Jungle hiking in tropical rainforest of Iriomote Island, Japan, Okinawa by Ippei & Janine
Via Flickr:
Iriomote Island, Okinawa, Japan Iriomote Island is the second largest island of Okinawa. Largely undeveloped, 90% of the island is covered by dense jungle. Iriomote Island belongs to the Yaeyama Island group which boasts of paradisical beaches, untouched tropical rainforests, lush mangrove rivers and one of the world's largest healthy coral reef systems. > Islands of Japan Check out the beautiful Japanese islands that we recommend: ippei-janine.com/travel-japan-islands/
Haisai, gusuuyoo.
I hope everyone is safe and doing well.
I teamed up with Nami Oshiro, a fantastic Shimanchu American artist based in Virginia, to create the first three items in an ongoing effort to raise funds for independent Shimakutuba practitioners and projects.
Many Shimanchu creators and educators are doing the work on their own time and out of their own pockets, so I'm hoping that this (and future fundraisers) can be a small show of support and gratitude.
This 3" sticker, 2.25" button, and 1.25" acrylic pin set features a Ramones logo-inspired design with an open-mouth shiisaa symbolizing the sharing of good things, i.e. our indigenous languages. There are several distinct languages throughout the Ryūkyū Islands (all of which are endangered), so we decided to go with the six regions recognized by UNESCO: Amami, Kunjan (Kunigami), Uchinaa (Okinawa), Myaaku (Miyako), Yaima (Yaeyama), Dunan (Yonaguni).
Please visit the Ko‑fi shop today! All proceeds (minus item production costs and shipping fees) will be donated to individuals/groups and I'll post receipts once the donations are made.
P.S. I'm still selling items through the Shimanchu Dushi-nu-chaa Online Sale, if you're interested in combining shipping.
🌹Let's learn some new vocabulary from the Japanese constitution.
Yonaguni (Dunan) simply does not possess the vocabulary to express many modern concepts, but authors 宮良 作 and 宮良純一郎 managed to coined or developed new political terms by combining different existing words.
This methodology is, of course, very common in Yonaguni terminology.
🌺道筋(みてぃすでぃ)- reason, principle
🌺睦まつぁん(むちまつぁん)- harmonious
🌺睦まさるん(むちまさるん)- to get along well
🌺人人間(っとぅにんぎん)- individual
🌺どぅぬ中(どぅぬなが)- society, world
🌺社会(しゃかい)- society
🌺関わり(かかわり)- relationship, relation
🌺企み(くるみ)- plan
🌺企び(たぐらび)- plan
🌺国(ふん)- country
🌺我達国(ばんたふん)- our country
🌺国ぬ民(ふんぬたみ)- the people, common people
🌺国ぬ形どぅきみひる力(ふんぬかたちどぅきみひるしから)- national sovereignty, the sovereignty of the people
🌺心んききみるん(くぐるんききみるん)- to make a resolution, to pass a resolution
🌺戦道具(いくつぁどぅく゚)- equipment, armed force, gear, weapons
🌺戦道具力(いくつぁどぅく゚しから)- war potential, force, strength, military power
🌺捨てぃひるん(かてぃひるん)- to give up, to relinquish
🌺国どぅ納みひる仕事(ふんどぅうさみるしかま)- national politics
🌺納みひる仕事(うさみるしかま)- politics
🌺意見(いきん)- opinion
🌺永遠(えいいん)- eternity
🌺強さる力(すさるしから)- authority, power,
🌺真高ぬ関係(まーだがぬかんけい)- equal relationship
🌺真丈ぬ関係(まーたぎぬかんけい)- equal relationship
🌺行ない(うぐない)- behavior
🌺確かとぅきみるん(しかとぅきみるん)- to define clearly
🌺使い働ぐん(かいはたらぐん)- to exercise power or authority
🔃 SHUFFLE PLAY 🔃
Weekly random selection of one traditional song and one modern song
A couple of songs for the soul after yet another unthinkable tragedy and the U.S. government continuing to willfully disregard our safety.
🎶 "Sanyama Bushi" (traditional) 🎶
Rendition by Shinjin Kise
Full translation below
🎶 "Warabigami" 🎶
Misako Koja
Translation excerpt below
Misako Koja's "Warabigami," written in 1997 affer the birth of her first grandchild, hits differently in this context. The first time I heard a mournful rendition of the song was when she performed it at a June 19, 2016 protest rally (attended by tens of thousands of Shimanchu and allies) following the murder of 20-year-old Rina Shimabukuro by American civilian contractor and ex-U.S. Marine Kenneth Franklin Gadson. Surely, Koja never imagined having to sing the song under such circumstances.
⤵️ Some translations below ⤵️
(by no means am I an expert, so apologies in advance for any mistakes!)
---
🎶 SANYAMA BUSHI 🎶
Translation from "Nufani: English Translation of Kumiodori and Okinawan Poetry," Naganori Komine:
"I can't believe it's real!
I'm at quite a loss.
It's like the daze that comes
Just after a nightmare."
---
🎶 WARABIGAMI 🎶
Translation excerpt from karakui.wordpress.com:
"Though stormy winds may blow
As you go through this world
I will shelter you from the storm,
so you may bloom like a flower
Irayo hei, irayo hoi, irayo,
My dearest child,
Don't you cry, heiyo heiyo,
May the heavens shine on you
Be a good human being,
heiyo, heiyo,
To lead a worthy life"