Introducing the posts of the "Izena Island Tourism Association" COOL JAPAN VIDEOS official social media account official account! The village of Izenason, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture, is located in the northern part of the main island of Okinawa and consists of three uninhabited islands. "Shimano Illumination 2023" will be held at Rinkai Fureai Park from December 9th. The harmony between nature and illumination is a must-see. ◆Shimano Illumination 2023◆ 【Period】2023/12/9〜2024/1/19

[History and cultural heritage of the Ryukyu Kingdom period of Izena Island] ■ vol 3 "Reverse Field" Sakata Born into a family of farmers, Machigani was a hard worker from an early age and worked very agriculture such as rice cultivation. One year, the island was hit by a drought, and while the water in the rice fields on the island dried up, only the rice paddies of Machigani were full of water. According to one theory, the girls of the island, who were fond of the hard-working and good-natured Machigani, brought water to his rice fields every night. However, in reality, his rice fields were terraced, and the upper part of the rice field was overflowing with spring water, and the water continued to flow to the lower rice paddies, so the water never dried up. The rice fields of the other young men were large in area, but they were not blessed with water and relied on the gods, but the rice fields of Matsugane were small in area but blessed with water and rice ears. This shows that he was very intelligent. However, the young people on the island, who were usually jealous of Matsukin's popularity, accused him of being a water thief, saying, "The reason why the water does not dry up is because Matsukin is stealing from other rice paddies," and even tried to get rid of him. This is the "certain misunderstanding" described in vol. 2. Fearing for his life, Shogane decides to leave the island. This reverse rice field has been left almost in its original form, and even today it is constantly gushing out of water, and is now managed by the village board of education, where the island children's association experiences rice planting and harvesting every year. (Corona has been canceled) In this place, a poem written by the daughters of the Mido (Miyarabi) = island at that time in memory of Matsugane, who left the island, is left on the monument, and it can be read from this song monument that Matsugane was thought of by the daughters of the island. [Contents of the song monument] "I would have liked to see more of Machigani working in a short robe." It is a poem that expresses the love that the maidens of the island have for Shogane and the loneliness that he is gone.　 * Machigani (Machigani) = The name of King Shoen's youth when he was on Izena Island. * Kanamaru (Kanamaru) = The name of King Shoen after he left the island. * Shoen = The name of the king. ※美童 (みやらび) = daughter, woman

[History and cultural heritage of the Ryukyu Kingdom period of Izena Island] ■ vol 2 "Shoen-o Oniwa Park" The story of how he became the king of the Ryukyus from a farmer At the age of 24, Shokin (later King Shoen) left the island. Pointing to the main island of Okinawa, he holds an "eke" (the dialect for oars) in his right hand, and a bronze statue of him standing at that time is erected. Shogane is misunderstood by the islanders and is driven out of the island. Accompanied by his then-wife and young brother, he crossed the sea in a small boat and arrived at a district called Ginama in the Kunigami district in the northern part of the main island of Okinawa. There, he lives with his brother and his wife for a while, and is taken care of by the locals, but after a while, he goes to Shuri with his brother. He became a servant of Prince Yurai, the younger brother of the 5th King of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Sho Jinfuku. At that time, he began to call himself "Kanamaru". Kanemaru, who was naturally intelligent and industrious, was soon recognized for his qualities, and Prince Koshirai strongly recommended Kanemaru to King Shokin Fuku as his servant, and in 1447 Shoen began his career as an official with the low-ranking position of retainer Akato. Here, Kanemaru demonstrated his abilities and rose through the ranks to the point of wearing a yellow hachimaki, which signified the status of a high-ranking official. Then, in 1454, when Prince Koshirai ascended the throne as the 6th king, Sho Yasuhisa, he was even more important, and in 1454 he was appointed as the head of the land (lord) of Nishihara Makiri. Five years later, at the age of 45, he was appointed to the position of in charge of the country's finances and foreign affairs, and as a result, he was on the verge of the post of three commanders, which is equivalent to the ministerial class today, but his fate changed with the death of King Sho Yasuhisa. The 7th king, Shotoku, was a tyrant, and the whole country was grieving, and Kanemaru, who could not see it, did not listen to his opinion, so Kanemaru resigned his post and withdrew to the inner part of the domain. After the death of King Shotoku, a coup d'état by his vassals occurred in the royal palace, and King Shotoku's son was disposed of. The reign of the first Sho clan was interrupted here, and the vassals recommended Kanemaru to be the next king, and eventually accepted the persuasion, and at the age of 54, Kanemaru became the king of the second Sho clan of the Ryukyu Kingdom. ■Statue production: Mutsutoshi Naka (Japan plate printmaker) 　　　　　 Kurayoshi Takara (Professor Emeritus, University of the Ryukyus) 　　　　　* Both are famous people from Izena Island. * Matsugani (Machigani) = The name of King Shoen's youth when he was on Izena Island. * Kanamaru (Kanamaru) = The name of King Shoen after he left the island. * Shoen = The name of the king.

