Island Transport in Okinawa
When the US occupied the Okinawa islands in southwest Japan, they switched the rules of the road to make everyone drive on the right. When they withdrew, the local people switched them right back. The chaos that resulted from these frequent changes never filtered through to the transport link between Yubu & Iriomote. These remote Yaeyama islanders did what they had always done*: they let the water buffalo choose the route.
Rush Hour at the Water Buffalo Crossing
These water buffaloes start their training at the age of two and it’s a process that takes a full year. They then plod across the paradise shores at their own pace until easing into part-time work prior to retirement.
Sanshin Guitar - Okinawa Culture
The simple twang of the Ryukyu sanshin guitar keeps them entertained, as you can hear on the video below.
What did I make of this unusual journey? Well, when we arrived the water was glistening, the beach deserted and the buffalo carts looked like a mirage from another time and place. *As it turns out, that other time was the early 20th century and the other place was Taiwan.
Too Young to Start Training
Never mind. It’s still an iconic image in my mind – and one I’ll always associate with the islands of Okinawa.
My memories of Okinawa
These photos form part of Photo Friday with Delicious Baby. Head over there for some more travel photo goodness.
You can arrange a water buffalo trip in the Yaeyama Islands yourself through my host Hirata Tourism Inc.
Buffalo Tracing...
i love these photos – what an incredible trip! great idea – i’ll file it away for future reference!
Abi,
Nice video and interesting Okinawan tradition. What is buffalo tracing? Some kind of family tree for herbivores?
Jason
No idea – but Japan does seem keen on small, anthropomorphic representations of animals!
I’m half-Okinawan, lived on the mainland as a kid but never visited the other island so I’m not sure about the whole buffalo tracing pic but it seems to be the names of the buffalo and their dates of birth. H being short for Heisei, the current imperial age, the alternate way of counting years in Japan. Sorry it’s not a greater insight.
Sorry for my slow reply. That’s actually a great insight about the H for Heisei as a way of measuring age. How many ways are there of counting years in Japan? Thanks, Abi