I can feel every cell in my body rejoicing, I'm home in Okinawa [2024 Okinawa Reflection Diary 01]
From October 31st to November 6th, I went on a singing trip to Okinawa.
I first went to Yoron Island in the summer of 1988 and was blown away by the sea, mountains, nature, and people of the southern islands.
I thought it was such a wonderful fact that a place like this existed in the same space-time, and in the same country, too. It was the best.
I thought it was the best.
In 1989, during spring break before entering my fourth year of university, I went to Ishigaki Island with five friends.
This was my first time visiting Okinawa Prefecture.
I rented a convertible (it was a white Mazda Familia Cabriolet) feeling like a happy tourist, but the hazy spring weather continued.
Even with the hazy spring weather, the splendor of the Yaeyama Islands soaked into my body.
At the local cooperative stores (there were no convenience stores back then), it was an era where you could get two juicy rice balls and two slices of yellow pickled radish for 120 yen.
We thought Sanpin tea and Jasmine tea were completely different drinks.
After that, in the summer when I received a job offer, I went on a one-month solo backpacking trip from the main island of Okinawa to the Yaeyama Islands.
I went from youth hostel to youth hostel, sometimes running into the same faces, and while exchanging information with a thin local guidebook in hand (it was a maniac's travel bible that listed everything from planes to local bus timetables, called 'Okinawa Remote Island Information'), I had a trip that was analog, real, and left memories along with the scents, in an era without mobile phones.
Since then, I have continued to visit almost every year.
I wonder how much I love Okinawa.
The sea, nature, living things, traditional crafts (dyeing, weaving, pottery, performing arts), food, Awamori, and above all, the people—'Ichariba Choodee' (once we meet, we are brothers).
I was invited to perform live during my rockabilly band days.
I also sang twice after going solo.
But somehow, this time...
I felt like my state of mind was a little different than usual.
I had a feeling it would be that kind of trip, and I was prepared for it.
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The plane departed Kobe Airport nearly 80 minutes late, but once I arrived in Naha, I was just so happy that it all didn't matter.
The Solaseed Air flight attendant kept making apologetic announcements, but it's fine, it's fine, as long as I arrived.
I'm alone and don't have my night plans packed tight, so I'm free.
Thank you, Solaseed Air too ^_^
After picking up my suitcase at the baggage claim and receiving my guitar by hand, it was time for the arrival lobby.
Ah, yes, this air, this texture.
Every cell in my body is rejoicing.
A toast with Orion beer
Haisai Okinawa, I'm back
I'll be in your care for a while again
Let's enjoy ourselves
At a shop a little walk from Tsubogawa Station that a friend on the island told me about
I had some soba right away.
It's rich and delicious. It's the best.
Let's go show our faces at the shop where I'll be performing live tomorrow too
The shop I headed to after meeting up with Kano-chan at Shuri Station was 'Arte Sakiyama'
To think I'd get to sing here so soon
It's really
thanks to the connections between people.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Since it was an open mic night, I sang just one song.
"Ideal"
Carrying this song with me, in the autumn of 2024, I am
continuing this journey between Hiroshima and Okinawa
Yes, I sang it while feeling it tingling through me.
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