JAWing On – Life on Okinawa

Saturday August 20, 2005 [PC(9/365) LW(12/365) H (11/365) ]

August 2005 Total:
S-sunny (6/365) C-cloudy (5/365) PC-partly cloudy (9/365)
R-rainy (1/365)
W-windy (3/365) LW-light winds (12/365) VW-very windy (2/365)
H-humid (11/365) SH-slightly humid (7/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S-sunny (19/365) C-cloudy (20/365) PC-partly cloudy (40/365)
D-drizzle (2/365) R-rainy (3/365) SR-scattered rain showers (9/365)
W-windy (24/365) LW-light winds (47/365) VW-very windy (3/365)
H-humid (31/365) SH-slightly humid (46/365)

Although rain is a frequent part of life on Okinawa, this size of rainbow rarely occurs. It was so large it wouldn’t fit into one picture, even from a distance.

(Click on image to view large size)

Friday August 19, 2005 [C(5/365) ]

August 2005 Total:
S-sunny (6/365) C-cloudy (5/365) PC-partly cloudy (8/365)
R-rainy (1/365)
W-windy (3/365) LW-light winds (11/365) VW-very windy (2/365)
H-humid (10/365) SH-slightly humid (7/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S-sunny (19/365) C-cloudy (20/365) PC-partly cloudy (39/365)
D-drizzle (2/365) R-rainy (3/365) SR-scattered rain showers (9/365)
W-windy (24/365) LW-light winds (46/365) VW-very windy (3/365)
H-humid (30/365) SH-slightly humid (46/365)

Thursday August 18, 2005 [C(4/365) R(1/365) SH(8/365) ]

August 2005 Total:
S-sunny (6/365) C-cloudy (4/365) PC-partly cloudy (8/365)
R-rainy (1/365)
W-windy (3/365) LW-light winds (11/365) VW-very windy (2/365)
H-humid (10/365) SH-slightly humid (7/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S-sunny (19/365) C-cloudy (19/365) PC-partly cloudy (39/365)
D-drizzle (2/365) R-rainy (3/365) SR-scattered rain showers (9/365)
W-windy (24/365) LW-light winds (46/365) VW-very windy (3/365)
H-humid (30/365) SH-slightly humid (46/365)

Last week I was reading an article in one of the online English language Japanese newspapers on the philosophy of “bi” (pronounced bee). The article discussed the obsession with outer beauty and the numerous possible methods used in the quest to achieve perfect external beauty. This obsession with perfection in beauty seems to be one not only of Japan but of the world. I had heard somewhere that two years ago the number two graduating present for female high school seniors was plastic surgery. Personally, I prefer the Japanese philosophy of “wabi sabi”. This is not the green horseradish used on sushi (wasabi), but the philosophy of finding the beauty in imperfection. In Western terms the difference between the two philosophies could be described in does one see the glass half empty or half full. As I see it, proponents of “bi” are seeing the glass as half empty and are forever on a quest to improve on an imperfection. On the other hand, the proponents of “wabi sabi” are viewing the glass as half full and are replenished by exploring the character of what is already there including the imperfection.

Weekly Hogen (Okinawan Dialect) :
English – please come again
Japanese – mataoidekudasai (?????????)?
Hogen – matanmensooryoo (??????????)

Wednesday August 17, 2005 [S (6/365) LW(11/365) SH(7/365) ]

August 2005 Total:
S-sunny (6/365) C-cloudy (3/365) PC-partly cloudy (8/365)
W-windy (3/365) LW-light winds (11/365) VW-very windy (2/365)
H-humid (10/365) SH-slightly humid (7/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S-sunny (19/365) C-cloudy (18/365) PC-partly cloudy (39/365)
D-drizzle (2/365) R-rainy (2/365) SR-scattered rain showers (9/365)
W-windy (24/365) LW-light winds (46/365) VW-very windy (3/365)
H-humid (30/365) SH-slightly humid (45/365)

Tuesday August 16, 2005 [S (5/365) LW(10/365) H(10/365) ]

August 2005 Total:
S-sunny (5/365) C-cloudy (3/365) PC-partly cloudy (8/365)
W-windy (3/365) LW-light winds (10/365) VW-very windy (2/365)
H-humid (10/365) SH-slightly humid (6/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S-sunny (18/365) C-cloudy (18/365) PC-partly cloudy (39/365)
D-drizzle (2/365) R-rainy (2/365) SR-scattered rain showers (9/365)
W-windy (24/365) LW-light winds (45/365) VW-very windy (3/365)
H-humid (30/365) SH-slightly humid (44/365)

This weekend is Obon time again. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Obon, it is the local tradition where family members make an annual pilgrimage to the home of the eldest surviving son of the eldest son of the eldest son on both sides of the family to pay respects to those who came before them. This provides a chance for all the members of the family to reconnect. Along with the tradition comes the rhythmic sounds of the neighborhood Eisa whose music and dancing accompanies the visiting spirits of the ancestors on their farewell journey of the third day. If you can, try to get the chance to see and hear one of the local neighborhood Eisa perform their uplifting performances.