Girls Dancing with Kama (かま) -- Weapons or Tools ?

An Impressive Dance

 

 

Sunday night, I knew there would be plenty more Eisa dancing, to shoot.

At the start of this festival there was all sorts of modern dance.

Students of the art, were doing some sort of hip hop, pop kinds of things.

Not wild about rap and hip hop, I took photos anyway, just to be polite, I guess.

This Act was Different 

 

It's hard work, peeking through a camera viewfinder.

After shooting a few dozen frames, put the camera down and, enjoyed this.

An old classic Okinawan song and dance, were modernized here and, I liked it.

Their instructor was nearby, watching all the dances and, coaching the youngsters.

There wasn't time, for me to go over and talk to him. I have a few questions.

What's the name of the dance school and where is it located?

How can I get some of my grandchildren signed-up, to go there?

And, "Do you teach those kids, to use those implements as tools or, weapons?"

The Japanese Bicchu Hoe (備中鍬 ) or Call It a Potato Hook

A Hand Tool That's Been Around Awhile

 

 

Today was one of those days, outdoors didn't seem like the place to be.

Someone shared an image from down south and a Twister Alert.

So, I stayed close to the office and, only walked a short distance to buy lunch. 

About halfway there, I realized I forgot something this morning.

Somebody didn't remember to take along 25 important items and left them soaking in a cup.

My teeth ! 

Well, I had a healthy lunch, mostly of soft foods that are easy to gulp down.

Then, I go bored and had to find something, outside, to photograph or, go crazy.

 Butterflies, worms, lizards and, even people must have all gotten the weather warnings.

It's nice to be able to ask someone what this tool is called in the local dialect.

My handy-dandy English to Japanese Pictionary would have to do it for me.

In a few minutes, I had a picture to get close to a Japanese definition. 

This book, told me, the implement is a potato hook.

Next some translating and Japanese typing tools were used for positive identification.

Copying and pasting the characters in Google Japan was the next step.

Several sites were checked and Do It Youself (DIY) ones were the most helpful.

The give you the best images of the tools and, prices, as well.

Heck, you can buy one of these, brand new for under 20 US Dollars or,  1,583円.

There's even a YouTube video showing how the farmers use them,

Just about anywhere, I go on this island, I see someone using these tools. 

And, some of these folks are in their eighties and nineties.

Order yourself a Bicchu Hoe and, give it a try, before it's too late !

NOTE: This tool is also known as Kuwa -- another name in Japan for hoe.