Honoring Their Grandparents in Okinawa Japan

Motion GIFs from a Preschool Event

 

 

The sky was blue, Saturday morning for my stroll with the dogs.

It started pouring down rain before 8AM. It was typhoon-like weather. Groan.

For sure, I thought the wife would cancel, going to this school assembly.

Having promised, I would be there with a camera, I figured, I'd be going alone.

But, a smart little grandson, called grandma, to tell her, not to miss this event.

These little kids put on a show, you wouldn't believe possible.

They danced and sang and beat drums just like they were professionals.

Once they got offstage, the dancing continued in their classrooms.

Now, I'm not sure if this batch of kids are juniors or, seniors.

Some of them will start kindergarden, next year, I'm told.

The kids played games and, danced with the grandparents.

Brought them gifts, drinks and food and, lots of hugs.

The teachers were involved in the whole event, keeping things organized and its a good thing.

All that love going around can fog-up a cameraman's eyes !

Activities at a Preschool Happyokai (発表会) in Ginoza Okinawa

Watch the Action from Your Air-conditioned Room

 

 

Thinking it would be a Tanabata Festival sort of event, held indoors, I carried a flash.

In a school auditorium, packed with kids and parents, I'd have to shoot fast.

The first surprise was, we would be outdoors on a hot and steamy summer night.

It was shortly before 7PM when I took this photo.

Happy to be outside, I left the external flash and spare batteries in my pocket.

Natural lighting, suits me best and, being in the open, I could move around a lot easier.

Parents, who know me, were asking me to take plenty of photos.

Normally, I would do that, anyway. I try to get pictures of everybody's kids.

It's hard enough for me to identify my own family members at events like this.

The kids , were Eisa dancing with frogs on their heads.

And, it looks like they are beating laundry detergent bottles.

 The only way, to make sure, you get a photo of your friend's kid, is shoot everybody.

Then, load a bunch of photos up and let Auto Awesome, put them together.

That way, parents can look at the motion GIFs and try to find their kids.

These children, must be older. They have real drums.

It's important, to make sure, all the boys and girls get their picture taken.

So, I try and make sure, no one is left out.

That teacher, in the red kimono, really knew how to get those children dancing.

There's a model release, in my camera bag, she could sign.

It's too bad, Mrs. RyukyuMike and I, didn't stay longer.

We left the Village of Ginoza and headed back to Kin Town.

A daughter, called, while we were soaking up the air-conditioning and some suds in a bar.

And, she said, after all the children went home, the parents and teachers continued.

They continued the celebrating Tanabata, while the children were sleeping.

Groan

If we had stayed, I might have had a few beers with them.

And, if I got the courage, I'd have asked that gal to teach me how to do that dance !