Ryukyu Mura

Our next stop was a step back in time at Ryukyu Mura, a historical and fully functioning Okinawan village. Much like Colonial Willamsburg, Ryukyu Mura features costumed guides that allow visitors to explore the village and learn about local customs and activities. It was a great day to be there because it was sunny and the azaleas were in full bloom. While their bright pink blossoms fluttered in the cool breeze, we strolled along the stone paths and were able to look at several traditional family homes dating back to the Meiji era (1868-1912). It was great fun to look at all the shisa perched on the tops and eaves of the tile-roofed buildings. And at one home, I got to pluck out a few notes on a sanshin on the front steps with the help of a guide. We also visited a working pottery studio and got to see how black sugar is made. One of the highlights of the visit was our visit to the Habu Pit, but I will save that story for when Matt loads the video footage to our computers. For now, I hope you enjoy a few pictures from the village.

I was far from a natural, but it was pretty cool to try my hand at one of the instruments that is important to eisa music. When we first arrived at the village we watched a show with traditional dances and sanshin music.

A traditional Okinawan home which also housed an indigo-dyeing exhibit. Okinawa is know for its colorfully-dyed bingata fabric and kimono.

Azalea blossoms and a Torii gate. In Hanakotoba, the "language" of Japanese flowers, azaleas symbolize patience and modesty. They bloom for a two-month period and are celebrated with several festivals in Japan.

Goat in the livestock shed. Okinawans kept many types of livestock including chickens, pigs and oxen (and some still do, which might account for the roosters in our neighborhood that crow at 4 a.m. :) ).