3 More Animated GIF's -- 2016 Uchinanchu Matsuri

Festivities End Tomorrow

This parade took place OCT 26th, the day before opening ceremonies.

Friends and families from 18 countries, appeared on Okinawa for the 3 day festival.

Closing events begin at 5 PM and last until 9 PM OCT 30, 2016.

Have a peek at some of the smiling faces and brilliant colors, marching down the street.

Alaska Kenjinkai

Argentine Kenjinkai

Hawaiian Ukulele and Hula Dancers

The camera batteries, are all charged up and, ready to go, I'm gonna miss this crowd.

It seems like, I haven't been doing anything lately but, developing images.

One of those gals from Alaska, brought me some gifts and, I didn't get a chance to thank her.

If no blog post gets done tomorrow, that means, I'm out of town.

Really a Small World -- Part II of 2016 Uchinanchu Parade

Grandpa What Are You Doing ?

Well, I was as surprised, to see her as, she was to see me.

Number one granddaughter knows, I don't drive but, there I was in Naha.

Way up above the crowds, where someone my age probably, shouldn't be.

She's nineteen years old and, going to some beauty school in the big city.

She shows up and, I can't get down, to hug her, like I normally do.

Grandpa's working, can't see she the two big cameras, hanging off my neck ?

Kids grow up too fast. I remember, when I used to have to, wipe her butt.

Now, she laughs at me because, I don't know how to swipe those new cellular phones.

Back to the Parade

Tonight, I developed some images, to show the different countries involved in this event.

Again, they are in the marching order, they came down the street.  Not, alphabetical.

Guam

Canada

Argentina

Peru

Bolivia

Many more countries, banners, flags and groups of citizens were here.

So far, camera number one, has been screened and photos developed.

Whether there will be a Part III and IV depends on availability of time for processing.

Meanwhile, dozens of images may be seen in the Facebook album.

15 Photos of 2016 Uchinanchu Festival Parade

Part I

There's no telling, how many Parts there will be, to this series.

My cameras, download folders containing 500 images apiece. One folder was developed today.

Not in alphabetical order, cities, states or, countries will be shown, as they came down the street.

Hawaii

Sacramento California

Oregon

Utah

Montana

Alaska

San Antonio Texas

Chicago

New Mexico

Tucson Arizona

New York

Washington DC

Pensacola Florida

Alabama

Michigan

Standby for more in the upcoming days here and on Facebook.

Okinawan people, live in cities and countries, around the globe.

And, some return, once every 5 years, to participate in the Uchinanchu Matsuri.

Wordless Wednesday: Uchinanchu - Brazilians

Kokusai Street Naha

Brazilian Descendants of Okinawa

Boating Photo: Sabani Boats of Itoman

A Chinese New Year Tradition

 

 

Today the sailing sabani boats of Itoman, Okinawa were in a parade.

A procession, to Hakugindo Shrine was made by the sabani boat teams.

Prayers and offerings insure a safe and productive New Year.

Afterwards, the boats, decorated with colorful banners and flags, sailed around Itoman Port.

Camera:  Pentax K3

Lens:  Pentax 18-250 and 1.4 converter -- Focal Length 252MM

Exposure:  f/11   1/400   ISO 100

Date and Time:  FEB 11  2016  9:49AM

Related Post:  2014 Itoman Okinawa Sabani Boat Parade

Guest Photo and Words from a Long Time Friend

Hilarious Email Arrived

 

 

Just before quitting time last night, my email went "PING."

It was from Myron Akana, a dude from Hawaii, who spends lots of weeks in Okinawa.

Subject: This One's for You !

Right away, I emailed him back, asking for permission, to use this photo and his text.

He replied, almost instantly and, saved me a buncha writing tonight.

Text of the Email

 

 

Haisai Mike!

I shot a photo yesterday that reminded me so much of you.  Rob "Okinawa Soba" Oeschle told me he learned a lot from you.  And I did too.  You taught me that good professional photographers shop for their equipment at...Home Depot.

Cheers!

Myron

Caption for the Photo

 

Ahhh, one of my sisters in the craft of photography! You can always tell the pros by (1) their multiple expensive and sophisticated cameras, (2) their multiple, sophisticated and BIG lenses, (3) their fancy flash attachments, even in bright sunlight, (4) their casual yet functional attire, complete with floppy hat and folding brim, (5) their huge gadget bags full of essential gear, and (6) their reckless courage to take whatever chances are necessary to get the perfect shot, such as standing on the top of a flimsy aluminum ladder...without any other signs of support. She makes me proud to be a professional photographer! LOL. Photographers...we stand out above the crowd!

Closing Comments

  

 The ladder would be more comfortable, is she wore flip-flops.

The story of how Myron and, I met in person is here. 

Flicker has more of Myron's and Okinawa Soba's photography.


Related Post:

Photographer's Interview and an Excerpt on How I Nailed the Queen

 

Many Times I Take a Photo of a Photo

Or Make an Image of a Sign

 

 

There's a method to this madness and, it usually involves research.

Today, I'll show you just this one black and white, framed picture found in a museum.

Of course, before snapping the shutter, permission was granted.

 What you are looking at is a ritual conducted in the far north of Okinawa island.

This month, hopefully, a few of us foreigners, will be attending the event.

This photo helps me get the conversations going, trying to learn the details of what takes place.

Documenting stuff like this, at least five questions have to be asked.

That would be the Who, What, Where, When and Why, all writers have to know about.

The first four, I pretty much have the answers, figured out.

It's a bunch of guys wearing traditional clothing, carrying a wooden tub.

And, it happens on a certain month of the lunar calendar.

Why, is the part, I haven't got the answers to, yet.

