I went to Kumejima (Kume Island), a tiny island, 100 km west of Naha, to attend an International Seminar of Ryukyu Kobujutsu Hozon Shinko Kai. It was my first-ever visit to the Okinawa Prefecture.
琉球古武術保存振興会国際セミナー出席のため、生まれて初めて沖縄へ。会場は那覇から西に100キロの久米島。
Aerial view of Kumejima (Wikipedia)
My plan of having a relaxing holiday in Okinawa after the seminar was crushed by a sudden illness. I could only enjoy a day in Naha, the capital city of the Okinawa Prefecture, before moving to Tokyo. I managed to see the remains of the Shuri Castle, which had been burned down two weeks before our visit, albeit from far, as the whole area was cordoned off.
セミナー後、沖縄でのんびり休暇を過ごす予定だったが急病に。結局那覇を1日楽しんだだけに終わり、東京へ移動。沖縄訪問の2週間前に炎上した首里城を遠くから見ることはできたが。
Shuri Castle in 2016 (Wikipedia)
I will definitely have to come back to Okinawa and visit various remote islands!
いつの日か是非沖縄を再訪問し、次回は離島巡りをしてみたい。
View from my room, Eef Beach Hotel, Kumejima, Okinawa, November 2019. This was the first time I stayed at a resort hotel for a martial art seminar.
Tatami-ishi rock formations, Kumejima, Okinawa, November 2019. These are cracks made when the lava that erupted approximately 6 million years ago cooled down and hardened.
Japanese sago palm (cycad), Kumejima, Okinawa, November 2019
Crab shell, Kumejima, Okinawa, November 2019
Plants on rocky beach, Kumejima, Okinawa, November 2019
Pedestrian road, Naha, Okinawa, November 2019
Sculpture entitled “Concrete and Steel” by Nose Kojiro, Okinawa Prefectural Museum, Naha, Okinawa, November 2019
Shiisaa in front of restaurant, Naha, Okinawa, November 2019. Shiisaa is an imaginary creature, which looks like a cross between a dog and a lion, from Okinawan mythology. They are believed to protect us from evils and are placed, often in pairs, on rooftops or at gates.
Tiny shiisaa on top of municipal notice board, Naha, Okinawa, November 2019
Shiisaa at police station, Naha, Okinawa, November 2019
Shiisaa in front of apartment building, Naha, Okinawa, November 2019
Shiisaa at school, Naha, November 2019
Gate at Shuri Castle, Naha, Okinawa, November 2019
Ruined roof of Shuri Castle, Naha, Okinawa, November 2019
Shiisaa on roof of house, Naha, Okinawa, November 2019. Shiisaa is everywhere!
Shiisaa in front of building, Naha, Okinawa, November 2019
Shiisaa at public toilets, Naha, Okinawa, November 2019
Nakamise shopping street from Kaminari-mon gate to Senso-ji temple, Asakusa, Tokyo, November 2019. Senso-ji is the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo.
Selfie, Senso-ji, Asakusa, Tokyo, November 2019. There are lots of foreign tourists like these girls walking around in rented kimono.
Lantern, Senso-ji, Asakusa, Tokyo, November 2019
Selfie, senso-ji, Asakusa, Tokyo, November 2019. Another group of foreign girls in kimono.
The coolest public bath building I’ve ever seen. Ryogoku, Tokyo, November 2019.
Sumida Hokusai Museum, Tokyo, November 2019
Leaves turning yellow. Sumida Hokusai Museum, Tokyo, November 2019
Leaves turning red. Sumida Hokusai Museum, Tokyo, November 2019
Bear on motorbike in front of Chinese herbal medicine shop, Tokyo, November 2019
Sculpture of sumo wrestler, Tokyo, November 2019
Masako Osada Visual Arts 