Ryukyu Indigo Dyeing Fabric / Okinawa Craft Forest It is an Okinawa craft forest in Tomigusuku, Tomigusu City, Ryukyu indigo dyeing experience workshop. A dye called mud indigo is made from a plant called Ryukyu indigo, and you can experience weaving using yarn dyed with it. It has been used as one of the dyes for various traditional textiles in Okinawa since the Ryukyu Dynasty. I will weave the yarn using a hand-made loom, but at first I had a hard time getting the point, but it turned out quite well ^^ It's a coaster I would be happy if there were people who would support Okinawa's traditional crafts through this experience corner.

Yachimun Tsuboya yaki / Tsuboya Yachimun Street It is one of the traditional crafts of Okinawa "Yachimun". Pottery is called yachimun in the Okinawan language. In Tsuboya Yachimun Street in Tsuboya, Naha City, there is a shop with a new design that is also liked by young people from traditional designs. Yachimun is characterized by a strong and delicate painting on a thick and sturdy model. The shop is Guma Guwa, which has a very stylish exterior and is popular for its designs with plant and animal motifs. When I stopped by the other day, I bought a small plate on impulse ^^ I hope that the traditional craft "Yachimun", which has been around since the Ryukyu Dynasty, and the traditional shape and beauty will be inherited in the future.

Yachimun Tsuboya yaki / Tsuboya Yachimun Street It is one of the traditional crafts of Okinawa "Yachimun". Pottery is called yachimun in the Okinawan language. In Tsuboya Yachimun Street in Tsuboya, Naha City, there is a shop with a new design that is also liked by young people from traditional designs. Yachimun is characterized by a strong and delicate painting on a thick and sturdy model. The shop is Guma Guwa, which has a very stylish exterior and is popular for its designs with plant and animal motifs. When I stopped by the other day, I bought a small plate on impulse ^^ I hope that the traditional craft "Yachimun", which has been around since the Ryukyu Dynasty, and the traditional shape and beauty will be inherited in the future.

Okinawa Murasaki Mura Lantern Festival

Okinawa Murasaki Mura Ryukyu Lantern Festival

Gorilla Chop 🦍 This one is located in Okinawa Prefecture 　　　　　　　"Gorilla Chop" This rock, which resembles a gorilla, is said to have been formed naturally. It is located along the national highway, and you can't see it just by looking at it normally, but you can see it well when you see it from the front. Be sure to 🤣 visit Location: Okinawa

History and Cultural Heritage of Izena Island during the Ryukyu Kingdom Era ■ vol.3 “Sakata” Born into a farmer’s family, Machigani (also read as Matsukane) was industrious from childhood and devoted himself to rice farming and other agricultural work. One year, the island suffered a drought and the water in every paddy dried up, yet only Machigani’s rice field remained full of water. One story says that the island’s young women, who admired Machigani for his diligence and good looks, carried water to his fields every night. In reality, his fields were terraced, and a spring gushed from the upper terrace so that water continuously flowed down to the lower paddies, preventing them from drying out. While the other young men’s fields were larger in area, they lacked water and relied on prayers, Machigani’s smaller field prospered and the rice ears ripened. This suggests he was clever and resourceful. However, the island youths who envied his popularity accused him, saying “The reason his water never runs out is that he is stealing from other paddies,” and they heaped false charges of water stealing on him, criticizing him in chorus and even plotting to get rid of him. This is the “misunderstanding” described in vol.2. Feeling his life was in danger, Machigani decided to leave the island. This terraced field remains almost in its original form and still produces a continuous flow of water. It is now managed by the village board of education, and each year the island children’s association experiences rice planting through harvest there. (Suspended during the COVID-19 period.) At this site, a monument engraved with poems remains, composed by the miyārabi (island maidens) of the time who sang about Machigani after he left the island; the monument reveals that Machigani was both admired and loved by the island’s young women. Content of the monument “We wish we could have seen Machigani working more, wearing his short garment.” This poem expresses the maidens’ romantic longing for Machigani and their loneliness after his departure. *Machigani (Machigani) = the name of Shō En during his youth on Izena Island. *Kanamaru = the name Shō En used after leaving the island. *Shō En = the name he took when he became king. *Miyārabi = young women, maidens

