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Travel Journal of Miyako Island, Okinawa #1

2016.10.09

Travel

I went to Miyako Island recently.
I have traveled the main island of Okinawa, Ishigaki Island, Taketomi Island
and Iriomote Island not once or twice.
But it was only the second time for me to go to Miyako Island,
so this time I toured mainly places where I didn’t go last time.

 

Miyako Island is located about 300 kms southwest from the main island of Okinawa
and is in the middle of the main island of Okinawa and Taiwan.
It is a flat island with no mountains unlike Ishigaki or Iriomote.
When I looked out of the plane window, it looked like a cute fairy tale island.
That said, about 51,000 people live in the island and its outer perimeter is
about the same as that of Osaka City.
And, habu(poisonous snakes) do not inhabit in Miyako Island,
which is unusual for Okinawan islands. (H.S)

 


The sea near Miyako Island Marine Park.
The blue of the sea of Miyako Island is called “Miyako Blue”.
There are many tropical fish and divers all around the world have a longing for the sea.

 


It is said that this Yonaha-Maehama is the most beautiful beach in the orient.
The beach sand is very fine and I was surprised at the smooth touch when I walked barefoot.
Miyako Island Triathlon Event held in April of each year starts this beach.

 


Higashihenna-zaki Cape is located on the edge of the southeast of the island.
East China Sea spreads out before my eyes. Looking such a superb view, I feel cleansed.

 


The lighthouse on the Higashihenna-zaki Cape. You can go up to the top of it.
If you climb the 100 steps, you can enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea.

 


I can’t help but take photos of hibiscus.

 


At a Folk song Izakaya. Visitors can also sing there. The man in the middle is
a local customer and he is very good at singing and playing sanshin.
This is just as expected of Miyako Island where folk songs are popular.

Japanese Summer Festival Part-4

It has beeng a little bit cooler and autumn-like in Japan.

How about where you live, is it cool or hot?

 

In Japan, there are festivals throughout the year.

As much as you can enjoy summer festivals feeling the hot weather of summer,

you can also have a great time in autumn festivals feeling the cool autumn breeze as well.

 

 

Do you know the oldest festival in Japan?

 

Aoi festival is the oldest and it was started in Kyoto in 567.

This festival is one of the three great festivals of Kyoto in May.

Two other festivals are Gion festival in July and Jidai festival in October.

Aoi festival is also known as Kamo festival and this is conducted

at both Kami (upper) Kamo and Shimo (lower) Kamo shrines.

 

It is said that first Aoi festival was held when Wakeikaduchinokami (one of the Japanese gods) came down to a mountain in north-northwest of the current main shrine building.

 

In 567, many natural disasters occurred and crops could not grow.

Then, the emperor at that time told a fortune teller to see what was happening

and he found out that curses of god were causing a poor crop.

 

Therefore, farmers and villagers had the festival to pacify the curses

and this was the beginning of Aoi festival.

 

I would like to share a video of “Japanesquest”,

“Aoi Matsuri Festival in Kyoto! / Video Japan Guide”

 

 

T.F

Canoe Touring in Lake Kitagata / Certificate of Completion

2016.10.06

Sports

 

I received a certificate of completion with photographs

from “Canoe Touring / Travelling Through the Lake – From Lake Kitagata to Japan Sea” conducted by Prefectural Awara Youth House in Awara City, Fukui Prefecture.

In the photographs, I am wearing a helmet for the river in order to put a GoPro on it.

Now, I can see how I looked with the helmet and the GoPro that day.

 

At Prefectural Awara Youth House in Awara City, there are a variety of activities available,

one of which is canoeing. Parties of three or more people can use the facility.

There is accommodation available, so you and your family can stay overnight

and make the most of your stay.

 

Although the activities are introduced as “trainings” on their website so they sound a bit formal, but they are acutually enjoyable.

Compare to what people usually do for sightseeing tours such as visitng temples, shrines and everything in between, I think that staying in Awara Onsen (a hot spring area in Awara City, Fukui) and canoeing can be a different, a unique and a recommendable tour.

 

 

T.S

Fragrant Olive Blossoms 

In late September, there is a moment that I become aware of the scent of a fragrant olive.
It is like an announcement that I receive at certain times of the year.
And it seems like it brings little pleasure.

 

This year as well, the moment came suddenly too.
It was as if the fragrant olive came to inform me “I have blossomed”.
And, on the balcony where I hang out the laundry, I view the blossoms
admiring the dutifulness, which I usually pay no attention to. (H.S)

 

 

VENUS / JETS -Amazing Japanese Cheering Squads - Part-1 -Film of JETS, “Cheer and Dance” will be released in March, 2017!!-

2016.10.04

JETS and Grace JETS

The cheering squad of Fukui Commercial High School, "JETS" has been made into a movie

and the movie will be released in March, 2017.


The models of the movie are the first members of JETS.

A few of the first members formed an adult cheering squad, "VENUS" after they graduated from the high school. They perform and participate in cheering competition actively.

 

The ones who did not join VENUS, some of them became dancers.

I took one of their dance lessons just the other day.

The dance instructor had such a great energy and amazing skills

as same as performers of JETS and VENUS have.

I had such a great time and I was also impressed by the instructor's delightful personality.

 

I would like to share the movie trailer of “Cheer and Dance” by “TOHO MOVIE CHANNEL”, please enjoy it.
*Only available in Japanese.

 

T.F

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