Okinawa - Craftsmen

Going to the Dogs 🦁🐶

It's Tuesday, time for another outing. Shisa painting! Okinawa loves its lion dogs, basically the mascot here. And I love it too. There are Shisas in all sorts of designs, from cute to downright scary.
I already learned in Nagano that you enter temple grounds from the side where the mouth is open.
Today I learn that the male Shisas are the ones with open mouths, while the female ones have their mouths closed and are on the farewell side.

When I saw this offer, I was all for it. And that's despite being in my own way. On the one hand, I strive for perfection, and on the other hand, there's my old 'I'm totally uncreative' pattern. But hey, if you believe you can or can't do something, you're right. If I limit myself from the start with an 'I'm uncreative!' or 'I can't do that!', then I will fulfill that.

I enjoy the hour, let myself drift. It's so relaxing and unpretentious, in the true sense of the word. I have no demands, I just do it and have fun. And yes, I'm proud of the result too. I even like it so much that while writing these lines, I think to myself: 'A Shisa is beautiful. But incomplete. Every welcome also includes a farewell.' No two minutes later, I have booked another appointment, this time for a female Shisa. 😅

Strolling to the Mall 🚶‍♂️

After this little success, I continue on. It's 10:30, sunny weather at 24°C with a light breeze. It won't get any hotter, perfect. This time I'm listening to something new in my ears. I stumbled upon Sebastian Böhm. 'Sweet Dreams' in a synthy-epic orchestra version?! That rocks.

While wandering around, I consider finally trying the national hamburger chain, Mos Burger. I end up in the mall, head for Mos Burger, and pause. I've seen some storage options, but this one is simply ingenious and ingeniously simple. Have you bought something that needs to be kept cool, but you want to continue shopping in the mall? No problem.

Off to Mos Burger, but I won't even get that far because I'm once again drawn to a bento box, this time with fresh eel and matcha. Fresh, healthy, and delicious for €6.57. I'd be stupid to want to exchange that. And if you buy one late in the evening, you can get it for half the price.

First Graders 🚸

After the mall, I pass by an elementary school and see two classes in their sport uniforms on the sports field. Dark blue shorts, white t-shirts, red caps. Doing sports in the blazing sun at 24°C.

At the entrance of the school, I see flower pots with names on them. Slowly, I begin to understand where all this respect comes from. Here you take care of something entrusted to you, from an early age. And it's evident for everyone to see if you mess up. In a society where reputation is everything, it's the worst thing that can happen to you.

Feeling a Little Homesick 😶

I go to an elevated park. It's a relief to eat without the influence of media, simply enjoying the food, letting my gaze wander, feeling the wind on my skin, and listening to the birds. It's calming. Occasionally, I feel the slight urge to unpack my headphones and listen to a German podcast. Part out of habit, part out of a small longing for German presence.
Recently, I watched the trailer for a road movie that's on my watchlist. One of those movies you don't watch alone. And a quote from it fittingly applies to this journey.

'Did you know that the human body starts releasing stress hormones after just a few minutes of being alone?'

Yes, I knew that. That's also why I occasionally need the German chatter in my ears. That's also why I prefer going to Starbucks to work from there. I don't understand a word, I listen to music, but the presence of people is calming. I can be alone, but I don't have to be. I have a certain choice.

I have to admit, I like the plastic bags here. No, not the fact that it's plastic. Japan really has a problem with plastic. The manufacturers have recognized that you can't throw away your trash at every corner here and that these plastic bags work. Accordingly, you not only have handles on two sides, but also two opposite tabs rotated by 90 degrees, so you can tie it not only at the handles but also at these two tabs. This keeps everything firmly in place and nothing falls out.

As I pack my things, two US fighter jets tear through the silence on cue. USA, tsunamis, earthquakes - something is always in the air here. A few days later, I will see other tsunami signs, this time in red, at the beach. Color-coded, makes sense.

Shopping 🛒

I thought I had seen all kinds of chips, but chips with lemon flavor, that's new even for me here. I hesitate only briefly, but what the heck; when will I get another opportunity. And what can I say: salty, lemony, chip-like. I would easily get another pack.

It's 5:30 PM, the perfect time for the photo booth girls. Tea in hand, I continue working. In between, I'll take another break to perform my shrine ritual. This time behind a karate school. By the way, that's also a point I didn't even have on the radar. Okinawa is the birthplace of karate.

In a good mood after visiting the shrine, I hop into the 7-11, where I'm greeted cheerfully and also in a good mood by a mid-20s employee. He throws out a few English words, proudly states the amount to be paid in English, which I compliment accordingly. In turn, he compliments my 'Arigato Gozaimasu' enthusiastically and cheerfully. Just like most people here when I say those two words. It's infectious every time. 😀🙇