Ryukyu Glassware

Hello, everyone.

How are you doing? We English team members are doing well.

Warm wind is starting to blow recently. I felt that spring has come.　

The beaches are to open this month here in Okinawa.

Not only the spring but also the summer might have already arrived in our island.

Today, I would like to introduce Ryukyu Glass to you.

The production of Ryukyu Glassware was started in the Meiji era. At that time the main products were lamp chimney, milk bottle, and jars for various use (including fly-catcher jar).

 In the post war period, the glassware production reached a new phase, using the recycled colored bottles of beer and soft drinks brought in by the US military. At that time, the air bubbles in the glassware indicated a poor quality of the raw materials. However, these bubbles have become regarded as one of their hallmarks over the years. The fizzy glassware is a popular gift for tourists, and now comes in various sizes, shapes and colours.

100 % handcrafted, Ryukyu Glassware features the accidental beauty of air bubbles and color gradation.

They are available at gift shops throughout Okinawa and many on-line stores also offer a wide range of Ryukyu glassware items. Why not have a Ryukyu glassware to feel the nature of Okinawa?

Going down to the beach: Part 2

(Continuing from last posting)

Tonight's  the night.

 The girl was so determined to find out who he was.  So, just as he leaned toward her to give a good- night kiss, she secretly put a needle and thread on the back of his collar so that she could track him down afterward. The man left her house, and headed toward the nearby deep forest. The girl tailed her misterious lover.

After a long trekking, the girl saw the man entering the cave. She hurried to the cave, chasing after him. The minute she stepped into the deep darkness, terror struck her to breathless.  She couldn’t believe her eyes. Her eyes were fixed on a huge snake, coiled up, its yellow eyes glaring in the dark cave. It had a needle on the back of its head.

”Oh my god... My man is Majimun (monster)! “

Overwhelmed by horror, the girl screamed and skedaddled back to the village. She cried and begged her parents for help. They got freaked out with their dauther's tale, so they took her to a Yuta or village exorcist.

“You are pregnant with his baby.”, said the yuta to the girl.

“Hurry to the beach now, and wash your private part with the seawater. That’ll work.”

The girl rushed down to the beach, immersed herself into the seawater. She did just as she was told by the yuta. And then, what she saw was, lots of baby snakes crawling out of her….. underneath…underneath if you know what I mean... (Ew!)

At that moment, the girl realized that she was all cleaned up, never able to get back together with the man who she believed to be her lover…

From olden times in Okinawa, the sea is where women purify themselves and wish for happiness and health.  In other words, the ocean is a very sacred place for Okinawan locals.  In fact, during the certain days of  the year, we're not supposed to go into the water. Arrays of  rituals and festivals are also performed on the beach throughout the year.  

Okinawan people have long lived with the blessing of the ocean. The sea offers not only the harvest of natural produce, but also the source of imagination and protection to our lives. I hope we could leave this precious Okinawan ocean to the future generations, and they will receive the fruit of the ocean to their lives.


Written by Niki and Nariko

Hama-ui: Going down to the beach

Hello, this is Niki from Okinawa Tourism Support Center, long time no see!

We’ve been really busy with translation work. Sorry for the long absence.  

Last Saturday was March 3th on Chinese lunar calendar, the day of  Hama-ui.

Do you know what Hamaui is?

Hama-ui literally means going down to the beach.

On this day, people go to the beaches, play in the shallow water and enjoy nice stroll on the beach. It is the day of the lowest tide of the year, so you can also enjoy collecting clams on the shoaling beach.　

This Hama-ui occasion, however, derives from another thing which I am about to tell you now. It’s an Okinawan folk tale.  I hope that you don’t scare easily.

Once upon a time, there lived a girl in a small village. She was such a pretty girl that her parents cherished and adored her so much. She was a little princess.

One night at a late hour, the girl heard a knock on the window of her room. She wondered who it might be this late at night, but she opened it anyway.

There was a stranger standing in the dark. The stranger said that he saw the girl in the neighborhood and had a crush on her. Since the man was dazzlingly good looking, she fell in love with him straightaway. They started dating, spent many nights together mostly in her room.

The girl was so happy, but there was one thing she always felt curious about him. The man would never tell anything about himself, like what he does for a living or where he came from. Instead, he only told her that he adored and loved her so much. The girl became really mystified by his altitude, so she decided to find out who he really was.   

What would happen next is to be continued …..

素材提供 沖縄の無料写真素材館

 

Okinawan Language

Hello, everyone! Long time no see, how’ve you been?

Here in Okinawa, cherry blossoms are blooming...’ Kanhi Sakura’, which is bright pink and similar to plum blossoms, is the main type of the cherry trees in Okinawa. It’s very beautiful! Enjoy it, too!

