Wordless Wednesday: Over at the Body Shop

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Okinawa's Never Ending Festival Season (Photos)

                IT'S A RYUKYU ISLAND THING

September 25, 2011 SHISHIMAI FESTIVAL

UNDOKAI OR SPORTS DAY: ANYTIME SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER

GUINNESS WORLD RECORD NAHA TUG-O-WAR  OCTOBER 8-10, 2011

A HATAGASHIRA (Pole Dancing) FESTIVAL  OCTOBER 15-16, 2011

THE 5TH WORLDWIDE UCHINANCHU FESTIVAL OCTOBER 12-16, 2011

SHURI-JO CASTLE FESTIVAL OCTOBER 28-30, 2011

There is no way I could possibly list them all on this blog because Okinawa, Japan has a NEVER ENDING FESTIVAL SEASON.  Check the links for dates and times and double check before packing up to attend any of these events because the weather may throw some changes into the plans.

                          IT'S A RYUKYU ISLAND THING AND I LOVE IT !

IF YOU ENJOY FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHY VISIT FESTIVALS OF OKINAWA

Photo of the Week: The Dragons of Ginoza

It's an action-packed week for Ryukyu Mike and the photos waiting for development may just have to wait a while longer as the pile grows.  Here is a photo taken Monday night at the Ginoza tug-o-war.

This shot was taken by zooming in on the village banner flapping in the breeze attached to about a 30-foot bamboo pole.  Hearty, young, strong men hoist the pole and dance around with it prior to the start of the tug. MORE ABOUT POLE DANCING AT OKINAWAN TUG-O-WARS HERE. 

In addition to my normal dereliction of duties, there are some big events I'm getting ready for this weekend.  One is a 1st birthday party for about 3 grandkids.  We do stuff differently, in Okinawa, Japan than in the rest of the world.  So, I have to make sure I document this event in photos for all to see.  I may even have to bring along some assistant cameramen or, (groan) let the wife use the Canon G12, again.

Then, in the wee hours of Sunday morning, I'll be headed up to the village of Ada for the Shinugu Matsuri.  This is special because the hike up the mountain only happens every other year.  A breaking rumor just came in.  It may really be special, this year, because it's (maybe) the 35th anniversary of the event being declared an official intangible cultural asset.  REF: An undisclosed source.

At any rate, getting wired up to go online may be spotty this weekend.  I'll attempt to stay in touch.  I'm even going to pack a 50-foot extension cord along with a laptop and battery chargers so, I can up and download humongous photo files while attempting to get online from the village of Ada in Okinawa, Japan.

If things don't work out and we lose contact for a few days blame it on my undisclosed source.

That's what I'll do.  Hah!

Meanwhile, you can get an idea of what I'm up to by visiting THE SHINUGU MATSURI HERE