 Tengu are mountain and forest goblins with both Shinto and Buddhist attributes. Their supernatural powers include shape-shifting into human or animal forms, the ability to speak to humans without moving their mouth, the magic of moving instantly from place to place without using their wings, and the sorcery to appear uninvited in the dreams of the living. Seen here is a Shinto priest in Naha City, Okinawa Japan wearing a Tengu mask at Naminoue Shinto Shrine. |
 The Tomari high Bridge that runs a length of one-kilometer over the Tomari Harbor took twelve years to construct, from 1974 to April 1986, when it was opened for the public. This bridge forms part of the coast road from Naha Port to the Aja New Port and the amazing view needs to be seen to be believed. View of the East China Sea competes with the Kerama Island group in the far off distance.
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 Cafe Nirai will showcase the photography of John R. Burgreen III from April 17 through 22. Though well known for his award-winning artistic layouts and HDR Photography, this is the first exclusive viewing of Mr. Burgreen's work. Large and small photographic prints showcasing the beauty of Okinawa and Japan will be on display. Photographers and art enthusiasts are encouraged to stop by to view the pieces. All 16x20 and 20x30 prints will be signed and numbered. All prints in this show will be available for the first time and will be numbered "1". Cafe Nirai is located in Mihama, near the Sunabe Seawall.
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 Peace Prayer Park, located on and around Mabuni Hill (Hill 89) on the southern portion of Okinawa, Japan, is a large complex dedicated to the memories of those that died during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. After Okinawa reverted from American to Japanese control in 1972, construction of the park began. The park is at once a destination for visitors and a sacred location for prayer and reflection. It is comprised of four zones: the Peace Zone, the Prayer Area, the Peace Ceremony Zone, and the Recreation Zone.
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 Over one thousand years ago, the art of yabusame, or Japanese archery performed on horseback, was used in battle during the era of the Japanese samurai. During the Kamakura Period, archery on horseback was used as a military training exercise to keep samurai prepared for war. Those archers who did poorly might find themselves commanded to commit seppuku, or ritualistic suicide.
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 Sefa Utaki is the most sacred site on Okinawa and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Utaki is a hogen (or Uchinaguchi, the language of the Ryukyus) word that means "a place enshrining the gods." Okinawans believe that gods descend to utaki and individuals can communicate with them there through villages and festivals.
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 The word Yanbaru means "mountains and trees". This word is used to describe the area of northern Okinawa where the rolling hills and covered with dense forests of trees. Between these mountains lay farmland that remains preserved far out of the eye of modern day Okinawa. Beautiful vistas can be seen all throughout Okinawa's northern Yanbaru. |
 Images from the quiet area of Okinawa known as Katsuren. The most traveled part of Katsuren is Katsuren Castle, yet the area surrounding Katsuren Castle is covered in sugarcane farms and beautiful beaches that line the western side of the island of Okinawa. Pictured below is an 80-year-old sugarcane farmer in Katsuren Village.
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 Bise is a small area in northern Okinawa best known for it's Fukugi trees that line sandy paths through a village that is hundreds of years old. These trees serve as protection from strong typhoon winds. |
 Nago, the largest city in northern Okinawa, is best known for its cherry blossom festival. The first cherry blossoms that bloom in Japan are found in Nago at the end of January. During this time the 2,000 cherry blossom trees that surround the ruins of Nago castle come into full bloom. |
 The Okinawa island of Kourijima. This island is surrounded by emerald green waters and only became accessible by bridge in recent years. Kourijima features only a small fishing port and most of the island is covered in sugarcane and open fields. |
 Nakamurake (Nakamura House) is located in Kitanakagusuku Village in the south-central portion of Okinawa, and was the home of the Nakamura family for eleven generations. It is considered one of the best examples of traditional Ryukyuan architecture, and the basic methods used to develop its structure date back to the Kamakura and Muromachi periods of mainland Japan (1185-1572). The edifice was constructed sometime after 1720, and while the influence of traditional Japanese architecture is present, local materials such as the limestone and coral used to construct the walls surrounding the house make it distinctively Okinawan. |
 Rich with a cultural heritage that goes back 600 years this area of central Okinawa offers a relaxing area that visitors to Okinawa can enjoy the natural beauty and traditions that Yomiton village offers.
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 Manzamo is located near Onna Village, Okinawa Japan. The Okinawan prefecture government has declared this area a nature preserve due to it being a habitat for rare species of plant life. The area is a naturally formed cliff that exposes the beautiful Okinawa coral reefs. |
 Eisa performances can be seen on during obon, the holiday where the spirits return to dine with Okinawan families, but Eisa battles are events that traditionally occured when two Eisa groups would cross paths and battle one another for performance superiority. Alternatively you may also catch Eisa battles on the streets, after midnight, when the groups square off after a day of performances.
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