Do you suppose, they might have another bunch of folks, coming with another wooden tub ?

Like, a crowd of women, carrying a gal, to meet the guy in this wooden tub ?

What would a guy have to do, to get to ride in the tub from this part of town ?

Anyway, the research goes on.

Okinawan Spiritual Women in Procession

Rituals Before a Parade

 

 

The scene above occurred at the start of juri-uma in the Tsuji district of Naha, Okinawa.

Leading visits to each sacred site are these two special women.

Just being allowed to attend and, photograph these events, is enough to satisfy me.

But, some people want to know more of the mystery behind the scenes.

For those, who like to dig deeper into the rituals and culture, I find some links:

Juri-uma parade performed in Tsuji 

Hearing Voices: Female Transmission of Memories..... 

Visualizing Priestesses or Performing Prostitutes ?

The Yuta, The Noro And The "Okinawan Witch Trials"  

Enter the Yuta (Okinawa: Reports from Japan and America) 

 

There You Have It  

 

 

 

 

There's probably enough information up there to write your own dissertation.

All this research and reading is fine for most folks.

But, I prefer what, I call flip-flops on the ground-type research.

So, I plan on making a few more trips back to Tsuji, where I can talk to real people.

Wouldn't it be nice to know if the place is full of holy ladies or, hookers ?


Related Post: Brilliant Colors and Dancing with Horses

Prayer Before a Festive Occasion in the Ryukyu Islands

At the Juri Uma Parade

 

 

Prior to the dances on stage and in the streets a few rituals take place.

The women in white robes are priestesses.

Running ahead with a camera, to get in position, I may have missed some events.

This scene shows those approaching a site for prayer and offerings.

It was the 5th or 6th spot visited along the way.

There were brief visits made to a priestess' home, a  well and other sacred sites.

One of the reasons, I visit days or, weeks before an event is to be recognized by the locals.

It makes, everyone feel more comfortable and, I am not a stranger to them.

Much of Okinawa's recorded history was destroyed in the past.

And, it makes researching some events extremely difficult.

For those interested in Okinawan religion here's a link, in English.

Over 100 pages are included in this PDF about the Tsuji fire in the last Century.

Tsuji, is the district in Naha, where this annual event takes place.

More About the Juri Uma Parade

Brilliant Colors and Dancing with Horses

Motion GIFs from Juri-uma Parade

 

 

This event takes place in Naha, Okinawa January 20th by the Lunar Calendar.

That happened to be today so, we went to the big city with cameras.

There were all sorts of costumes and dances but, these were my favorites.

A few hundred more images will be looked at some other day.

Tsuji was an entertainment district in Naha years ago.

And, the gals  (courtesans) working there,  were the Juri.

Supposedly, this parade was held annually so families could get to see their daughters.

Learn more about the event by checking a previous entry:

Have You Ever Heard of the Parade of the Prostitutes ? 

Have You Ever Heard of the Parade of the Prostitutes ?

'Scuse My French But I Ain't Making This Up

 

Not to worry, ladies.  No women were harmed in this celebration.

The photos were taken, yesterday in Naha, Okinawa, Japan at a reenactment of ancient history.

Credit must be given to Okinawa2Go! Project on Facebook for some of my text, today.

They reminded me that the Juri-uma Parade was February 19th this year.

That would be, the 20th of January, by the Chinese calendar.

The event took place in the Tsuji district of Naha City.

Allegedly, this was an area of brothels, back in the old days.

There were no real live hookers on the streets while I was there. I kept checking for you.

As the story goes, girls who were sold to be courtesans, were called "Juri."

Uma, means horse.  So, I guess you could call it the Hookers Horse Parade.

Back in the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom these girls only got to see their family once a year.

That was during the Juri-uma Parade.

So, it was a pretty important celebration.

How any person could sell their daughter, beats the devil out of me.

But, if I was a girl, I would worry about it.

Didn't somebody, once say, "History repeats itself"  ?

Read more about this event at the Ryukyu Shimpo

And, here's an old video of the festivities, from way back when:

15 Photos: 2014 Itoman Okinawa Sabani Boat Parade

An invitation was extended to go with the Umi Maru for this event.

When a rainbow appeared above the boat, I knew that was a sign it would be a great day.

 The weather was kind of iffy so, I figured I'd shoot some flags while still ashore.

 Each boat had displayed banners, bamboo and pine, hoping for a good year of fishing.

This is me shooting photos from aboard the Umi Maru.

They outfitted me with a life jacket and told me where to sit for the ride.

I'd show you a photo of the boat tilting the other way but, don't want to make anybody seasick.

 The crew on the Umi Maru consisted of two guys and two girls with paddles.

Those sabani boats are heavy but, move incredibly fast.

 Trying to get photos of every boat, in good light, was a real challenge.

When I got a chance, I snitched one of the gal's paddles.

The camera on a tripod was held between my knees so I could paddle away.

It doesn't take much effort to get these boats moving.

A husband and wife could do it, if they got together.

When we got to the other end of the port, I walked funny, for awhile.

Sort of a drunken sailor walk, because the earth don't move like the ocean.

Everybody paraded up to a shrine for Lunar New Years, prayer and offerings.

They are Uminchu, "people of the sea" and, they come to this shrine to worship.

Offerings are tossed into the cave at Hakugindo Shrine for a good reason.

It assures future success for fisherman and all the uminchu.

So, I tossed some coins in there and prayed for them, too.

The Commisioner of the Itoman Sailing Club had everyone gather for a group photo.

It started to rain, again as the boats were preparing to return to the starting point.

So, I turned-in my life jacket because, I'm really not that kind of sailor.

I'll work on it. OK ?