Blog Entries for hdr tagged 'okinawa'

Okinawa Events

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Okinawa Japan
Okinawa is one of the most beautiful places in all of Japan. The best part is all the japan pictures you can create by being in Okinawa, like this set of festival images from the Naha Matsuri, Okinawa Japan. This photo essay is a small image compilation of two days of matsuri on Okinawa.

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Naha Festival

Hedo Point, Okinawa Japan

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Located at the northernmost tip of Okinawa Honto, Hedo Point marks the confluence of the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea. The surrounding waters are known among the dive community for containing some of the most breathtaking seascapes in the prefecture.

Yanbaru, Okinawa Japan

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The northern portion of Okinawa Honto is collectively known as Yanbaru and consists mostly of thick forests and jungles. While civilization may not be the region's main feature, the area is particularly important for the amount of diverse flora and fauna that thrive in the harsh, intertwining expanses of vegetation.

Nakijin Castle, Okinawa Japan

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Recognized as one of a dozen World Heritage Sites on Okinawa, Nakijin has a storied past that dates back to the 13th century. During the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Nakijin served as the primary castle of the Hokuzan, the northernmost portion of the kingdom.

Orion Beer, Okinawa Japan

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Before World War II, beer held little prominence among Okinawans, who preferred their native spirit of awamori. But with the flood of American service members and government officials during Occupation, a new market emerged for beer. Founded in 1957, Orion Brewery makes their select pilsner-style brew using hops imported from Germany and the Czech Republic.

Churaumi Aquarium, Okinawa Japan

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One of the three largest aquariums in the world, Churaumi is home to dozens of varieties of fish, sharks, and manta rays. It's also one of the few aquariums in the world that has successfully housed whale sharks in captivity, and scientists at the park lead the way in research on coral bleaching and whale shark mating.

Nago City, Okinawa Japan

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In January and February of each year, eyes across Japan turn to Nago to eagerly await the country's first cherry blossoms. The city's Central Park, near Nago Castle ruins, host an annual Cherry Blossom Festival, traditionally observed as the first hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, of the year.

Hiji Falls, Okinawa Japan

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Cutting across the heart of the dense forests and jungles of Yanbaru is the Hiji River, which plummets several meters to produce Okinawa's largest and most spectacular waterfall. Though cliff jumping is prohibited for SOFA status personnel, there's nothing stopping visitors from cooling off from the 1.5-kilometer hike in the refreshing pool below.

The Kerama Islands

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This strip-shaped Tokashiki Island is located in the east of the Kerama Islands, 60 minutes ferry ride from Naha, and populated with approximately 700 villagers. Most of its area is hilly, but the sea with fully developed coral reefs is crystal clear and worthy to be called the "paradise for divers". Both of the two main resort beaches, Tokashiku and Aharen Beaches overlook white beachesof coral sands and emerald green ocean.

Classical Folk Dance

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Early History

Archeological evidence gleaned from illustrated ceramics fragments suggests that dance has been a part of daily life for thousands of years. Many early dances, such as those of Native Americans, derived from ceremonial and ritualistic purposes. Ancient Egyptian and Indian dances often had religious purposes, while those of ancient Greece were more celebratory in nature. While Okinawa has several folk dances related to religious ceremonies, it developed its classical dances in a [...]

Okinawa Japan

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Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan, consists of 57 islands which include the Miyako and Yaeyama groups, with the main island of Okinawa as the center. The only prefecture in Japan that is truly subtropical, Okinawa is a southern paradise where colorful flowers of the subtropics bloom the year-round. The sea that surrounds these islands has an emerald-green sheen, and the resplendent coral reefs are among the world's finest. These natural attractions have given rise to world-cla [...]

Shuri Castle, Okinawa Japan

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Okinawa's Shuri Castle was the residence of the Ryukyu royal family for about 450 years, since the early 15th century, and shone out as a focus for a brilliant dynastic culture. The Seiden (Shuri Castle), above all, is its most important structure, as the site where politics and ceremonies were enacted with the King in attendance. Completely restored in November 1992, the Seiden stands imposinglyon a hill that commands a panoramic view of Naha City and East China Sea.

Iriomote Island, Okinawa Japan

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Iriomote Island of approximately 130Km in size, located in the west of Ishigaki Island, is the second largest island in this prefecture after Okinawa's main land. The most part of the island is mountainius area, over 90% of which is coverd with tropical and subtropical virgin forest, most of which is untouched jungle. The climate of Iriomote is much closer to tropical than subtropical. Overwhelmingrainfall creates tropical rain forest climate, and it has been said to be the last land of myst [...]

Traditional Okinawan Dance

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Okinawan dance can be divided into three types: classical dance, folk dance, and ethnic dance. Classical dance entered Okinawa from China during a period of flourishing trade. These types of dance were used to entertain Sapposi (Chinese diplomats), and they were even perfomed before the king. In contrast with the cheerful folk and ethnic dances performed by the common people, classical dance wasvery conservative.

Eisa

This traditional form of Okinawan folk entertainment is played throug [...]

Naha Okinawa

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When you think of quintessential Japan, you’re likely to think of the charms of Kyoto, with its many tea houses, kimono-clad geiko, elegant shrines, and narrow alleys. On Okinawa, Kyoto’s cultural counterpart is Shuri, the former seat of the royal family of the Ryukyus.

While Kyoto may have been spared from bombing by Allied generals during World War II due to its cultural importance, Shuri was given no such bye. The area was (and is) located on an impressive hilltop, and this, co [...]

Okinawan Bingata

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Bingata is fabric with designs or patterns dyed in a typical Okinawan manner. The techniques involved in the dyeing processes are said to have been developed during the 15th century. The dyeing is performed in one of two ways: Katatsuke or Noribiki. Katatsuke means dyeing by the means of pattern pieces and Noribiki by the means of paste tubes. There are also two different colorations: vivid colorsand the indigo blue. Pigments and vegetable dye are used and applied to such material as cotton, [...]

Okinawan Lacquerware

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Okinawan lacquerware originates from the later part of the 14th century. The wood used is mostly from Deigo, flower-bearing trees commonly seen throughout Okinawa, and Egono-ki. Natural lacquer is used to refine the ware in the finishing processes, where the use of the bright red color is unmatched. The surface of the lacquerware can then be decorated in many different ways: gilded designs or picturesbrocaded. Decoration is also made by gold leaf, gold foil and by using shells.

Okinawa Pottery

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In 1682 three potteries, Chibana Wakuta and Takara-guchi, got together and set up a unified pottery at a place called Tsuboya. Items produced from the kilns here are called Tsuboya-yaki. Tsuboya-yaki are clasified largely into two groups, Arayachi and Jo-yachi. Arayachi denotes those potteries not glazed and large in size, while the latter includes those glazed having painted designs of Okinawa.

The raw material: Shimajiri clay, Kise clay, Kogachi clay, Ishikawa clay, Maeganeku clay, Yamad [...]

Okinawa island, Star Sand

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When tourists flock to Okinawa’s southern Yaeyama Islands during the summer, one of the most popular and coveted souvenirs they can pick up is a bottle of hoshizuna—literally, star sand. Small vials and bottles packed with star-shaped grains backed by garishly colored sand can be purchased from omiyage vendors on Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands, while the more adventurous can collecttheir own on a secluded beach on nearby Taketomi. Of course, the tiny treasures are misnomers, and each [...]