Category: Rituals & Beliefs

The god who created Okinawa. In the second volume of … Continued

Eisā (July Eisā) is an event celebrating Kyūbon, especially popular … Continued

I was chatting with a Chinese friend of mine who … Continued

In the Beginning, there was a gusuku; like the one … Continued

Tarama Island is located right in-between Miyako and Ishigaki Islands. … Continued

Tattoo. Spelled “needle thrust” in Japanese, hajichi carves designs in … Continued

Hinukan (god of fire) is usually enshrined near the kitchen … Continued

The Izaihō is a divine ritual that takes place on … Continued

In general, a building where the noro (priestess) performs religious … Continued

A kind of trickster believed to be found in every … Continued

An island situated 6 km to the east of the … Continued

Miruku is a god worshipped widely in Okinawa and has … Continued

People are suffering from the heat all over Japan, yet … Continued

A world different from ours, where the gods live, an … Continued

My obaa (grandma) is a noro, and our family’s house … Continued

Onari or unai means “sisters.” We might say that the … Continued

In Okinawa, typhoon and drought are two natural phenomena that … Continued

Countless varieties of butterflies can be found on Okinawa Island … Continued

Rampant plants are believed to have the power to drive … Continued

On the day to celebrate the new season1 in the … Continued

“We had shīmī yesterday.”　“I guess you're having shīmī bento today … Continued

Shishi-mai—the lion dance is a folk performing art traditionally handed … Continued

Tachigan, tonbara, twungan, tachise—called by various names on various islands, … Continued

Tanetori is an agricultural event in which rice seeds are … Continued

In Okinawan, we call the sun tida or teda. There … Continued

In the Amami Islands, people pray to their ancestors at … Continued

We often hear people say, “It’s hectic during the Bon1 … Continued

Kikkoubaka, the turtleback tomb, was named after its exterior shape … Continued

Praying to Gods and Buddhas. In Okinawa, it does not … Continued