15 Photos from Koza Music Town Eisa Museum

Things to Do on Rainy Days

With unpredictable humid, rainy/sunny weather this is a great spot to visit.

Nearby, we found a parking garage where the car wouldn't be exposed to any sun.

Many times, after we make plans for indoor activity, the weather takes a sudden turn.

It's worth some pocket change, to keep our ride in the shade.

Looking up at the sky before going in, was a good idea.

After about an hour visit inside the museum, the sky got completely whited out with clouds.

That blue-winged guitar is a good landmark for those in search of Koza Music Town.

Take the next left and, you find the parking garage attached to the building.

This little Eisa drummer caught my eye when I walked in the door.

It wasn't until photo processing time, I noticed the drum is a postbox!

In the lobby, there is a gift shop with musical instruments and assorted trinkets.

They probably have postcards you can stuff in the little guy's drum.

It's always a good idea, to take photos when you come across things like this.

We got English and Japanese history of Eisa, right off the museum walls.

Politicians and professors lie sometimes but, walls shouldn't.

So, I shot the writing on the walls.

This museum gives you plenty of information about this traditional dance.

You can learn the names of instruments used and different villages Eisa styles.

Upstairs

Just in case you forgot to pay the 300 Yen, let me tell you. Don't go up those stairs.

There's somebody up there who will want to see your ticket.

Here you get a view of costumes and some of the instruments.

Doc Graff and I were the only customers so, it was fairly quiet in the place.

There's plenty of room for you to stretch and practice Eisa if, you want to.

Someone on the staff can show you how to play the instruments.

They will come over and help you get dressed in an Eisa uniform.

They even have small costumes for children.

Imagine a school field trip visiting that place and the racket they could make.

This bilingual sign gives us a "maybe" history of the origins of Eisa.

A little history of the Chondara is given here.

If all history books were this short, I could be a historian.

They have programs for viewing in several languages for guests.

Whether you're studying Eisa or, want to learn how to perform, this is the place to go.

A Favorite Singer So I GIF-T Her

Live House Dream

The place was shaking with loud rock and folks clapped their hands, while stomping their feet.

Because of the recent rains and passing typhoon, it wasn't as crowded as usual.

That made it a little easier, to get around with the camera so, I was everywhere.

Wanting to travel light, I only brought the Pentax K1 and a 50 MM prime lens.

The nine images used to make this animation were shot at f/2 1/800  ISO 6400.

Normally, I don't use ISO's in that high of a range, to avoid getting grainy photos.

But, it was necessary to get quick shutter speed under those lighting conditions.

Smoke on the Water

They were on the third set, shortly after 11 PM, when they did this number.

Deep Purple's, Smoke on the Water is probably, played by every rock band in Japan.

Aki sings blues too, in English or, Japanese. Take your pick.

Another favorite singer of mine, would be Willie Nelson but, I wouldn't hug the guy.

Aki's, a different story. I don't mind getting hugs from her.

She always, turns her face sideways when she grabs me and, I think I know why.

There's a diamond in her nose and, she may be afraid, I'll snatch it off of her.

Imagine, how many beers you could buy if, you hocked a genuine diamond.

Over 500 times, the shutter clicked on my camera last night.

An album on Facebook, will have some more of the evening's photos.

Each performer, I tried to get good quality images of, to post over there.

Even Aki's mom, was up there, singing on the stage. That was a surprise.

Before midnight, I had to leave, to meet some friends at a another location.

There's no telling, what time the Dream Live House finished up and closed.

About 2 AM, a flock of girls, with Aki, showed up at another bar.

It was a long, busy day, for me and, I knew I'd have to download the camera, early today.

So, I bid everyone farewell and staggered on home. Maybe, it was around 2:30 in the morning.

It seems, I forgot to ask if, the band would be playing live, again tonight.

While, the camera battery is being re-charged maybe, I'll stop downtown and see.

Wordless Wednesday GIF - Great 10 Minute Workout

Breaking the Photo Rules at a Festival

Way Too Much Action in this Animation

Keeping it simple, is one of the first rules of composition, for the photographer.

Eliminate all distractions in the background and, isolate the subject, is the ideal way to go.

Off to the left, there's a few thousand people, being entertained by a popular band.

I may have walked a couple of miles, shooting this festival from every possible angle.

It was warm and humid, with only a slight breeze blowing. Time to take a break.

Up under a white festival tent, I turned off the camera and lit up a cigarette.

Smoke from charcoal grills and the smell of sweetened soy sauce, disguise my sweaty smell.

I'm standing directly in front of a blaring loud speaker but, it doesn't phase me.

Out of the crowds, no one comes bumping into the tripod and, I can relax.

Everyone's been offering me booze and beer but, I won't drink when I'm working.

Out of my back pocket, comes a bottle of tea, I had bought earlier; it's warm now but, wet.

The guy in the fancy, black and white shirt, started dancing and chanting.

He stands out in a crowd. Put the tea away and, do some more shooting, I figured.

First, get rid of the cigarette. I pinch the hot tip off and, stomp the fire out.

