portrait project | TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography

Narihiro Shinjo – Uechi Ryu Karate, Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.

Meitetsu Yagi and son Ippei Yagi of Meibukan Karate at Fukushu En, Naha, Okinawa, Japan

Yukio Kuniyoshi. Kaicho of Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai. Training on Okinawa, Japan with manji sai.

Seiyu Nakamura, 10th Dan Okinawa Dentou Shidokan Karate and Kobujutsu. Training with bo staff outside his dojo in Kochinda, Okinawa, Japan.

Masahiro Nakamoto – Hanshi 10th dan, Okinawa Dentou Kobudo outside the Budokan, Naha City, Okinawa

Yoshimasa Matsuda Hanshi 9th-dan Okinawa Shorin-ryu Myobukan at Naminoue Shrine, Naha City, Okinawa.

Masaharu Higa 8th dan Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-Do Myobu-kan Yomitan Chapter Dojo

Katsuyoshi Chibana 7th-dan Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-Do Myobu-kan Yomitan at Zakimi Castle, Okinawa, Japan

Kensho Tokumura, Hanshi 9th-dan Ryukyu Dento Kobujutsu Hozon Budo Kyokai Training on Heshikiya Beach, Katsuren, Okinawa. 德村賢昌　範士九段　　　琉球伝統古武術保存武道協会

Tsuneo Shimabukuro 島袋常雄　9th-dan Uechi-ryu Karate, 9th-dan Ryukyu Kobudo

Imperial Palace, Kyoto, Japan. 23/10/2011 Participant in Kyoto’s Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Ages). Delayed by a day due to rain, Jidai Matsuri took place with a parade of around 2000 Japanese in traditional costumes. Parade travels from the Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine. Costumes include Meji Restoration, Muromachi, to Heian Period

Gion Matsuri, Kyoto

Imperial Palace, Kyoto, Japan. 23/10/2011 Participant in Kyoto’s Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Ages). Delayed by a day due to rain, Jidai Matsuri took place with a parade of around 2000 Japanese in traditional costumes. Parade travels from the Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine. Costumes include Meji Restoration, Muromachi, to Heian Period

Geiko Tamaha of Gion Kobu dressed as the female samurai and concubine Tomoe Gozen. Kyoto’s Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Ages).

Gion Matsuri, Kyoto

Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto

Gion Matsuri

Ukai cormorant fishing

Kodai-ji Temple, Kyoto. Formerly Kodaijusho-zenji Temple. Established by Kita-no-Mandokoro ( Nene ) for her late husband Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Imperial Palace, Kyoto, Japan. 23/10/2011 Participant in Kyoto’s Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Ages). Delayed by a day due to rain, Jidai Matsuri took place with a parade of around 2000 Japanese in traditional costumes. Parade travels from the Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine. Costumes include Meji Restoration, Muromachi, to Heian Period

Kyoto, Japan

Wakasa – traditional Japanese umbrella. Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan

Ginkaku-ji

Kodai-ji Temple, Kyoto. Formerly Kodaijusho-zenji Temple. Established by Kita-no-Mandokoro ( Nene ) for her late husband Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Imperial Palace, Kyoto, Japan. 23/10/2011 Participant in Kyoto’s Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Ages). Delayed by a day due to rain, Jidai Matsuri took place with a parade of around 2000 Japanese in traditional costumes. Parade travels from the Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine. Costumes include Meji Restoration, Muromachi, to Heian Period

Kyoto, Japan

Sanja Matsuri, Asakusa, Tokyo. Small mikoshi for small children. The whole family takes part in the celebration.

Sanja Matsuri, Asakusa, Tokyo. Sometimes a different angle gives you a new perspective on a festival. Tightly packed, pushing and shoving, teams of men and women carry mikoshi towards Asakusa Shrine.

Love Hotel prices – Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo Japan’s most famous red light district.

Hachiko Scramble Pedestrian Crossing, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Busiest pedestrian crossing in the world.

Fuji Television Studios Building, Odaiba, Tokyo, JAPAN. Designed by architect Kenzo Tange

Koenji Awa Odori, a traditional dance festival held in Koenji, Tokyo, Japan. Sun. August 24th 2014

Fukagawa Fetival aka water throwing festival held at Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine, Tokyo, Japan on Sunday Aug 16, 2014. Water thrown at mikoshi (portable shirines) carried through streets in one of the great Shinto festivals of Tokyo.

Fukagawa Fetival aka water throwing festival held at Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine, Tokyo, Japan on Sunday Aug 17, 2014. Water thrown at mikoshi (portable shirines) carried through streets in one of the great Shinto festivals of Tokyo.

Pepper a humanoid robot by Aldebaran Robotics and SoftBank Mobile. At the Aoyama Softbank Store, Tokyo, Japan.

18-meter Gundam Statue in front of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, Odaiba, Tokyo.