History and Cultural Heritage of Izena Island from the Ryukyu Kingdom Era Vol. 2 “King Sho En’s Garden” — The Story of How a Farmer Became King of Ryukyu At 24, Matsugane (the future King Sho En) leaves the island. Pointing toward Okinawa Island, he holds an eeku (the local word for an oar) in his right hand. A bronze statue imagining his stance from that time stands there. Matsugane was driven away from the island because of a misunderstanding with the locals. Taking his wife at the time and his young brother, he crossed the sea in a small boat and reached the Ginama area in Kunigami, the northern part of Okinawa Island. He lived there for a while with his brother and wife and was cared for by local people, but after some time he set off for Shuri with his brother. He became a retainer of Prince Eiso, who was the younger brother of King Sho Kinpuku, the fifth king of the First Sho dynasty of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Around then he began using the name Kanamaru. Bright and hardworking from the start, Kanamaru soon gained recognition for his talents. Prince Eiso strongly recommended Kanamaru to King Sho Kinpuku, and in 1447 Sho En began his career as a servant with the low-ranking post called akadachi. Here Kanamaru demonstrated his abilities and rose through the ranks until he wore the yellow headband that signified high official status. In 1454, when Prince Eiso acceded as King Sho Taikyu, Kanamaru gained further favor and was appointed jitō (local lord) of the Nishihara magiri (district) in 1454. Five years later, at age 45, he assumed responsibility for the kingdom’s finances and foreign affairs, putting him on the verge of the Sanshikan, a ministerial post equivalent to a modern cabinet minister. However, fate shifted with the death of King Sho Taikyu. The seventh king, Sho Toku, proved a tyrant and plunged the country into sorrow. Kanamaru pleaded with him, but the king would not listen, so Kanamaru resigned and withdrew to his estate in Uchima. After King Sho Toku’s death, a coup by royal officials removed the crown prince, ending the First Sho dynasty. The officials then recommended Kanamaru as the next king. Convinced, he accepted and at age 54 became the king of the Ryukyu Kingdom under the Second Sho dynasty, known as King Sho En. Bronze sculpture by Mutsu Naka (Naka Mutsumi), a Japanese板版画 artist Kurayoshi Takara, Professor Emeritus, University of the Ryukyus *Both are notable figures from Izena Island.* *Matsugane (Machigani)* — the name used by Sho En during his youth on Izena Island. *Kanamaru* — the name Sho En used after leaving the island. *Sho En* — the name he took when he became king.

History and Cultural Heritage of Izanami Island during the Ryukyu Kingdom Era Vol. 1 “Mihoso Place: Birthplace of King Sho En” This is the site of the former residence where the man who would become King Sho En of the First Sho Dynasty—known locally as Nishinumachigani (North Matsukane)—was born in 1415 in the village of Moromi, Izena Village. Three kuba (screw pine) trees, three fukugi (Garcinia) trees, and three stones stand within the grounds. One of those three stones is said to contain his umbilical cord buried within it. This site was constructed while Sho Shin—his son and the third king—was on the throne. Right next to this mihoso house is a well called Shiohira Gaa (Sunjagaa). In Okinawan dialect, gaa means well. The well believed to have been used as the newborn bath for Matsukane, later King Sho En, when he was born in 1415 remains as it was at that time. Because these places mark the site of the house where a future Ryukyu king was born, they are regarded as sacred and stand among Izanami Island’s most important places of worship.

The birthplace of Shō En, founder of the Second Shō dynasty of the Ryukyu Kingdom: Izena Island Following Shuri’s Tamagusuku, Izena’s Tamaudun is the royal mausoleum and the family tomb of the royal house✨ Location: Izenason It is carefully preserved as a designated Important Cultural Property of the prefecture. Admission is free.

