12 Images from 2019 Shinugu (シヌグ) in Ada Okinawa

Different Sort of Matsuri

Activities take place at several locations, during this festival, starting and ending here.

The straw-roofed structure is known as an asagi or Kami-Asagi.

Consider it a worship house, a place where a priestess prays to the sacred deities.

Arriving at the village of Ada a bit late, I missed the prayers at this location and moved on.

Being a bit late gave me an excuse to skip climbing the mountains in the blistering hot sun.

The men (decorated with vegetation) came down from the hills on a trail bordering the river.

Following the drummer, they are chanting "Hey, Ho, Hoi" or something like that.

Three groups of men following drummers, converge on this field bordered with banana plants.

Women are waiting in the open space, where the men circle around them.

The guys used tree branches to shoo away evil spirits up in the hills above the village.

Down on the outskirts of town, they use the sticks to swat evil spirits out of their women!

It's not some sort of domestic violence. Just ritual smacks of the sticks on the gal's heads.

Look close enough and you can see them smiling or laughing.

At some of the homes in the village, I noticed mothers holding their children up to be swatted.

A sacred grove, in the center of the village, is visited by the chanting, drumming men.

Only about five minutes is spent here circling the area before, shooing away evil spirits.

Facing the sea, men kneel and pray for a good catch and safety during the season.

Rituals and prayers have been conducted in the fields, on the mountains, and along the shore.

After marching under the hot sun, it's time to get rid of the itchy decorations of the jungle.

A quick dip in the ocean cools our heroes off before they head back into town.

Many of them will jump in the river, to rinse off the saltwater before heading home.

About a three-hour break in the schedule takes place before the next events.

Evening Activities

A field in front of the Kami-Asagi becomes center stage for the rest of the festival.

To the sound of Sanshin (3 stringed banjoes) a ritual dance is performed.

Women give the orders here, instructing men on the planting of rice.

Let's just call this a pole dance, the men are doing. Women are watching the men smiling, too.

When they poke that thing into the straw roof, I guess that could be considered the climax.

As the sun begins dipping below the mountains, women perform dances in their kimonos.

Ahum, eligible females would be wearing white uniforms. Other gals are leading the dance.

Before long, it becomes dark outside and the dances become more quickly paced.

Visitors along the sidelines are sitting on mats eating and drinking alcoholic spirits.

Time for me, to put the cameras away and do some socializing before, heading home.

Related Post:  The Mountains and Ocean Are Calling Me

Wednesday Travel Tale -- It's True

Cameras Take a Back Seat

The car got loaded up with camera bags, lenses and a tripod this morning and, north we went.

Research on future photo projects always has to be done in advance, to insure success.

Every imaginable type of lens would be handy if, a worthy photographic subject appeared.

Birds, rainbows, twisters, beach bunnies, whatever could show up and, we'd get them captured.

But, the priority today would be, gathering information for future assignments.

Both Doc Graff and I know, sometimes you go south on this island, to get to a northern point.

Part of my research today concerns the southern islands so, we headed north.

If, that confuses you then, you haven't been on the islands long enough. Stick around.

Yanbaru Wildlife Center

A trip I'm planning, will take me to the southern island of Iriomote, sometime next month.

There happens to be a critically endangered wildcat down there and, I want to catch one.

Not, to put in a cage, it's something I'd like to photograph in the wild if, possible.

We could have headed south and found information at a travel office in the city of Naha.

But, I'm not wild about cities and, travel folks down there probably, aren't wild about wildlife.

Up in Kunigami, the Wildlife Conservation Center has unbelievable resources.

The brochures above are a sample of materials, gathered today. All are in English.

We stood there for about 15 minutes, sucking down air-conditioning and gathering freebies.

Finally, a middle aged gal, interrupted smiling and said, "Santasan, Please sign-in."

It's a little tricky if, you don't read or speak Japanese but, we know enough to get by.

Before long, the woman was convinced, we don't speak much Japanese.

Try a bit of Okinawan (Uchinaguchi) and, the young lady started cackling. New friends !

Next thing you know, she gave me a photocopied page of contacts for Iriomote Wildlife Center.

The day would have been complete, having gotten this far.  We could have called it quits.

Another bit I've learned on these islands. Keep on having a good day, whenever one shows up.

Talk to Locals

A drive to the village of Oku was next on the agenda, to gather some information.

The only gas station, in town, a small mom and pop store and, a cold drink were in order.

There's a festival that takes place in the near future, we needed to confirm dates for this year.

This event, isn't something the average tourist would probably, want to attend.

It's not widely advertised and, being the heathen I am, they welcome me.

The gal, in the country store, knew this matsuri would happen during September.

But, wasn't sure of the dates the event would take place, this year.

Inside a building, across the highway, I remembered this photo, was hanging on a museum wall.

It's sort of a wet and wild, traditional festival, which only happens, every other year.

The photo above, was snapped with the iPhone camera and, we waited a few minutes.

Along came a young lady, who works in the office by the museum and, I asked about the event.

She had to make a phone call, to get the specific dates for the matsuri.

The action depicted above (Bin-kui-kui) will take place September 10 2017.

We thanked the girl for her assistance, bowing deeply and headed back down south.

It wasn't until I arrived in Kin Town that a real camera was used to shoot brochures !

