12 Images from Eisa Matsuri 2019 in Kin Town Okinawa

Hundreds of Photos Were Taken

Yesterday two summer festivals (matsuri) took place at Kin Dam.

The Kin Dam Festival and the 20th annual Kin Eisa Matsuri were held in a dam park.

On a July afternoon the temperatures outside are almost unbearably sticky hot.

The Dam Matsuri took place from 10 AM until 5 PM.  I skipped that one!

Arriving early enough to check some camera positions out, I stayed mostly in the shade.

The smells of food cooking in festival tents, drifted over my way and was irresistible.

So, I went and gobbled some food (you don't want to hear about) down.

Then, walked over to these Chondara dudes and asked if, I could take their photo.

Chondara, also known as Gajan Gani, are sorta friendly clowns.

After showing them how the photo looked on the camera LCD screen I said "Thanks" and left.

There never used to be children, doing the Eisa dances at festivals, in years gone by.

But, recently you may see kids out dancing with the adults almost anywhere.

Not sure if these are sisters or, mother and daughter, I didn't bother to ask.

Whoever the children are, they must practice plenty because they're really good.

The timing of their movements is excellent and, they even know how to chant and shout.

It isn't just the young girl children out there; boys get in on the act too.

These guys bang the drums, just like the big men do and, they do some high stepping, too.

One toddler was probably too small for the Eisa uniforms but, got to dance anyway.

Other little kids on the sidelines sorta kept cheering him on. Bet they envied him!

The light started fading as the sun crept down behind the mountains and I was glad.

A gentle breeze would soon start cooling things down out on that hot field.

It's difficult taking photos of the dancers, with all the guests surrounding the performers.

You're not allowed to just kick grandmas and grandpas, to get them out of the way. Rats.

Sundown Saved the Day

There are always plenty of people who know me, at these events and we get to chat.

The hardest part, is when they try bringing me some saki or beers.

Usually, I tell them I'm working and can't drink until I finish. They understand.

The Gajan Gani (Chondara/Clowns) from Nakagawa performed here.

They got their district started with the night's Eisa dances and, they were great performers.

Had there been a competition among the Eisa groups, these folks would have won!

Nakagawa, had some little tyke drummers, too.

This would be the last group I photographed doing their dances. Time to leave the crowd.

Hanabi or Fireworks Next on the Schedule

It happens to me all the time.  The fireworks go off right where you don't want them to be.

Heading away from the crowds, I set my camera and tripod up at the edge of a field.

The first few blasts took place almost directly overhead.

Knowing I probably wouldn't be getting any award winning photos, I didn't cuss.

All you can do is move the camera lens around and hope for the best.

It's alright to cuss, too. Just do it softly so, nobody can hear you. 

Shit...

The wind was blowing but, all the smells and smoke of the fireworks hung in the air.

Next year if this matsuri is in the same location, I'll distance myself from the explosions.

Like, get up on a hill away from the fairgrounds and maybe get some reflections in water.

It was a festival at a dam. Why didn't I think about reflection shots?  Dammit!

My parting shot. I'll call it, "Sunflower."

3 GIF's from Sports Day at a Middle School

Fun in the Sun

It's that time of year, again. Undokia or, Sports Day in Japan.

Today's event was at Kin Chugakko, the junior high school, where some grandchildren go.

So, I was out there, with a camera, shooting everybody, just to be safe.

When all the kids, wear the same uniforms and, have black hair, it can be confusing.

As many times as I've gone to these sports days, I've never seen anything like this.

For a second, it looked like they were scooting across the dirt field on a surfboard.

But, upon closer inspection, I realized, they had their feet tied to two plastic pipes.

So, I guess it was some sort of pipe walking race. Coordination helps.

One daughter, gave me a perfect description of a grandson's sportswear.

She told me the color of his shorts, headband and, the number 4, would be on his green t-shirt.

Well, he's some sort of champion runner, faster than a greyhound.

I got a few shots of him but, not enough to make a GIF. So, I shot these kids.

There are still a few thousand photos I haven't looked at, yet.

As they get processed, I'll post some in a Facebook album at Ryukyu Life.

Notice the relay team. They have boys and girls, running each relay.

When the numbers, don't come out right, a gal or guy teacher fills out the team.

They didn't do things that way, back when I was in school. Pretty cool, huh ?

Well, I'm glad I ain't a teacher, anyway.

Eisa is always on of the highlights and, usually, close to the end of an Undokai.

In case, you haven't seen one of those clowns before, he's a chondara.

They play an important role, keeping everyone's spirits up.

The adult ones, even pass out, refreshments, sometimes alcoholic spirits but, not here.

It's too bad, all my grandchildren, couldn't be chondara. It would make life easy.

Somewhere in the crowds of purple Eisa uniforms, I shot today, are my kinfolks.

To be sure, I got my grandchildren, I photographed all the Kin Eisa dancers.

That way maybe, their mothers or fathers, can pick them out.

It was blazing hot out there today and, I must thank the family for all they did.

Tents were pitched, for shade. Food and refreshments were provided.