Ancient procession Ryukyu Dynasty Festival Shuri in front of Shureimon / This is a scene of an ancient procession at the "Ryukyu Dynasty Festival Shuri", one of the three major festivals in Naha City held on Culture Day in Shuri, the birthplace of Ryukyu culture. It is a reproduction of the procession of the King of the Ryukyu Kingdom visiting three temples under Shuri Castle to pray for the well-being of the country. It is as if you have traveled back in time to the Ryukyu Dynasty, and you will parade under Shuri Castle from the Shuri Castle Main Hall through the Shureimon Gate. I play an instrument called "cow bra". It has a bass like a tuba, and then a high note like a trumpet with an instrument called a "horse bra".

Ancient procession Ryukyu Dynasty Festival Shuri in front of Shureimon / This is a scene of an ancient procession at the "Ryukyu Dynasty Festival Shuri", one of the three major festivals in Naha City held on Culture Day in Shuri, the birthplace of Ryukyu culture. It is a reproduction of the procession of the King of the Ryukyu Kingdom visiting three temples under Shuri Castle to pray for the well-being of the country. It is as if you have traveled back in time to the Ryukyu Dynasty, and you will parade under Shuri Castle from the Shuri Castle Main Hall through the Shureimon Gate. The King and Queen.

Ancient procession Ryukyu Dynasty Festival Shuri in front of Shureimon / This is a scene of an ancient procession at the "Ryukyu Dynasty Festival Shuri", one of the three major festivals in Naha City held on Culture Day in Shuri, the birthplace of Ryukyu culture. It is a reproduction of the procession of the King of the Ryukyu Kingdom visiting three temples under Shuri Castle to pray for the well-being of the country. It is as if you have traveled back in time to the Ryukyu Dynasty, and you will parade under Shuri Castle from the Shuri Castle Main Hall through the Shureimon Gate. It was very elegant and very good ^^ The regent, the three priests, walk in the lead.