[History and cultural heritage of the Ryukyu Kingdom period of Izena Island] ■ vol 1 "King Shoen's Birthplace Mihosojo" The site of the mansion where the person who became the first Sho clan "King Shoen" was born in 1415 in Izena Village, Moromi, and was born. Three kuba trees, three fukugi trees and three rocks are placed on the grounds. His umbilical cord is buried in one of the three rocks. It was built during his accession to the throne by Shoen's son, King Shoshin, who would become the third king. Next door to one of these places There is a well called "Shiohiraga". "Gar" means "well" in the Okinawan dialect In 1415, when Shokin, the king of Shoen, was born, the well that is said to have been used for the birthing bath remains as it was at that time. These places are the site of the mansion where the future King of the Ryukyus was born, so they are sacred places and are the most important places of worship on Izena Island.

NICE TO MEET EVERYONE WHO WATCHES COOL JAPAN VIDEOS! This is the Izena Island Tourism Association. Izena Island is located in the north of the main island of Okinawa, and the circumference of the island is 17 kilometers, and you can go around it in about 20 minutes by car. Izena Village, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture is an island consisting of three uninhabited islands: the main island "Izena Island", "Yanaha Island", "Gushigawa Island", and "Furujin Island". The population of Izena Island in Okinawa Prefecture is 1,322 (as of the 2020 (Reiwa 2) survey), and it is also known as the birthplace of "Shoenou", the first king of the second Sho clan of the Ryukyu Dynasty. In this first post, we will introduce Izena Island and introduce the attractions of sightseeing spots and activities. ■■Sightseeing spots on Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture■■ ◆ Futamigaura Coast (Superb view of two rocks of Gitara) "Gitara" means a sheer rock (cliff), and the sheer rocks in the sea and land are called "sea gitara / land gitara". The Gitara Coast, which has a total length of about 1 km, is dotted with many sea and land gitaras, and it has been selected as one of the 100 best beaches in Japan because of the beauty of the arrangement of sea and land gitara, land and broad-leaved trees! In addition, "Mattera Beach" in the Gitara Coast area is a hidden gem beach with white sand and highly transparent blue waters. There is also a campsite. ◆ Gitara Observatory Located in the Gitara Coast area, the "Gitara Observatory" is a popular observation spot! In particular, it is also a valuable place where you can overlook the two opposite sea and land Gitara. Don't miss the starry sky and city illuminations at night. ◆ Izena Castle Ruins The altitude of the "Izena Castle Ruins" in the southeast of Izena Island is 70m. It is said that the castle was built in the Gusuku period (11th ~ 14th century) by King Shoen's grandfather "Lord Sameigawa". It is said that it was said to be an "impregnable castle" because it was cut into a pyramid shape and had precipitous cliffs on three sides. From the top of the ruins of Izena Castle, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the sea. In addition, the "Izena Tama Palace" at the foot of the ruins of Izena Castle has been designated as an important cultural property of Japan. ◆ Izena Beach (Izena Beach) Located on the south side of Izena Island, this beach has a cobalt blue sea! It is a popular tourist destination where you can enjoy swimming and camping, and toilets and showers are also available. * 2023 (Reiwa 5) partially unusable due to seawall maintenance work from July. ◆ Shoenwang Oniwa Park To commemorate the 580th anniversary of King Shoen's birth, it is a park that was built in 1996 (Heisei 8). There are still a steady stream of worshippers in Shoen-o Oniwa Park, and there is also the Shiohira River in the park, which is said to have been used for the birthing bath of King Shoen. It is a sightseeing spot where you can feel the history of the Ryukyu kings. ◆ Mekaruke House Designated as a nationally designated important cultural property (building), the "Meikari Family Residence" is the house where the direct family of the Mekari family lived. It escaped damage from the war and was well preserved, so it was rebuilt in Meiji 39 (1906) (1906). ◆ Samure Michi The "Samure Road" is an ancient road with a total length of 2 kilometers that was used as the only living road connecting the village of Izena and the southwestern part of Izena Island around the 12th ~ 13th century. "Samure" is a Ryukyu dialect word that means "samurai" (a samurai family related to the royal family). The quartzite (mah stone) laid on the Samure Road resembled the footprints of a samurai, so it was named the Samure Road. The Samure Road is also used as an approach road to connect the royal family's holy tomb, the Izena Tama Palace, when the Meikari family, who are relatives of the Sho family, hold the "Koji Seimei Festival", which is an event to visit the graves of their ancestors. ◆ Shirasagi Observatory Facing the sea, it is an observatory with a good view overlooking the Gitara Coast (Futamigaura) and the sea! It is a popular view spot where you can also see the ruins of Izena Castle and Yanaha Island. ■■Activity information on Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture■■ ◆ Bicycle rental Izena Island has few gradients, so it is also recommended to rent a bicycle to visit the famous spots! While galloping through the idyllic scenery, please enjoy Izena Island. ◆ Diving, snorkeling The highly transparent sea of Izena Island is ideal for marine activities! There are plenty of highlights such as coral reefs and caves of light. There is no doubt that it will be enjoyed by both beginners and advanced players! ◆ Sea fishing On Izena Island, there are many points for chinu (black bream) fishing. The official website of the Izena Island Tourism Association also has a "Fishing Map of Izena Island", so please make use of it! ■■Gourmet information on Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture■■ ◆ Awamori Awamori, which is made in the Ryukyu Islands, also has a sake brewery on Izena Island. Please enjoy the mellow taste of awamori! ◆Okinawa Soba in Izena You can enjoy the unique flavors of Izena Island, such as Okinawa Soba using plenty of Okinawa's specialty "Mozuku" and Okinawa Soba using rice from Izena Island for the noodles. ■■ Festivals and event information on Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture ■■ ◆ Izena 88 Triathlon Tournament Approximately 600 athletes participate every year, making it the largest event on Izena Island. Healthy men and women over the age of 18 are welcome to participate regardless of nationality. The 7-hour heated competition is a must-see! ◆ Unner "Unna" is a traditional festival on Izena Island that prays for a good harvest of rice. Powerful events such as tug-of-war, snai wrestling on a plank, and the Okinawa sumo wrestling tournament will be held. ■■Accommodation information for Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture■■ There are a variety of accommodation facilities in Izena Island, including hotels, vacation rentals, and guest houses. You can enjoy a wide range of accommodations, from facilities with a view of the beach to accommodations with a cozy atmosphere ■■Tradition of Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture■■ One of the charms of Izena Island is the tradition of "Ihyajute". Ihyajute is a word that means "the people of Izena are compassionate." The tradition of hospitality, in which visitors from outside the island were given harvests such as fishing without discrimination, has been rooted for a long time. On the island, you can experience Ihyajute, which is still carried over to this day. You can enter the garden where tea is placed on the veranda of the house, listen to the story of the island while drinking tea, and spend a relaxing time, which is a tradition unique to Izena Island. ■■Access information to Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture■■ ◆ In the case of a private car From Naha Airport, take the expressway and drive north for about 2 hours, and from Unten Port (Nakijin Village), take a car ferry for about 1 hour. ◆ In the case of a taxi From Naha Airport, use the expressway and drive north for about 2 hours (fare: about 16,000 yen) About 25 minutes from Nago City to Unten Port (Fare: about 2,400 yen ~) You can also use buses and highway buses from Naha Airport. For details, please check the official website of the Izunashima Tourism Association. There are also rental car shops for cars, bicycles, mopeds, etc. on Izena Island. Please make use of it when sightseeing. COOL JAPAN VIDEOS WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON IZENA ISLAND, OKINAWA PREFECTURE, SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO SO!

