving around, to a different position in the cave, gave me a new angle, to shoot from.

You can see from the tone of the gold, it was a little darker, where I was standing.

 The ISO's were pushed all the way up to 12800 when I made this shot.

Families, coming down into the cave, were real polite and, excused themselves, passing me.

Maybe, they thought I was some kind of cave-dweller.  Who knows ?

The next thing I did, was push the ISO all the way up to 51200 and said, "Meah."

We'll save this image, in case someone wants to buy grainy photos.

People bought the Mona Lisa, didn't they ?

If you're excited about grainy photos, here ya go.  How about ISO 65535 ?

Next time, I bring the camera to that cave, I think I'll try a tripod.

Imagine what that camera could do, at ISO 100 !

Chinese New Year's Day - A Visit to an Outer Island

Happy Lunar New Year!

 

 

A Quick trip to Hamahiga-jima was made with the camera today.

Map It Okinawa dude and I wanted to see if anything unusual was going on. 

Boats were all decked out with flags and banners at some fishing ports.

Not sure if we had missed an important cultural event, we went around asking questions.

It appears, tomorrow morning the boats will be blessed and, do some sailing.

 This is the trail leading to Shirumichu (シルミチュー) a sacred site.

It's been a few years since we last visited this spot so, we climbed up the stairs.

Bright colored streamers were strung on the ropes along the way.

In the heat of summer, I don't feel like climbing up all those stairs.

Today, it was sunny and cool outside so, up I went to take some photos.

Noticing the young ladies, coming up the stairs, I stopped.

Pretending I was taking photos, I let them pass by me so, I could rest.

Depending on where, you search, there are either 100 or, 108 steps, to climb.

Now, I'll have to go back and, hike up there again, to count them for everybody.

goddammit

See, I really don't like cussing, lying or, climbing stairs but we'll getterdun,  next time.

The gals took off their shoes, put on slippers and, went into the cave.

Most of the time, the cave entrance, is locked and, you can't go in there. 

So, after the gals exited, I squinched my feet into these tiny slippers and, went to have a look. 

Standing at the entrance, I pointed the camera down and, got this shot.

Special places like this, are where some people worship and perform rituals.

So, I don't want to mess things up being sacrilegious or, anything like that.

They say, some women, go in there praying for fertility.  Don't look at me.

See, I'm just an old cameraman and, I don't like climbing stairs.

Now, you know, what I did for the Lunar New Year.

More about this site, including directions, can be found at Map It Okinawa. 

Okinawan Folktale: Legend of the Monk and Okukubi River

Note: Similar versions of this story, first appeared in Stars and Stripes November 2015.

Editorial and layout requirements, made the signs, unreadable for Japanese followers.

It is my hope, that educators may be able, to print and distribute this version to students.

Feel free, to use the article as a travel guide or handout for language classes.

The text and images, may not be sold or, reused online, without authorized licensing.

Photographs and text by Michael Lynch 

Translated by Mami Sakiyama 

 

A Shipwrecked Monk

Early in 1500, a Buddhist monk was on his way to China, when he was shipwrecked. The wreckage
 of his ship was adrift at beach in Kin Village of Okinawa. A local, saw the wooden craft and rescued
  the priest, who barely survived the ordeal.
 The young man, using his own lunch made some rice gruel . The monk, recovered quickly after he
 ate the meal. He stood up and took a looking towards the ocean shouted, "Hokorashayamina!”

 
After a short time, the monk asked the young man for something to drink. The youngster took him to a spring on the outskirts of the village. When the monk drank a sip of the fresh water, he shivered and said "How delicious this is! You could make an excellent green tea with this refreshing spring water." He taught the method of making tea, to his young savior.

Monk and Young Man

 

  

The Buddhist regained composure and started talking about what had happened to him. The youth became tense, as he discovered the monk held the high position of Nisshu Shonin. The monk told the lad,”Please don't be nervous. You are my lifesaver. Feel free to let me do something for you in return.". But, the young man said, " I don't expect anything from you. I just did what I needed to do as a person. If I were to venture a favor, I would love to have a surname given by you."  

The monk asked him what kind of surname he wanted to have and the young man said, " There is the river called Hijaga at the foot of the other side of the mountain. It has nourished many people from generation to generation. I would be very honored to be given a name related to that river." The Buddhist monk started chanting and said, " Your surname is Higa from now on. This name will bring you a lot of happiness. Please use it proudly."

 

 

Origins of Fukka and Saga

 

 

 

 

The story about the Buddhist monk and the young man was spread by the locals and, they began calling the beach (where the monk had been adrift ) Fukka (福花 = flowers of good fortune) and the spring Saga (茶川 = green tea river) named after the legend of the monk. 

Saga Spring became famous for its delicious water, utilized in making green tea. Word of this tasty tea spread throughout the island. When royal officials from Shuri Castle came to Kin, many of them would visit the spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Village Inhabitants

 

 

 

 

The monk wanted to do something for the people who helped him and treated him so well. He had extensive knowledge about agriculture, so he taught the natives (who only knew farming learned from experience) how till the land using the most efficient methods and, showed them the most advanced technology for the cultivation of crops. 

Thanks to the Buddhist Monk's guidance, they had a bountiful harvest and the village prospered for a long time. Because of the surprising results of his guidance, some locals recited, "White sand turned into rice!" Many people considered the monk to be a "Kaminchu" which is a godly person.
 
Then, terrible things began to happen in the community...

 

 

 

 

 

  Local Girl and Handsome Boy

 

 

 

 

One moonlit night, a good-looking stranger showed up. He awoke the most beautiful girl in the village with his fascinating voice. She was tempted by his handsome features and followed him as, if she were in a trance.

A boy, who had a crush on the charming girl, hid and followed in the darkness. He saw them walking arm in arm as if they had been dating for a long time. He wished to keep the beautiful girl away from the handsome boy. Suddenly, the air was filled with smoke and, the handsome boy turned into a huge serpent.

The snake coiled around her body, so she couldn't run away, and they disappeared into a cave.

 

 

 

 

Transforming Serpent

 

 

As legend goes, the snake was living in the cave and eating livers of human beings, especially, youthful charming virgins and, the villagers became frightened. At the river that leads to the cave, many young girls who went to draw water had been attacked by the snake. The serpent also wreaked havoc on the farm products of the village so, the locals tried not to get near the cave or river. After no one had been attacked for a long time, people began to believe maybe, it had died.

The villagers still kept away from the river and the cave and refused to grow farm products around that area because of the serpent. The devious vermin, once again, began transforming into a handsome boy and started sneaking in people's houses in the hamlet.

 

Monk Banishes Snake

 

 

 

 

 

Once villagers learned of beautiful young girls being kidnapped, they couldn't sleep well nights and stopped going outside. They feared being eaten by the snake or, worried their daughters might be kidnapped by it. The monk became concerned about the villagers and, when he visited them, noticed they were hiding their daughters and crying. He decided, some action would be required to stop the terror.

At the cavern entrance, the Buddhist chanted an incantation to seal snake inside forever. Since then, nobody got attacked by the snake. And, the village began to prosper again.

Mami Sakiyama is an aspiring photojournalist, teaching English in Onna-son, Okinawa, Japan



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