See: Shinugu Festival in the Village of Oku for more.

5 Animations (GIF) of Okinawan Dance

Centuries Old Tradition

The mayor of Gushiken and, newspapers say the Shinugu Matsuri is over 300 years old.

It's a festival held annually to pray for a good harvest and, catch of fish.

Only women, do the dancing. They thank god for a successful year gone by, as well.

There is drum beating and singing going on during these rituals.

Not more than about a hundred people were in attendance, including the dancers.

That made it a bit easier, to move around with the camera.

Elders and married women are on the outside of this circle.

Single gals wear the headgear, tied in the back,  White ribbon, streams down their backs.

The songs, they sing are in Okinawan dialect and, I couldn't hear them.

They might be saying something like, "Don't fool around with lazy, poor men."

"We'll use our hands to protect you and drive them away."

Or, could that just be, my imagination ?

A few years ago, I attended this event and, they gave me a pamphlet about it.

If, I recall correctly, it had the words to the songs and, sketches of the hand movements.

It's among a thousand, other things that, never get translated, around here.

One of these days, I'll get organized and find the paperwork so, someone can help me.

It was an incredibly hot and humid August day, up on that hill.

Under my breath, I was cussing the sun.  I don't believe in cussing around women.

But, imagine how hot they were, dancing in those dark robes.

The sun went down.  I'm out of here!

3 Types of Women Are Doing this Dance

  Leading Is a Goddess

 

 

She wears the white robe of a Noro and, is considered the equivalent of a god.

In local dialect, she would be called a Norokumui.

 

The event, known as Shinugu or Shinugu, takes place in the hills of Motobu, Okinawa.

Women following the Noro, chant songs and dance along with her.

Several different dances take place and, each has special hand movements.

Look closely at the heads of women wearing dark robes.

They all have white bands tied around heir hair and knotted.

Elders, who may be someone's grandmother or mother, tie the knots in the front.

Younger, single women, have the ribbon tied behind their head.

Learn More About Shinigu at Japan Update

You May Also Like: The Ladies of Gushiken Shinigu 2012

End of the Weekend Animation

Great Cloud Cover Came By

 

 

This might not be the GIF of the week but, it will be hard to beat.

Yesterday, in the northern hills, the sun was glaring down and it was blazing hot.

That makes for some mighty difficult photography.

When the sun got blocked for a few seconds, I fired away and, captured this scene.

Most of the dances and songs at this event are solemn and seem religious.

This number was lively and different from the rest.

The occasion, called a Shiungu or Shinigu  is an annual event held throughout the Ryukyus.

One of these days, I'll have to catch up with those dancing women, to ask a question.

Was that, some sort of funny tune, they were dancing to?

Were they smiling, because the cloud cover made them happy?

Or, did they see me, dancing in matching yellow flip-flops, singing "Ei, ei, oh?"

Photo From Motobu Okinawa: Ie-Jima at Sunset

Heading back up there today, I decided to post this sunset from last night.

The bags are packed, cameras fully charged and it's time to go to work.

Right now, I have no idea if I'll make it home to download cameras tonight.

It all depends on them lively gals who will be doing the Shinugu dancing.

When the camera-shooting is all done, I may have to tip a few drinks with them.

If that's the case,  it would be a good idea to not-get-behind-the wheel-of-the-car.

When I'm done camping, maybe, I'll catch a sunrise in Motubu for you !

Flower Photo: Sunflower on Stage and Farewell Typhoon Muifa !

That Typhoon Muifa is departing Okinawa, Japan finally.  We're now in what the radio calls, recovery. Emergency crews are out assessing damage, removing fallen trees and getting those without electricity back on line.  It's still fairly windy and cloudy outside.  I have to get out.

Here's a photo of a sunflower on the stage up in the village of Ada where I caught that energetic gal picking things to decorate for the SHINUGU MATSURI. 

I want to go chase some sun but, doubt I'll see any today.

Maybe, I'll catch a few shots of the farewell to Typhoon Muifa for you. 

Have a great weekend, wherever you are!

The Mountains and Ocean Are Calling Me (Photos)

This weekend an event that happens only once every two years takes place in Ada, a coastal village in the northeast area of Okinawa, Japan.  It's called the Shinugu Matsuri (Festival) but, there won't be any of the trappings you'd see at most festivals.  Here are a few photos from the event in August of 2009.

The mountains, ocean, and river play a role in this event and I will capture all I can from whichever angles the light suits me best.  I'll be putting the Panasonic, Pentax, and Canon through their paces.

          There will be some high contrast photography in daylight and during the hours of darkness. 

        There will be gals, both young and old, dancing around fires for me to capture on digital film.

After a long, hard day humping all my camera gear up mountain trails and down to the ocean, I might just hand one of my cameras to someone else.  Then, have a sip of the local spirits and jump in on the last dance so, someone can snap a photo of watashi!  Reckon that'd be alright?

Prayer in Okinawa (Travel Photo Thursday)

The Photo above was taken at an exotic event called the Shinugu Matsuri, a religious ceremony conducted only once every two years in the northern mountains of Okinawa, Japan. Only men are allowed to witness the rituals conducted in the mountains. The women do their things later.





More about these men praying in the mountains may be seen in my Article THE SHINUGU MATSURI IN OKINAWA.