 Okinawa is covered in UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Zakimi (Gusuku) Castle, which is believed to be created around the 15th century. Gusuku is the traditional Ryukyu word for castle, and there are around 300 around Gusuku in Okinawa.
The stone laying techniques, like those seen in at Nakagusuku Castle, were more advanced than the techniques being pioneered in mainland Japan at that time. Seen here is the gate after the northern enclosure. The northern enclosure used to house the Nakagusuku Village office before it was destroyed during World War II.
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 Another issue of Okinawa Living Magazine laid to rest with the November 2007 issue. This month's feature one article uses stunning images of Shuri Castle that were shot over the past few months. The result, a look at Shuri Castle that most people will never get to experience. |
Okinawa, which means 'rope in the open sea', is found in Japan. The term seems to refer to how the 60 island chain that makes up the prefecture of Okinawa appears. Okinawa Japan is often considered a little separate from the rest of Japan since it has a more distinct culture and tongue.
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 A look at the crystal clear mountain water in natural springs that form around Mount Fuji, Japan's iconic volcano, in the Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture area of Japan. These ponds can be several feet deep--yet clear to the bottom due to the pure, clear mountain water. The Torii is the entrance to climbing route station 5. Even though most climbers do not climb the Subashiri and Gotemba routes, many descend down these because of their ash-covered paths. From the seventh station to near the fifth station, one could literally run down these ash-covered paths in approximately 30 minutes. It is also possible to ride a mountain bike down Mt. Fuji from the summit. |
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HDR Japan features high dynamic range images of Japan. HDR, or high dynamic range, photography is the craft of bracketing a series of photos. then carefully merging the bracketed images back into an .hdr or .exr file format. After being merged, the file is then tonemapped back to an 8- or 16-bit image.
What's the potential result? A beautifully detailed and carefully crafted HDR image with a style and elegance all its own. Using this technique to capture a scene can allow you to view the world as never before. HDR Japan is member contributed photo resource for HDR Japan photos.
Limited edition fine art prints of Okinawa and Japan will soon be available from our members.
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 Kidokoro San wearing 400 year old authentic Yoroi Samurai armor.
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 For centuries, Shuri Castle has stood as the pride and joy of the Ryukyu Islands. The home of Ryukyuan royalty, its vermilion buildings shone in the tropical sun, glimmers of gold emanating regal light from the pillars and gates. Destroyed on several occasions by fire, this wooden structure has seen many incarnations, the most recent of which was completed in 1992 after nearly four decades of research and reconstruction following the building's demise during the bloody battle of World War II.
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 From the top of Shuri Castle the Kerama islands are visible in the distance.
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 Feature one of this month's Okinawa Living magazine features a hot place--Shinjuku Tokyo, home to large buildings and Tokyo's hot nightlife spot, Kabuki Town. |
 The Photo Essay for October's Okinawa Living issue features scenes from the Naha Matsuri held annually in Naha City which is also held in conjunction with the Naha Tug-of-War. This Tug-of-War features the world's largest rope made of natural substances weighing in at over 40 tons. Tens of thousands of participants line up to help pull this rope a distance of only five meters, the distance which decides the winner.
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 Festivals in Japan have always been part of a greater religious meaning. Festivals in Japan, which date back to the late first-century A.D., have come to represent expressions of the soul, life, death, and the divine nature of being. These combine for the foundation of the meaning of true matsuri. There is no place in Japan that holds the true spirit of matsuri in greater regard, than the island of Okinawa. |
 Spiritually, Okinawans believe that man and woman are tied eternally to the heavens and the sea. This belief is what ties together many of their festivals, spiritual holidays, and annual celebrations. In northern Okinawa the honoring of this spiritual concept can be seen played out during the Ungami Festival--which honors the god of the sea. Un(ocean) Gami(god) |
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