6.6-meter Godzilla at Tokyo Midtown’s garden in Roppongi Tokyo. Celebrating 60th anniversary of first “Godzilla’’ movie in 1954.

The National Art Center, Tokyo, Roppongi, by Kisho Kurokawa

Maman (1999) i bronze, stainless steel, and marble sculpture of spider by the artist Louise Bourgeois at the base of Mori Tower. Roppongi, Tokyo

Godzilla Statue beside the Toho Hibiya Building, Tokyo, Japan.

Shinkansen Bullet train and Tokyo Forum Building

Dancing in the streets at the 33rd Asakusa Samba Festival in Tokyo, Japan. Sat. 14 August 2014. 22 teams including local Japanese and Brazilians bring Samba to the roads around Asakusa Shrine. Watched by around 500,000 spectators.

St. Mary’s Cathedral Tokyo, designed by Japanese architect Tange Kenzo (dedicated in 1964)

The climbing season for Mt. Fuji runs July 1 to September 14. Thousands climb the trail at night to see the dawn from the summit.

Cape Zanpa at Dusk, Yomitan

Okinawan woman dressed in traditional Bingata Kimono at Shuri Castle, Okinawa, Japan

Orchid, Bios Botanical Gardens, Okinawa

World’s largest tug of war. Held on route 58, close by Kokusai Street

Maeda Flats at Dusk, Yomitan.

Mushaama Harvest Festival Hateruma Island Yaeyamas, Okinawa, Japan

The highlight of October’s Shuri Castle Festival is a lavish recreation of the 1800 Sappou Coronation, which formalized the Chinese Emperor’s recognition of the Ryukyu King. This was particularly important for the islanders as it gave them both protection and the right to trade with China.

Elderly Okinawan lady dancing with a bottle of Awamori balanced on her head. Ryukyu Mura, Okinawa

Shiki – Ryukyu Laquerware with dragon motif, on sale on Kokusai Street, Naha City, Okinawa

Taketomi Island, Yaeyama Islands, Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa, Japan

Bull on Bull wresting in Gushikawa, Okinawa.

Haari, dragon boat racing, Okinawa

Shuri Castle has two major annual festivals. On each of the first three days of the year, a New Year Ceremony is held in the courtyard followed by performances of Ryukyu Dance. A local woman and man are chosen to play the parts of the Ryukyu King and Queen at the ceremony.

Okinawa Rail known locally as the Yanbaru Kuina. Endemic to Okinawa and critically endangered.

Ryukyu dance performance at Shuri Castle.

Zakimi Castle, Yomitan, Okinawa.

Shuri Castle, Okinawa, japan

Surfing at Maeda in Yomitan

Cape Manza, a popular diving spot, Okinawa, Japan.

Mushaama Harvest Festival Hateruma Island Yaeyamas, Okinawa, Japan

traditional Bingata Kimono at Shuri Castle, Okinawa, Japan

A chondara is like an Okinawan clown that takes part in Eisa, encouraging both the dancers and the crowd.

Kayaking in the mangroves, Ginoza.

A young girl plays a traditional conch shell horn at the Eisa dance along Kokusai Street

Mushaama Harvest Festival Hateruma Island Yaeyamas, Okinawa, Japan

Ikema-Jima Beach and Ocean – Miyako Island, Okinawa, Japan

Elderly Okinawan Woman, Yomitan.

Okinawan girl in field of cosmos flowers.

Okinawan woman in traditional dress.

Kin Town Mud Festival, Okinawa, Japan.

Ikema-Jima Bridge- Miyako Island, Okinawa, Japan

Okinawan man at Yoshino Beach – Miyako Island, Okinawa, Japan

Shisa at Yoneko-Yaki Pottery, Ishigaki

Surfer in Yomitan

Sabani Racing, Okinawa

96 year old Kaneshi Fusae wearing wreath of ryukyu botanzuru at Unjami Festival on Kouri Island, Okinawa

Toguchi Ayako (79) leads prayers at Unjami Festival on Kouri Island, Okinawa

Okinawa Cherry Blossom, Motobu

Young okinawan woman in traditional yukata at at Ryukyu Mura, Yomitan Village, Okinawa, Japan

2000 kilometers south of Tokyo, lies the emerald green island of Ishigaki. Surrounded by crystal-clear waters, coral reefs and white sand beaches, Ishigaki has become a heavenly retreat for urban Japanese. Cramped trains and concrete cityscapes are replaced by palm lined roads and ocean panoramas. Tsukuji Beach is a quiet stretch of sand that could best be described as paradise.

Humpback Whale Breaches off the coast of Ie Island, Okinawa, Japan

Narihiro Shinjo – Uechi Ryu Karate, Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.

On April 3rd 2014 (3rd day of 3rd month in Okinawa calendar) Yuta (priestess) Ayako Toguchi conducts a special ceremony in a sea cave called Sururu Gama on the coast of Kouri Island, Okinawa, Japan