Author: travel67

Buying a house in Japan

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2015 has been a busy year, just one of the reasons is that in March I bought my first house. It was a relatively quick and painless process, but it was difficult finding information about all the associated fees in English so hopefully this post will help others. Back in December 2014, I was browsing the internet housing website Suumo. I wanted to check out the prices, and see what was available in northern Okinawa.  One property in Motobu caught my attention, or to be more specific the view from the house looked amazing. The website showed an approximate location so I decided to drive over. I found the house, and although there were no FOR SALE signs, I knocked on the door. The owner came out a little surprised, but was very friendly.  We had a brief chat and I had a quick look at the exterior. Although it was cloudy, the view was as I’d hoped, fantastic. The next day I called the toll-free number of the Sumo website and was connected through …

Light Painting Workshop

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Fantastic weekend with light painting guru Trevor Williams. Trevor and I have know each other for several years after photographing Okayama’s hadaka matsuri together. It is a real pleasure to be able to bring him down to Okinawa and share his passion for creative photography. A huge thanks to all the participants on the workshop. Your willingness to try something new and push the boundaries of what you think is possible made it a great learning experience for all.

Nobuko Oshiro, Kyoshi 8th dan Okinawa Karate-do Shorinryu, Taishinkan Association

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At 8th-dan Nobuko Oshiro is the highest ranked woman in Okinawa. On Friday, I photographed her at her dojo in Urasoe. At 68 she is strong and healthly, kicking high and punching hard. In a country where women are sometimes seen as decorative “office flowers” Oshiro sensei is breaking down boundaries and shattering ceilings. The phrase “you hit like a girl” is not going to be uttered in her dojo as anything other than a compliment. Photographed with the Pentax 645Z and 90mm lens. Lit with a single Profoto pro-head in a white softlight reflector powered by a 7a generator.

Princess Habu / Hime Habu

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Found this little guy chilling out in the grass in the garden. Took an iPhone pic then asked Okinawa Nature Photograher Shawn Miller what it is. Turns out it is a juvenile Princess habu (Ovophis okinavensis), a venomous pit viper species. The haemotoxic venom is not enough to kill an human, but wouldn’t want the cat or dog to get bitten. I’ll keep the grass and scrub near the house cut short so there are fewer places for them to hide.

The Nago Bypass and Beyond

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A couple of weeks ago I dropped in at the Yanbaru Sangyo Festival in Nago which showcases business in northern Okinawa. I made contact with a few local farmers and other small businesses that produce unique Okinawan products. Hopefully I will meet them again when writing or shooting magazine articles. Another aspect of the festival was showing current and future development plans in the region. Of biggest interest to me were plans for the expansion of the Nago bypass In the image above we see the Nago bypass. Currently, after leaving the expressway at Kyoda you drive north along the coast on the 58, then take a right at the Blue Seal / Mcdonalds junction as you enter Nago. At the next traffic light you turn left onto the new bypass. The image however also shows that the south end of the bypass will eventually join back to the 58. The yellow section of road is a further possible overwater extension connecting the bypass with the expressway. (This could also be done overland) In this …

100 Kata for Karate Day at Zakimi Castle.

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October 25th is Karate Day in Okinawa, at 6AM members of several dojos gathered at Zakimi Castle to perform 100 kata (set forms). There were representatives of many different styles of karate. The event was hosted by James of the DOJO Bar, and Arakaki sensei gave the opening words of encouragement. It was great to see so many nationalities, ages, and ranks taking part. After performing 100 kata of their own styles. Everyone gathered together and performed a single kata at the same time. The group size wasn’t big enough to break a world record this year, but that’s just something to achieve another time. See you all next year! If you’d like a copy of the group pic you can download it for free HERE.

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown – Okinawa

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Last week CNN aired an Okinawa episode of the travel show Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. I worked on the show for a couple of weeks before Anthony arrived helping set up some of the interviews, locations and  arrange permits. This mainly involved driving around the island, making a lot of phone calls and having interesting meetings. Anthony Bourdain, famous as a straight talking, hard living chef has recently become passionate about jiu jitsu. He was therefore extremely interested in the martial arts heritage of Okinawa. This is why karate and Okinawan sumo featured so much in the episode. James Pankiewicz of the DOJO bar in Naha is the guy performing kobudo on the beach. I was taking photos of the 100 Kobudo event while the camera guys were getting B-roll footage for the show. James was also the man showing Anthony around the Makishi Market in Naha, the beach wrestling on Kume Island, Hokama sensei’s dojo, and the Dojo bar itself in the concluding scenes. The DOJO Bar is a great place to visit, or …

The World’s Biggest Tug-of-War, Naha City, Okinawa October 11, 2015

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The world’s biggest Tug-of-War was held once again in Naha City on October 11, 2015. The rope begins in two halves, stretched along the center of Highway 58. Banners are carried along Kokusai Street and then held aloft between the ropes. Representatives of the East and West sections of the rope perform karate kata. Firecrackers are lit deafening those close. After speeches from the Governor of Okinawa, and this year the Governor of Hawaii. The ropes are dragged together. The ends of the ropes are designed to loop one over the other. Numerous men with poles push the ropes as they are drawn together until they are intertwined. The giant wooden connecting pin is then brought to the rope. Around a dozen men hep lift the pin and thread it through the rope. Although it does take a little wiggling. Once the pin is in the ropes are drawn apart locking the pin in place. The kings of the East and West are carried along the rope then challenge each other to battle. Karate masters …