The butt, goes in my pocket and if, I remember it will go in the trash, later.

They have some strict rules in Japan for smoking; don't walk around with lit smokes.

It is said, a smoker carries the fire at the same level as a child's eyes.

Why don't parents just, tell the kids, not to poke their eyes into people's lit cigarettes ?

I try to be a law abiding citizen. Only the wife gets angry, when the butts get in the laundry.

See, I don't burn little kids eyes and, my smokes don't wind up in the ocean.

Once the camera gets downloaded, I notice other things in this scene.

Everybody seems to be enjoying the act on stage or, the guy dancing with his black towel.

Look closely at the crowd. Just the gals in the lower left are doing something different.

Well, I noticed, they had an iPhone and, were doing some research on it.

There's a matsuri going on and, it seems like they are unaware. What could they be doing ?

Maybe, discussing the health benefits of prune juice, rather than stool softeners ?

Animation: Sanshin Player

Eisa Wouldn't Be the Same Without Them

 

 

When you're out chasing Eisa teams with a camera, catch some shots of these folks.

The drummers, dancers and costumes, make some good high contrast images.

Tucked away on the back of tiny pickup trucks is where you find these musicians.

They add lively, stringed instrument music to the activities and, are real friendly people.

Camera:  Pentax K1

Lens:  Pentax 18-250 at 48MM

Exposure:  f/11   1/13   ISO 1600

Location:  Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  AUG 16  2016  9:51PM 


More About Okinawa's Sanshin

Sanshin Day at Kin Temple

Surprised This Morning

 

 

The plan for the day was for three of us to visit a shrine in Yomitan.

That's where the Godfather of Okinawa Sanshin music resides these days.

They hold a big Sanshin shindig in front of the guy's grave, every year on the 4th of March.

That's Sanshin no Hi and, we were supposed to meet up at that event.

One of these lovely ladies has a son-in-law in the USA.

He contacted me and, let me know she'd be performing at Kin Kannon-ji.

That's like a whole two minute walk from my office so, I changed my plans and went there.

The musicians pay their respects with prayer before the entertainment begins.

People from some news crew stick cameras and microphones in the scene.

Sometimes, I wish, they'd make a law, outlawing stuff like that.  Groan

Where this instrument was played for royalty, years ago, things have changed these days.

Lots of, everyday working class people in Okinawa, strum the sanshin.

Some folks, off to the side of the temple, played their instruments in the dirt.

Maybe, that's because there wasn't enough room on the stage.

The real professional players were all dressed up and knelt on the carpeted stage.

They played the sanshin, koto (Japanese harp) and drums.

Traditional Okinawan dance was performed on the red carpeted stage.

It was a quick and easy photography day and, I got back to the office early.

So, I thought it would be nice to find some YouTube music videos.

Here's one for the Okinawa Sanshin:

Listen to the Japanese Harp (Koto) as well:

These Boots Ain't Made for Walking

Never a Dull Moment at a Festival

 

 

At the Kin Dam Matsuri yesterday it seemed like every band liked playing the same tune.

Or, it could be it's a requirement, to obtain a musicians license in Japan.  I don't know.

"Smoke on the Water"  is a catchy tune all right but, hearing it once is enough for me.

After the third time, hearing that tune, I decided to do something different with the camera.

The heck with shooting teeny-bopped bands, I went for boots instead.

It was raining and, everything outside (including me) was soaking wet.

The shot had to be made, when this singer, wasn't bouncing around, too much on the stage.

Camera:  Pentax K3

Lens:  Pentax 18-250 at 230MM

Exposure:  f/6.3   1/30   ISO 200

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  FEB 6  2016  6:03PM

Plenty more shots of the action were taken, 635 of them, to be exact.

Maybe, one of these days, I'll create some GIFs of the event, to post here.

Meanwhile, I'll be resting up and, listening to some other sort of music..

Now I'm wondering if several cold beers might get that  guitar twanging, out of my head.

If you aren't familiar, with that tune, click on the link above.

That way, you can add to over 6 million other people, who listened to the song !

The Ryukyu Castanet Known as Sanba (三板)

This instrument accompanies many Okinawan folk bands.

It is a gadget made by threading three pieces of hardwood on a string.

It took awhile, but, I found a good video of the sanba in action.

For anyone wishing to practice, here's a good video.






The instrument is available in many gift stores throughout the islands.

One of these musical instruments has been taking up space in my office.

Today, I decided to use it as a photographic subject.

Using available light, I shot a few different compositions, with black and white backgrounds.

Still not sure, which, I like best. Maybe, I'll try some Okinawan fabric next time.

The research, led me to something about this instrument, I had never known.

It was introduced to Okinawa by a famous singer.

Now deceased, he was the father of another musician, Kina Shoukichi.

Read more about it at The Power of Okinawa

Kina the younger, had one heck of a good band, back in the good old days.

Recently, he got himself into politics and, got whooped really bad.

Politics and, I don't really agree with each other but, I can play the sanba.

Maybe, I should look that guy, Kina Shoukichi up.

If he'll teach me how to play the sanshin and sing, I'll show him how to play the sanba !