 
  Well, have you ever heard or spoken Okinawan local language? It is called ‘Uchinaaguchi’ in Okinawan dialect. Today I'll introduce some phrases of them to you. 

   

'Hello'  'Hi'

*’Haisai’ (for men's usage)   *‘Haitai’ (for women's usage)

'Thank you'

*‘Nife de biru’

"Itadaki masu"(*we say this phrase before eating to show our gratitude to the meal and the person who cooked and served.)

*’Kwacchi sabira’

"Gochiso samadeshita"(*we again show the gratitude after the meal)

*’Kwacchi sabitan’

'It’s delicious'.

*’Ma sai bin’

‘Please’(*used when you want someone to do something)

*’Unige sabira’

'How are you?'

*’Ganju desuka’

'Good luck!' 'Do your best!'

*’Chibariyo’

                                    

 
The speakers of original Okinawan language are decreasing. I have some friends who can speak it, but sometimes I can't understand what they say in the language...I think I need to study it.

When you come to stay in Okinawa, why don't you try speaking the local languge?

 

Enjoy Okinawa!!

Shizuka,                                                           

San and Mabuigumi : a traditional grass amulet and unique remedy to ward off the evil and bad lucks

A very much belated Happy New Year...! 2012 has arrived all around the world, so what’s your New Year’s resolution for the special year?  There’s this rumour that the year 2012 is the apocalypse of the world according to Mayan Prophecy. This reminds me of the Nostradamus hysteria in 1999 that the world is doomed and destined to end, according to some interpretations of his Prophecies. Well, believe the bit-scary tale or not, don’t you worry. Okinawa has various protections against the evil spirits, such as Muchi (please go to the previous article about Okinawan traditional rice cake) and Shisa (a lion-dog guardian figurine, usually in pairs) for starters. Here I’ll introduce you to another tip from our evil-proof line-up and a unique custom handed down today on the island.

San, a knotted Japanese silver grass, is a tool believed to ward off the evil and bad fortune since ancient times. The main use of this special grass knot is to be put up at the gate/entrance/door of the house, guarding the family inside from misfortune and bad spirits. You can spot it in local areas on the island.

Some people put a tiny san on food and dish to fend off hungry stray spirits, on the way they bring the share to their relatives and friends. In that case, various materials can make the little amulets.

a white ribbon san on the food from my aunt

a tiny grass san on Somen noodles from my neighbour

Another use of san is seen at mabuigumi. Mabuigumi is one of Okinawa’s spiritual folk remedies, and the word mabui means ‘soul’, gumi  ‘to put into’ in Okinawan language. As the name could indicate a psychotherapeutic act, this folk remedy is practiced to put your ‘missing soul’ back into the body when you have an accident, no matter how serious or trivial it was. Okinawan locals have long described the mind state of being shocked and blank by accidents as ‘mabui otoshita’(dropped the soul). To get the missing soul back into its owner’s body, a person (usually mother or grandmother of the soul-lost) who does the therapy pats the owner’s body swith the grass several times . The proper procedure requires quite a lot of preparation, so Okinawan people have made it simple for quick use whenever they think they have to retrieve the missing spirit. The instant method can vary from region to region, household to household.  

The instant version of Mabuigumi would be done mostly when you fall over, since your soul could be thought to pop out of the body by the bang. Usually it includes some simple spells in the local language and most Okinawans have experienced the remedy, especially in their childhood (easily guessed; children fall over, which is their character trait).

When you have a chance to come staying with the local people, you might come across the mabuigumi occasion. There are lovely amulets and accessories with san motif at gift shops in Okinawa, good for a small gift for your family and friends back home to spend the year free of bad lucks…!

nariko

Golf in Okinawa

Hi, this is Shizuka. How’ve you been? It’s cold these days, isn’t it? Please stay warm.

Do you play golf? I started it about 3 years ago. It’s very interesting!

Today, I recommend enjoying the resort golf in Okinawa.

Okinawa’s climate is perfect for golf through the year. 

 Okinawa has lots of beautiful resort courses, too.

(You may meet some ducks.)

Among them, my favorite golf course is ‘Kise Country Club’, which is located in Nago city, the northern part of the Okinawa’s main island.

Ten years have elapsed since the course was built.　

It is in the woods of ‘Yanbaru’(The name for the northern part).

‘Yanbaru’ is regarded as the island’s center for eco-tourism because there stretches the wild forest.

While you play golf in the ‘Kise Country Club’, you can see the beautiful ocean, too. You can enjoy not only the forests but also the ocean there. How nice! Of course I really enjoy the sport there.

