July 30, 1978
In 1972, Okinawa rejoined Japan. Six years later, on 30th July 1978 traffic rules reverted, so that once again cars drove on the left. A small memorial beside the 730 Crossing on Ishigaki island, serves as a reminder.
All posts filed under: Japan
Genki Oba-chan
Okinawan women not only have the longest life expectancy in the world, but the extra years are usually healthy, happy and productive. The reason is more nurture than nature, so eat your veggies, get some exercise, cherish your friendships, and remember to smile.
Brian Hobson 7th Dan Okinawa Shorinryu Kiyobukan
After photographing Seiei Nakaza sensei, I took a few shots of his senior student, Brian Hobson. It might seem strange to call a 7th dan black belt a student, but even those who have studied karate for decades often visit Okinawa to learn from the masters of the art.
Okinawan Woman
Rainy season in Okinawa, but at least some people are still smiling. Pentax 645D HD PENTAX-D FA645 MACRO 90mmF2.8ED AW S
Noguchi-gera / Pryer’s Woodpecker / Sapheopipo noguchii
Up early again today. Jumped in the car and met up with birder Ichiro Kikuta to check out another family of Pryer’s Woodpeckers. It was misty and rainy, but the hole in the tree was low to the ground and close to the road. I set up the tripod in the back of the car and shot from cover out through the open window. (Jack Reacher would have approved.) Every few minutes the female, or the more flamboyant red-capped male, would return to the nest with a beak full of insects. Ichiro said that the chicks were almost ready to fly as the parents didn’t even have to go inside to feed them. Pentax 645D with SMC PENTAX-FA★645 300mm F4ED[IF] and 1.4x Rear Converter
Ie Island, Okinawa
Took a 30 minute ferry ride from Motobu across to Ie Island. I’d never been to the island previously, which is amazing considering I’ve lived on Okinawa for over a decade. It also looks to have some great shore diving. Ie is famous for beef, togan, and brown sugar, but surprisingly the main crop on the island was tobacco. Ie island was heavily bombed during the Battle of Okinawa. The local population hid in caves to try and survive the typhoon of steel. In one cave called Niya-Thiya, around a 1000 locals waited out the battle. US war correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed on Ie Island on April 18th 1945. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1944, and covered the war in Europe, Africa and the Pacific. The main event on Ie Island is the Lily Festival that takes place from the end of April to the beginning of May. There are fields of white lilies, and also several rows of the more colorful varieties of Lily.
No Osprey Protest – Torii Base, Okinawa
Another No Osprey protest took place last week outside of Torii Army Base. It was much smaller than the event I’d previously photographed near the Ginowan Convention Center. On Friday, there were around 100 protestors (and a couple of bulls), and it only lasted for around 30 minutes. There were several short speeches by leaders of the group about not wanting Osprey helicopters and military bases on Okinawa. Then as a group they faced the gate and shouted their demands. They chanted in Japanese that they didn’t want the helicopters, they didn’t want bases, and they didn’t want military on Okinawa. Then after a brief pause, the chant became “Yankee go home, Yankee go home, Yankee go home.” This was the last thing shouted, and then the protest ended and the gathering broke up. The presence of military bases in Okinawa is a contentious and complicated issue. The Okinawans have every right to voice their opinions and try to effect change on the political situation. However, to end a demonstration repeatedly chanting “Yankee go home,” …
Ryukyu Mike
While out shooting Rie in the flower field I bumped into Ryukyu Mike for the first time. He’s a long term resident of Okinawa, and he loves to document the local flora and fauna. Check out Mike’s blog over at Ryukyulife.com . Hopefully Mike and I will meet up more often, and go out shooting. He’s a friendly guy, who clearly has good taste in cameras 😉 Any similarity to Albus Dumbledore or Gandalf is purely coincidental.
Tatami Rocks – Kume Island, Okinawa
Interesting interlocking rocks on Kume Island. They’re called tatami rocks after the Japanese floor matting, but they look more like turtle shells to me.
Travels through the Cosmos
Good weather, and a field of flowers in bloom. Time to get out of the studio, and make the most of the natural environment. Model – Rie Tanaka Makeup and Hair – Summer Johnson.