Hello COOL JAPAN VIDEOS viewers! Okinawa City Tourism & Promotion Association. We will send out the latest information and deals of the tropical paradise "Okinawa City". Everyone will love Okinawa even more! Stay tuned for such information! First of all, a brief introduction of Okinawa City! Okinawa City is located in central Okinawa Prefecture and is about 40 minutes by car or taxi from Naha Airport using the expressway. With a population of about 140,000, it is the second most populous city in Okinawa Prefecture after Naha City. The average annual climate of Okinawa City is 22°C, and even in winter, it rarely falls below 10°C. Okinawa City was born in 1974 by the merger of Koza City and Misato Village, and since there are US military bases such as Kadena Air Base, it creates a unique atmosphere where Japanese and American cultures mix. You can feel American-influenced music and food culture throughout the city. Let's take a look at some of the attractive sightseeing spots in Okinawa City! A 5-minute drive from Okinawa Kita Interchange is "Chura Yashi Park Okinawa Southeast Botanical Garden". It is one of the largest large-scale botanical gardens in Japan, where you can see more than 1,300 species of rare plants from the tropics and subtropics in the two areas of the "Water Paradise Area" and the "Botanical Garden Area". In addition to plants, you can interact with animals such as capybaras and squirrel monkeys, and the "Okinawa Tropical Illumination" is held from late October to late May every year. Next, we will introduce Okinawa zoo&museum, a facility that combines a zoo and a museum that children can enjoy. At the zoo, about 150 kinds of animals are on display, including exhibits of rare creatures unique to Okinawa, such as Ryukyu foxes and native livestock, and events are held where you can enjoy feeding experiences and learning about animals. At the Wonder Museum, a museum in the park, interesting science experiences and workshops are held to stimulate children's sensibilities. Every Saturday from July 22nd to August 26th, you can enjoy the night zoo "Sata ZOO Night", so please stop by. And Okinawa Prefectural Sports Park, a popular tourist spot for prefectural residents that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. On the north side, there is a sports zone with an athletic field, gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis courts, etc., and on the south side, it is a regional park with bicycle rentals, auto campsites, recreation pools, and a small plaza where you can play playground equipment. At the recreation pool, which has been open since July weekends and holidays only, you can enjoy a rotating waterslide. In addition, in the Little Plaza, there are large playground equipment where you can enjoy several types of slides such as tunnel slides and roller slides, trampolines and bouldering, which are very popular with children. At the auto campsite, food sales, rental equipment, and fuel are also sold, so you can enjoy barbecue empty-handed, so you can easily enjoy a relaxing time. If you like shopping, we recommend "Central Park Avenue"! This shopping street, which was the main street of Okinawa City, which flourished as the center of commerce, is lined with various shops with an American atmosphere, and you can enjoy everything from shopping to Okinawan gourmet. In addition, "Kozagate Street" is also an area where American culture remains strong, and it is a place where you can enjoy just looking at it because it is lined with shops full of exoticism. Recommended for souvenirs, we will introduce Okinawa City's traditional craft "Chibana Hanaori". Chibana ori is a historic traditional fabric with geometric patterns that has been made in Chibana, Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture since the time of the Ryukyu Dynasty in the 18th century, and has been loved as a sunny dress for festivals such as Umaharashi horse riding competition, men's festival and usdek usudai drum and women's festival wishing for a bountiful harvest. Nowadays, wallets, ties, business card holders, etc. are easy to incorporate into daily life and are also delighted as souvenirs! Among the events and festivals in Okinawa City, the largest Eisa Festival in Okinawa Prefecture, which will be held for the first time in four years this year, "Okinawa All Islands Eisa Festival" is popular. Eisa is one of Okinawa's traditional performing arts, and a dance is performed on the night of the Old Bon to memorialize ancestors. This year 2023 Reiwa 5 it will be held from September 8 to 10. At the "Okinawa City Industrial Festival" held at the aforementioned Okinawa Prefectural Sports Park, there is a lineup of delicious foods from Okinawa City! It is enjoyed by many people, including locals. In the food area, you can taste the specialties of Koza created by famous restaurants competing with each other, and there are many other famous products produced and processed in Okinawa City. When you come to Okinawa City, be sure to check out the events. In addition, the Okinawa Marathon is a full marathon that starts at Okinawa Prefectural Sports Park and spans Okinawa City, Uruma City, Kadena Town, Chatan Town, and Kitanakagusuku Village in Okinawa Prefecture, and approximately 15,000 runners from Japan and abroad participate. You can run while enjoying the nature and culture of Okinawa City. * The Okinawa Marathon held in February 2023 has unfortunately been postponed due to the influence of the new coronavirus. When sightseeing in Okinawa City, you can choose accommodation that suits your travel style, from resort hotels to business hotels, rental villas and guest houses. If you rent a car, you can easily access not only sightseeing spots in Okinawa City but also nearby sightseeing spots, so it is also recommended as a base for sightseeing in Okinawa. Okinawa City Tourism & Promotion Association is also working to attract sports camps and training camps and promote sports tourism by utilizing the sports environment in Okinawa City. In the future, we will also introduce many sports facilities and sports facilities in Okinawa City. If you are considering holding a sports training camp or tournament in Okinawa City, please feel free to contact us. In Okinawa City, you can enjoy rich nature, delicious food, and exotic culture! We will send you the latest information and attractive information so that you can make wonderful memories in Okinawa City, so thank you!

Sueyoshi Shrine I went to "Sueyoshi Shrine" in Shuri Sueyoshi, Naha City. It is one of the same eight Ryukyu companies as the Naminoue Shrine I introduced last time. I think it is the most impactful shrine among the eight shrines. Unfortunately, everything collapsed in the Battle of Okinawa, but it was restored. The worship hall is located in a small forest and overlooks the center of Naha City. The red tiles, white plaster, and vermilion paint are vivid, and there are few people who come to worship, and it feels like a secluded area.