‘Kise Country Club’ offers a 18-hole course, and hosts the All Japan Golf Tournament. The lawn they use is the best one for subtropical climate, and is used in Hawaii, too. 

Sometimes the professional golfers who play in the world visit to get the feel of the lawn.

(A Lobby of the Clubhouse)

Its clubhouse offers meals and drinks made from Okinawan local foods and fruits.

I recommend ‘Goya & Pineapple Juice’. It is a fresh juice made from Goya (Okinawan bitter vegetable, looks like a cucumber) and pineapple.

You can also drink Awamori(Okinawan spirit) at the clubhouse. I expect you will enjoy the nineteenth hole, too.

  

 I often visit and play golf with my friends there , so why don’t we meet there?

Have a wonderful day!!

       Shizuka.

Kudaka Island

Hi,everyone. How are you doing? We English team bloggers are all fine! 

Well, have you ever been to ‘Kudaka Island’? It’s located in Nanjo city, southern part of the Okinawa’s main island. Kudaka isaland is a small island but very important place for people of Okinawa.

 The legend has been handed down that the god Amamikiyo descended to Kudaka island and started to establish a nation of Ryukyu.

Chuzan Seikan, Okinawan history record says the god of heaven ordered Amamikiyo to establish a new country. So, Kudaka Island has been called 'Island of gods'. 

There are 7 sacred spots in Okinawa, and Kudaka Island is one of them.  

You can find out  some more different legends.It's very interesting.  

Even now the rituals are performed, and some of them are off limits to the public.

When you visit sacred sites, please remember not to move anything, for example stone or pebble, from that place. 

This is the road to the sea.

You can rent a bike and go everywhere you want. 

When the weather is nice, it'll feel good and very very happy.

 I recommend you to rent one!



To Kudaka Island, get on a high speed boat or a ferry from Azama port .

It takes about 15 - 20 min.

Please enjoy the Okinawan outer island!!

Shizuka.

Cherry Blossom Festival



Hello, everyone! Long time no see.  Did you enjoy your New Year holidays?

Well, mine was little busy, but I spent the quality time. I visited a shrine on New Year's Day, and drew omikuji(sacred lots),too. It says this year will be great for me and also for everyone around me!

Today I introduce ‘Cherry Blossom Festival’ in Okinawa.

 There are several festivals in the main island Okinawa. Most of the  festivals are held in the northern part of Okinawa, from  late January to early February.

The northern part of the Okinawa's main island is also the first region in Japan where people can enjoy viewing the yearly cherry blossoms.

In the mainland Japan, we can see white cherry blossoms. They look like snow falling when falling down. Very beautiful!

But 'Kanhi sakura', which is the main type of the cherry trees in Okinawa, is different. Its color is bright pink and similar to plum blossoms.

(Picture above)



Festival  sites & date      Northern area:     *Nakijin gusuku Sakura Matsuri (Nakijin  Castle Cherry Blossom Festival)*     January 21st － February 5th    At Nakijin Castle Ruins in Nakijin village               *Motobu Yaedake SakuraHanami matsuri (Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Viewing)*          January 21st － February 5th         At Yaedake in Motobu town (The actual festival, which includes entertainment and local food for sale. )   *Nago Sakura matsuri (Nago Cherry Blossom Festival)*       January 28th & 29th       At Nangusuku(Nago Castle) in Nago city (This is the biggest event of the year in Nago city. The festival includes parades, traditional music, dance performances, food booths, and much more.)    Southern area: *Naha Sakura matsuri (Naha Cherry Blossom Festival)*   February 8th －12th   In Naha city  I expect that you will enjoy the Okinawan winter season with the beautiful flowers with your family or friends!

      Shizuka.

 

Festival  sites & date

     Northern area:   

 *Nakijin gusuku Sakura Matsuri (Nakijin  Castle Cherry Blossom Festival)*

    January 21^st － February 5^th

   At Nakijin Castle Ruins in Nakijin village

      

       *Motobu Yaedake SakuraHanami matsuri (Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Viewing)*

         January 21^st － February 5^th

        At Yaedake in Motobu town

(The actual festival, which includes entertainment and local food for sale. ) 

 *Nago Sakura matsuri (Nago Cherry Blossom Festival)*

      January 28th & 29th 

     At Nangusuku(Nago Castle) in Nago city

(This is the biggest event of the year in Nago city. The festival includes parades, traditional music, dance performances, food booths, and much more.)

  

Southern area:

*Naha Sakura matsuri (Naha Cherry Blossom Festival)*

  February 8^th －12^th

  In Naha city 

I expect that you will enjoy the Okinawan winter season with the beautiful flowers with your family or friends!