Page 16 - e-brochures about the Oki Islands 2024
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Jā-maki Ritual                        Renge-e-mai Dance                    Yurahime Shrine Festival







                        DEEPEN YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF


                                     JAPANESE CULTURE







                      T    he Oki Islands, though small and    and observances, just like the rest of the
                                                               country. However, the ones here on the
                           remote, have played a signi cant
                    role in Japanese history, and traces of that   islands are not quite the same. All four of

                    past can be found in the islands’ culture.  the inhabited islands have their own per-
                            It is said that in the past there were   sonality and unique cultural identities.
                    more than 300 shrines in Oki, and more              In addition to grand summer festivals
                    than a hundred still stand today.  e types   with  rework displays, and dance parades

                    of shrines found here demonstrate that the   where anyone can jump in and join, there
                    islands were once a very prosperous place.   are also practises observed only by particular
                     e most notable are the 16 shrines recorded  local communities, and festivals that were
                    in Engishiki Jinmyōcho, a list of import-  introduced to the islands by exiles or sailors

                    ant shrines compiled in the year 927. Four   of the trading ships docking at local ports.
                    of them were given the high ranking of      ese traditions have been passed down
                    myōjin taisha—shrines dedicated to import-  through generations of islanders to become
                    ant deities. Ancient mythology also sug-   an invaluable part of the local culture.

                    gests the signi cance of the islands, as           By visiting this small archipelago, visi-
                    according to the creation myth of the Japa-  tors can discover important episodes of
                    nese archipelago, the land of Oki was cre-  Japanese history and experience unique
                    ated third, a er Awajishima and Shikoku.   traditions, a special treat for connoisseurs

                            With the huge number of shrines in   of Japanese culture.
                    the Oki Islands, there are countless festivals
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