The best part of all, was they gave me iced coffee and, an air-conditioned ride home ! 

Clowning Around with Animations

They Aren't Really Clowns

 

 

The two characters dancing in this seen are called chondara or, gajan-gani.

Sort of comical, they play an important role in Eisa dancing.

 Chasing mosquitoes away, making folks laugh and passing around drinks is hard work.

So, I thought it would be nice, to make a GIF of the energetic characters.

Another GIF at the Closing of the Festival

 

 Watching Eisa and, trying to get images of each group, can be lots of fun.

Hopefully, no team was missed and, I'll be processing photos throughout this week.

Shooting hanabi (fireworks) like this was, a first, for me.

No tripod was used.  Sitting on a rock, I propped the camera steady on my knees.

Continuous shooting mode was used to take the 6 photos in this animation.

The clowning around part -- I wasn't sure a GIF could be created with the images.

It worked alright.  Now, it's time for me to go clown around somewhere out of this office !

Okinawan Eisa Dance in Kin Town

5 More GIF Images - 2016 Kin Eisa Matsuri

 

 

This team of Eisa dancers is kind of special to me and, I had to make sure, I shot the girls.

Last year my granddaughter was out there with them.

She couldn't join this year because, she's off to some beauty school.

When she was out there, I got orders from the Supreme Commander of my house.

If, I failed to get images of family, I would probably be in solitary confinement.

So, ladies in pink kimonos, always get my attention and, I shoot them, close-up.

Backing off, I stood on a slightly elevated spot to capture the whole team, dancing.

Normally, I would take a couple of cameras, lenses and a tripod to an event like this.

Yesterday, I traveled light; no tripod and, just one camera with a zoom lens.

It had been raining, on and off, all day and, I wondered if, the festival would be cancelled.

It poured down a few times and, everybody ran for cover or, opened umbrellas.

It wasn't raining, while this scene was photographed and, I'm glad.

Look at that little guy, to the left. He's beating a drum and dancing, just like the big fellows !

If all those seated in the audience, opened umbrellas, I would have missed the kid.

Notice, the umbrellas and, folks moving around in the crowd, for this image.

A little sprinkle of rain feels good in August, to me and probably, to the dancers, too.

As long as, you keep water drops off the glass, Pentax cameras work great, in the rain !

Getting a little bit closer to the stage, you can see the musicians, playing sanshins.

And, the barefooted guy (chondara) gave me an idea for next year.

Why wear stuff on your feet, when it rains ?

Dancing around barefooted, in the wet grass, must feel great on a hot summer day !

3 More Motion GIFs from an Okinawan Undokai

People from Kin Town Live Around the Globe

 

 

It was nice to hear from so many people, responding to yesterday's  blog post.

The elementary school undokai is one of the most popular events of the year.

So, for those who couldn't attend, here are a few more photos of the action.

This was some sort of relay race the youngsters were involved in.

Just before noon, I got the bright idea to climb above the crowds and shoot this scene.

It was nice to go wide angle with the lens and use auto focus.

From the position, I had, nobody could accidentally, walk in front of my lens.

With the tripod and I, secured so we wouldn't fall, it was easy to shoot about 1,000 frames.

They held mothers and daughters relays and fathers and sons, as well.

Some of those parents should join the Olympics.

They run faster than jackrabbits.

Back on ground level, after eating a picnic lunch, I shot the Eisa Dancers.

It was real important to capture these scenes for a GIF.

That's because the Chondara, in there, is one of my grandsons.

Did You Know They Have Chondara in Hawaii ?

 

 

 

Doing my research, I came across this video on YouTube.

It comes from the Young Okinawans of Hawaii.

Have a look and listen. I bet you'll enjoy it, too.

5 GIFs from a Shougakkou Sports Day in Okinawa

A Great Way to Spend a Sunday

 

 

A sports day at a Japanese school is called an Undokai.

This one took place at an elementary school (shougakkou) in Kin Town.

Entire families, line the athletic field and picnic under tents.

Every time, I attend one of these events, they seem to come up with something new.

Relay races are always part of an undokai.

Sometimes parents or, grandparents get involved in them, too.

The younger children danced with pom poms and put on quite a show.

Taking a sneak peek, I saw how a Chondara gets his face made-up.

That could come in handy if, I ever want to become a clown.

It was hot out there today but, we had a few sprinkles of rain to cool things off.

The best part of any Undokai, in Okinawa, is always the Eisa Dance.

As soon as my camera, let me know 64GBs of SD cards were full, I left the Undokai.

And, got back to the air-conditioned office.

While the batteries are recharging, I think I might go recharge myself, too !

Photo of the Week: What a Character !

 

 This is one of the photos I shot last Sunday at a school in Kin Village.

At an Undokai  (Sports Day, in Japan) Eisa dancing was performed.

Depending on who you ask, the one clowning around while everyone else is dancing,

would be called either a Gajan Gani, or a Chondara.

The kid was a real lively character.  One of the best I've ever seen.

So, I'm going to do a little searching and see if I can locate him, or her.

To give the character this photo.