Photo of the Day: Seaside Rituals

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 15-30 at 28MM

Exposure:  f/3.5   1/4000   ISO 400

Location:  Yaka Beach, Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  May 10 2017  9:58AM


Here's more of what took place at Yaka, Kin Town today:







RELATED POST: 

 

Abushibare (畦払) Snails Got Sent Out to Sea Today

2016 Abushibare (畦払い) A Favorite Photo

Everyone Praying

 

 

This photo was taken at 10:16AM on the beach at Yaka, Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan.

It's a favorite, out of 150 images taken today because, I was fortunate enough, to get that close. 

There were plenty of other photographers and note takers at this cultural event.

Sometimes, the crowd of reporters and photographers, outnumbers the worshipers at an event.

That was probably, true today but, everyone acted professionally and, I'm glad they did.

Each of us, took turns, allowing others, to get in close, to do their work.

It's been a long day and, I'm still waiting, to find out if the full moon will appear tonight. 

Many other images, will have to be processed, at a later date.

Some more candid shots (unprocessed) may be seen, in a Facebook album. 

Learn more about Abushibare:

 Abushibare (畦払い) Snails Got Sent Out to Sea Today

Things to Do on a Rainy Day in Okinawa

Snails and Selfies

Mother Nature tries to keep me cooped up indoors sometimes and, today was one of those days.

It isn't like there's not enough stuff that needs to be done around the office.

People like me, need to get outside for fresh air and cigarettes, once in awhile.

This snail, was so small, ten of them could fit on my thumbnail and, still have plenty of room.

So, I used a 300MM lens to take about 75 shots and create this animation.

There are only 5 or 6 images, I used to make the GIF and, the rest got thrown away.

Playing around with the new Pentax K1 and 15-30MM lens, I did some selfies.

People can probably tell, I'm not really into studio photography or, trimming beards, either.

Plenty of my self portraits, got thrown away today, too but, I saved a few.

Maybe, I'll post some more over on Facebook, just for laughs.

If anyone ever asks me, where to get studio photography done, I'll send them to Chris Wilson.

Meanwhile, I'll be hoping rainy season on Okinawa goes by quickly so, I can get outdoors again.

Abushibare (畦払い) Snails Got Sent Out to Sea Today

Ritual Performed in the Yaka District of Kin Town

 

 

Attending cultural events like this, with the camera is always a pleasure.

Weeks or, months in advance, we start the research and make liaison with key people.

Many times, someone will wonder, "What's the bearded foreigner, doing here"?

Sometimes, they wonder out loud.

Once they learn, I'm there to document Okinawan culture, I'm accepted.

And, I generally return with some photos to give the villagers.

Today, I'll just share this animated GIF; it was the highlight of the day, for me.

This Just In

 

 

 

 

 

The Auto Awesome put a second GIF together for our entertainment.

So, here it is.  I hope you enjoy it s much as I do.

The young man, who launched the boat, I didn't get his name.

He has a printed photo, of his choice, coming, when we meet again !

Learn more about Abushibare.

Cultural Event: Abushibare (畦払い) Getting Fields Rid of Vermin

Send the Varmints Out to Sea

 

 

It was a few years in the making but, I finally attended an Abushibare, today.

The animated GIF above was the grand finale, you could say.

The toy boats are loaded with some snails that eat local crops.

Bon Voyage, little suckers !

Rituals started at this red shrine called a Kamiya or House of Spirits.

It is a special building located near the Igei community center.

Years ago, a woman priestess (Noro) led the prayers at all community events.

And, the house of the Noro is right next door to this building.

There is no longer a Noro in the village so, staff from the district office do the praying.

The District Chief, you could call him, leads in making offerings and prayers.

There are other people in this room praying but, I stayed outside the front door.

Having permission to photograph is one thing, being disruptive is another.

This is the kind of place, I don't want to be an annoyance at.

The white building is the house of the Noro.

Inside, at another altar similar prayers and offerings take place, led by a district official.

Once ceremonies at the shrine and Noro's house are complete, everyone goes to the ocean.

Look closely and, you can see men carrying small boats.

The tray contains a plate of uncooked rice.

There is an incense stick burning and a cup of awamori (sake) next to the rice.

The toy boats are loaded with Tanishi (mud snails) that eat our rice plants.

The senior village official leads prayers one last time.

And, everybody in attendance wishes for a good harvest of crops.

Things moved along fairly quickly here.

Whether he drank the alcohol or, gave some to the snails, I don't know.

They grabbed the boats and sent them off to see the world.

Revival of an Old Ritual

 

 

 

 

Abushibare hadn't been performed in Kin for many years, maybe centuries.

The custom was revived in 2011 due to destruction of crops by the pesky snails.

Abushi, translates as, the ridges of rice paddies.

The clearing and cutting of weeds, on these ridges was believed to ward off pests and plagues.

In Igei district of Kin, the pests were snails so, they were sent out to sea.

Other villages have mice problems. They get sent away on boats, too.

For arranging my visit to this event and, help with translation, I owe special thanks to:

 Kin Town Office, Koji Tamamoto

Kin Town Board of Education: Yoko Nakama 

Visit YouTube to view a video of this event:

Discoveries and a New Year Resolution

Here are Photos of Today's Discoveries

Sakura or, cherry blossoms, almost in my backyard.

Don't ask me why I've never seen them before.  Maybe, it has something to do with not looking.

Two doors away from my back door, there's a cherry tree, as big as a house.

Poinsettias,  I knew they were there all along.

 It's just the first time I realized, I could use the neighbor's tile roof as a backdrop.

Normally I Don't Go Running Around Making Resolutions

 

 

But, with the Chinese New Year, just around the corner, I think I'll give it a try.

Remember that snail, I suspected, might kill the banana leaf and, what I did with it ?

From now on, I resolve to not throw snails over the fence, anymore.

Well, I mean, that particular fence.  There's a fence, in another direction that might be OK.

Remember the night of the last full moon ?

Dude who was burning garbage in his yard, maybe he'd give some snails asylum !

Groan: That Snail Could Have Helped Me Become a Millionaire !

Another One for the Doozies

 

 

 

Doing an unsolicited photo documentary about a banana leaf is what started this.

Every day, I take photos of the banana tree behind my office.



You never know when someone might want things like this for a scientific study.

 

Only one leaf is growing back, since that typhoon demolished the tree.

And, I spotted this snail probably, trying to kill it.

The little murderer didn't want to face my camera.

It must have been half an hour, I chased it around in the rain.

That's the best shot my shivering, wet bones could catch for you.

The truth is, I really don't like those slimy critters.

Not wanting to kill the thing, I chucked over the fence, into a neighbor's yard.

"Bon Voyage" was what I said and got the heck out of the rain.

Now, I'm hoping the little critter had a safe landing.

Only because I just learned something about snails, today.


The University of Iowa is getting a million dollars for a project.

What for ?


To Study the Sex Habits of Mud Snails


Now, I want my snail back. A government grant would be nice, too.


More in The Doozies