Shadows and Lights in Kin Town Last Night

Live Matsuri Number Three

 

 

Names have been intentionally omitted, just in case.

A long time ago, I learned, arrive on the scene early for an event like this.

At 7:30PM the bars participating, were open and ready for business.

There wouldn't be any customers showing up for awhile.

So, I told these gals, if they stopped wiggling, I'd take their picture.

 By 7:45, I was back on the streets.

The bands were scheduled to start at 8:30 and, I had to keep occupied.

So, I shot some off the wall street scenes.

Two grandsons showed up, while I was in the middle of the street and said "Hi."

I said something like, "Grandpa's busy, SCRAM."  And, they went away.

 Okinawan Mineo (folk music) is my favorite part of any festival.

 It's hard to sit still when you hear somebody, twanging away on a sanshin.

And, if you throw an electric guitar, in the mix, everybody starts dancing !

Here is an Izakaya, I pass on the way back to the office.

It was 11:24PM when I decided to take a few shots of the place.

But, before I got to the front door, the lights went out.

  I left the camera in the office and, had to walk all the way back downtown to get a beer.

Shouldn't have yelled at the grand-kids.  Huh ?

Feeling Blue ? Here's Something You Could Do !

Hit the Road and Get Out of Town

 

 

Okinawa is a pretty small island.  Eventually, all roads lead to the ocean.

March weather can drive a body crazy.

It's officially Spring but, Mother Nature must not have gotten the word, yet.

On one of those cold mornings in March, I hit the beach before the sun did.

And, got to humming this tune.

But, I'm an optimist.  Things ain't really that bad.

We all know, the warm, springtime days are coming our way, soon enough.

So, it's time to start making some travel plans.

It's good to hear to someone else singing the blues in a song.

Before you know it, on a sunny day, a ship will come in.  And, you know who will jump on it.

Try it sometime or at least, take a bus and, get out of town.

One of a Kind Shrine in Okinawa

Something Was Different Here

 

Out of all the kinds of shrines and temples we visit, this was the first one like this.

Two big shisa statues were guarding the stairway leading through the torii.

This photo was taken as a reminder to do some research on this place.

Something told me, it wasn't a Buddhist Temple or, the usual Shinto  Shrine.

Akainko-gu Shrine

This site is believed to be where Akainko ascended into heaven.

According to the Ryukyu Cultural Archives, he is the patron deity of sanshin music.

Read more about the culture and history of the sanshin in:

From Whence We Came: Some Okinawa Cultural Icons 

View a short video

You May Also Like Happy Sanshin Day!

Happy Sanshin Day !

March 4th Is Sanshin No Hi in Okinawa, Japan

 

 

The instrument being played in the photo above is a sanshin.

Some folks would consider it the Okinawan guitar.

It is a three-stringed instrument with a snakeskin covered body.

 Ryukyu Broadcasting Company (RBC) estimates 100,000 people will play the sanshin today.

The twang of the sanshin can be heard in classical music performances.

And, in popular music, as well.

Enjoy this bilingual documentary, Sanshin: Strings of the Okinawan Soul

RELATED POST: March 4th is Sanshin Day in Okinawa Japan

Okinawa Travel Photo Plus a Travelers Tip and a Tune

This photo was taken at Hedo Misaki in northern Okinawa, Japan.

  

The mission, I was on, to capture a beautiful sunrise, didn't happen.  Grrrr.

  

The sun was coming up, over the horizon, covered with dark clouds.

Anywhere, in the world you go, sunrises and sunsets can be disappointing, at times.

Here's the tip:  Don't let that get you down.  Look the other way.

Find a scene with some colors and contrast and, shoot that.

  

Just in case it starts raining or, something like that, I found a tune you can listen to.

It doesn't have anything to do with cameras or, sunrise but, I bet you'll enjoy it.

.



March 4th is Sanshin Day in Okinawa Japan

One of the Best Days of the Year

 

It almost slipped my mind but, when I turned on the radio, I knew, immediately.

Today is Sanshin No Hi and I'll be listening to the music until well after dark. 

Here's a photo of a sanshin it a dimly-lit bar.

It was taken one night when I was dimly-lit and decided to use the camera flash.

But, it shows you the three strings and snakeskin of an Okinawan sanshin or, samisen.

Thanks to a guy from Australia, Wolfsleepwalker, I have this treat for you.

Playing the song Sanshin no Hana (三線の花) is Eisho Higa, along with the band Begin.

There isn't a better video of anything on YouTube, if you ask me.

So, before I practiced stealing screenshots of this, I asked for permission.

And I got a reply.

"Hi Mike,  Take as many as you want.  
My best regards,
Wolf."





Now, my plan is to take the rest of the day off so I can enjoy Sanshin no Hi.

All you have to do to celebrate Sanshin Day, wherever you are, is go listen to this band.

If you're anything like me, you can't resist giving them a Thumbs-Up.  Enjoy !


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Related Posts:

Today is Sanshin Day in Okinawa and the Islands are Rocking !

Okinawa Sanshin Day: A Photo Essay