Today Looks Like a Nice Day to Party at a Graveyard !

Okinawa's Ritual Honoring Ancestors

 

 

It's called Ushiimii in the local dialect.

According to my Okinawan dictionary, the observance is conducted by the lunar calendar.

The family visits the ancestral tomb for an annual gathering.

It takes place on any day between the 22d of the second month and the 3d of the third lunar month.

My family selected today and I'm glad.

It's a nice warm Spring day with brilliant blue skies.

It's a good time for me to relax and enjoy the company of family members, I haven't seen in awhile.

So, I decided to post an article, we did about this subject a few years ago.

This was originally published at Pocket Cultures.

And, the cameraman was RyukyuRusty.

Ancestor Worship in Okinawa, Japan

 

A gathering at the family tomb for Shimi

 

During the month of April, each year, a Sunday gathering takes place at the family tomb (Ohaka).

 The occasion, known as Shimi, resembles a family reunion and picnic combined. Throughout the month, every Sunday, the roads may appear to have more traffic and many vehicles will be seen parked alongside the roads close to family tombs.

Vegetation surrounding the Ohaka is trimmed and the grounds are cleaned up by men, usually the week prior. The family agrees on a date whereby maximum attendance is achieved. Women prepare foods for the assembly, days in advance.

My family planned Shimi for Sunday the 17th of April 2011. It rained.

 Flowers and drinks were placed at the entrance to the tomb as offerings. Incense was burned and prayers were offered. The food that was prepared and placed in front of the Ohaka, as an offering to the ancestor’s spirts, had to be removed quickly when the rain came pouring down. Everyone offered their prayers and left the tomb. That doesn’t stop Shimi.

Everything that was prepared for the event at the Ohaka was carried to the home of the eldest surviving son in the family. An altar called a Butsudan is another place in Okinawa where ancestor worship takes place. Food and drinks were placed on the altar. Incense, resembling charcoal sticks, was lighted.

Paper money, known as Uchikabi, was burned…

The family gathered around the table of foods and drinks, offered to the spirits and prayed.

One item from each type of food offered was placed along with the burned paper money for the ancestral spirits to take with them back to the spiritual world.

 Children frolic, play and swing from the rafters and adults joke, chat and banter until the eldest woman present announces it’s time to eat.
Shimi, the ancestral worship ceremony, is not a sad occasion in Okinawa. It is a time to be happy and the spirits, who are always watching, enjoy seeing the family celebrating together.

Are there any joyous celebrations for the deceased in your culture?

Photographer: Rusty Robertson

Just Call This Striated Heron the Bird of the Week

It Made Some Awkward Poses

 

 

The Little Heron was comical at times but, it was an interesting bird to watch.

Hopefully, when they finish building the Kin Dam, we'll see more of them.

These birds, are nowhere near, as large as a Grey Heron.

But, they have some colorful markings.

The heron was scouting out the Okukubi River, close to the new dam.

They like to eat fish and even call out to them.

 Sometimes, they aren't so lucky at catching anything but, that happens to people, too.

 Once, the little rascal got more than it could handle so, it let one get away.

Did that ever happen to you, when you went fishing ?

Me neither.  I eat, mostly hamburgers.  Hah !

Okinawa's Iris Fields Are in Full Bloom Right Now !

Some Photos and a Few Tricks

 

 

The other day, I saw it on the morning news.

Big, bright green stems with purple, yellow and white flowers, dancing in the wind.

But, I'm a warm weather type of person so, I waited for today.

 It's nice to have some blue sky in your photo.

To get up high enough for this shot, I brought along a two-step ladder.

For those who don't appreciate blue skies, I aimed lower.

The petals on lots of flowers, are starting to wilt.

So, it's a good idea, to move around and pick on ones you like.

Sometimes, you can find a young rascal, away from the crowd.

Just focus on the one you like best and, wait for it to quit moving.

When you get home, crop the photo any way you like.

For this photo, I got down low on the ground.

Experimenting with a black and white board for background, was fun.

The black turned out to be my favorite.

So, I threw the white one away.  Hah !

It was a nice sunny day and I had some fun.

If you are already in Okinawa, you best get up to Ogimi this weekend.

It looks like these beauties will be done blooming in the near future.

This will be the final Iris Report for 2014 from this desk.

But, standby for plenty more flower festivals, in the coming weeks and months.








 

Naomasa Takazato and These Birds Made My Day (Photo Essay)

Along the Okukubi River in Kin Town

 

 

Late this morning, I decided to take a hike with a camera and tripod.

It's been quite awhile since the mangrove forest got my attention.

The river, stretches from the ocean, up under the Kin Bridge, to the dam on a hill.

The tide was out so, no tourists were kayaking through the mangroves.

Somebody was picking up stray fishing gear and trash, across the river from my position.

Later, I would find out, it was Naomasa.

I thanked him, for making this one of my favorite nature spots in Okinawa.

Further, up the river, this Little Heron was having a feast.

Some egrets, entertained me, for awhile.

But, that little Striated Heron, was the most fun to watch.

Did You Know There Are Piles of Garbage Floating in the Ocean ?

 

 

One pile of floating trash is the size of the state of Texas.

Everybody needs to start doing like Naomasa Takazato.

Pick the stuff up, before it goes in the ocean.

And, take it to the dump or landfill.

The birds and fish don't want it.

Amen

The City of Naha Can be More Fun Than Disneyland to Me

Springtime Seems to Have Been Postponed

 

 

Clouds and rain were predicted, again today.

Wednesday, is the only day of the week, Doc Graff and I go on our camera trips.

So, we chose Naha, the capital of Okinawa, to do some shooting.

A pavilion was built, in honor of the Guinness World Record Tug-O-War rope.

It's a lot easier to take photos when there isn't 250,000 people surrounding it.

When Doc, went in a travel and tourism office, I stayed outside.

They have this big movie screen out on the International Avenue (Kokusai Street) .

Tourists, from around the world, get to see themselves, on the big screen.

They smile, wave and even, get to dance with cartoon characters.

The show ended, before Doc got to see it so, we moved on down the street.

About the time, I got done making an image of this huge Shisa, the rain started.

So, we decided to go into some of the covered market streets.

The Big Movie Screen Started Up Again

 

 

When these gals gave permission to shoot, I didn't care about the rain.

There's no way, you'll ever catch me standing in the rain at Disneyland.

Everything here was free !

More About Naha, Capital of Okinawa, Japan