I think it's a good idea to take a walk in the villages where the old-fashioned scenery of Okinawa still remains.

Birthplace of the second Sho clan of the Ryukyu Kingdom, "King Shoen" "Izena Island" Next to Gyokuriku in Shuri, the Tama Palace of Izena, the tomb of the royal family ✨ Location: Izena Village It is carefully preserved as an important cultural property. Admission is free.

In the back is manned "Izena Island", and in the foreground is the uninhabited island "Yanaha Island"

An island ♡ where you can see the coral reef of Hart

Izena Island #Shimano Illumination 2023 will be held again this year! Please look forward to☆ミ [Night where the starry sky and illumination of Izena Island meet] #Stripe Illumination 2023 Period: 2023/12/9〜2024/1/19 Lighting time: 17:30-0:00 Location: Rinkai Fureai Park (right next to Nakata Port)

It was a beautiful day with a °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖° beautiful sunset

\Events related to Izena Island in November/ Here are some events on and off the island. [Outside the island] 11/11 Sat Izena Kyoyu Performing Arts Association Charity Performance [Shimauchi] 11/11 Sat Tour de Okinawa in Izenajima Tournament [On the island] 11/19th 36th Zena 88 Triathlon Tournament 【Shimauchi】11/23 Holiday Izena Village Health Fair & Shimazora City (Flea Market) 【Off-Island】11/24 Fri Remote Island Fair 2023 [On the island] 11/25 Sat Drag Race 2023 in Izenajima Tournament November is full of events!