Naminoue Shrine It Naminoue Shrine one of the eight Ryukyu shrines in Wakasa, Naha City. In Okinawa, it is protected by Shisa, not Komainu. There is a male with an open mouth on the right and a female with a closed mouth on the left. The first visit was visited by the largest worshipper in Okinawa, and I also visited when I approached it. The Naminoue Shrine is on a cliff, and below it is a beach on the waves, and you can go to the beach directly from the side of the shrine. This also seems to be Okinawa ^^

Naminoue Shrine Naminoue Shrine is located in Wakasa, Naha City. There are not many shrines in Okinawa. Among them, there are eight shrines that have received special treatment from the Ryukyu royal government. It is called "Ryukyu Eight Shrines", and one of them is Naminoue Shrine, the most prestigious shrine in Okinawa. The worship hall is full of Okinawan feeling with red tiles, white plaster, vermilion paint, and palm trees. There are many people who come to worship, so I went early in the morning on this day and took a picture. Of course, I also finished the greeting of the shooting properly...

Hello COOL JAPAN VIDEOS viewers! It is the Ogimi Marugoto Tourism Association! We propose a tour program that allows you to enjoy the nature and charm of Ogimi Village! In the COOL JAPAN VIDEOS, we will introduce the tour program of Ogimi Village sightseeing along with the attractive sightseeing spots and traditional culture of Ogimi Village! First of all, I would like to introduce Ogimi Village. Ogimi Village is a village famous for its longevity located in the northern part of the main island of Okinawa, about 2 hours by highway from Naha Airport. It is the gateway to the Yanbaru area, registered as a World Natural Heritage Site, and has a population of about 3,200. This "Yanbaru" area consists of three villages, Ogimi Village, Kunigami Village, and Higashi Village, and there are animals and plants that are highly regarded worldwide. Then, we will introduce popular sightseeing spots and events in Ogimi Village. ・Lower community of Ogimi Ontake It is a sacred spot where about 70 large billow trees, which were designated as a prefectural natural monument in 1974, grow in clusters. It is a treasure trove of nature where you can fully enjoy the original scenery of Ogimi Village, and you may be able to see the spirit "Bunagaya" that lives in the forests of Okinawa. ・Ogimi Shikusa Park If you turn on the wooden faucet at the entrance of the Seekwasa specialized facility, you can taste the Seekwasa juice. You can tour the Seekwasa factory, and at the restaurant, you can taste cheese pizza and island vegetable salad with the aroma of Seekwasa. ・Ogimi Village Summer Festival Held every year in August, the village's largest festival hosts stage events such as tuna dismantling shows, Eisa performances, and Hawaiian dances, and the finale of the festival is a fireworks festival that colors the summer night sky of Ogimi Village. As you can see, there are many attractive sightseeing spots in Ogimi Village, but you can enjoy a special time in Ogimi Village where you can learn about the warmth of people, climate, and history through activities where you can experience nature and interact with the people living in Ogimi Village, rather than just ordinary sightseeing around sightseeing spots. We, the Ogimi Marugoto Tourism Association, recommend experiential and stay-type exchange programs. ・Experience programs that take advantage of the rich natural environment ・Private lodging program that coexists with rich nature ・Exchange programs to experience diverse cultures Based on the above three programs, junior high and high school students experience the culture of Ogimi Village through "agricultural experience," "farm life experience," "nature experience," and "cultural experience" on school trips. Private lodging and farming experiences can be enjoyed by ordinary travelers and inbound tourists alike. There are plenty of optional plans such as marine sports in Churaumi and Okinawan traditional performing arts Eisa experience, so please feel free to contact us. Beautiful scenery, rich nature, history from the Ryukyu Kingdom, traditional culture, and heartfelt hospitality. The village that contains all of these is Ogimi Village in Okinawa Prefecture. We will continue to introduce plenty of attractive information about Ogimi Village sightseeing in the COOL JAPAN VIDEOS, so thank you!

Sirmichu in Hamahiga Island, Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture It is said that two gods Sirmichu and Amamichu in Ryukyu mythology lived here and were blessed with children. Many people come to worship because of the benefit of being blessed with children. If you climb the 108 steps from the torii gate below, you will find the limestone cave. There is a sacred air in the air.