Pseudorca Crassidens

Close to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium there are two different dolphin shows, this photograph is of the False Killer Whale (Pseudorca Crassidens), a cetacean, and the third largest member of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae). It lives in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world. As its name implies, the False Killer Whale shares characteristics such as appearance with the more widely known Orca (killer whale). Like the orca, the False Killer Whale attacks and kills other cetaceans. However, the two dolphin species are not closely related.

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Located within the Ocean Expo Commemorative National Government Park in Okinawa, Japan. It is the world's second largest aquarium, behind the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, in the U.S. Photograph is a long exposure of the large tank that houses The main tank, called the Kuroshio Sea, that holds 7,500 cubic metres of water and features an acrylic glass panel measuring 27 by 74 ft with a thickness of 24 in, the largest such panel in the world when the aquarium was opened. Whale sharks and manta rays are kept alongside many other fish species in the main tank.

Idea Leuconoe

Idea Leuconoe is the latin name for the Tree Nymph Butterfly and this is its pupa, rather pretty really, but apparently not appetizing to predators as it shiny golden glow seems to lack camouflage. Photograph taken at the Okinawa Fruits Land.

Tree Nymph Butterfly

There are many names for the tree nymph butterfly, including rice paper butterfly, paper kite butterfly and wood nymph butterfly. The name rice paper butterfly likely comes from the unusual texture of its wings. The way it flits and floats in the air led to the name paper-kite butterfly. The Japanese call it Ogomadara or Lady of the Southern Island. The tree nymph has a wingspan of 37 to 43 inches, making this large black and white insect the largest butterfly in Japan.

Manzamo 万座毛

The name Manzamo stems from the original Okinawan Hogen dialect, meaning ‘big enough for 10,000 men to sit on this field by the cliffs.’ Also referred to as the Elephant’s Nose at Manzamo, the craggy cliffs form the elephant’s trunk.

Ficus Microcarpa

Ficus Microcarpa, also known as the Malayan Banyan, is native to the Okinawa islands. Historically the Okinawan people worshipped Ficus Microcarpa as a sacred tree, believing that this tree with aerial roots is a place where spirits (fairies) live.

Okinawa Black Sugar

Okinawa is known for its black sugar, and traditionally the cane is ground by one of these fellows pushing a long pole attached to the devices below where the cane is placed and ground.

Roof Tiles

Whereas many homes in Japan are made with wood and allow free-flow of air to combat humidity, typical modern homes in Okinawa are made from concrete with barred windows (protection from flying plant matter) to deal with regular typhoons. Roofs are also designed with strong winds in mind, with each tile cemented on and not merely layered as seen with many homes elsewhere in Japan.

Shīsā シーサー

Shīsā are traditional Ryukyuan decorations, often found in pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog. Many people put a pair of shisa on their rooftops or flanking the gates to their houses. Shisa are wards, believed to protect from various evils. When found in pairs, the shisa on the left traditionally has a closed mouth, and the one on the right an open mouth. The open mouth to ward off evil spirits, and the closed mouth to keep good spirits in.

Gyokusendo Cave Path

Although the Gyokusendo Cave at Okinawa World totals an underground maze of over 5km the accessible walkway only runs for about 890 meters. Walking this 890 meter pathway will still take more than one hour, especially if you stop and take time to observe all of the amazing features along the way. Another special feature of the Gyokusendo Cave at Okinawa World is the Awamori (Okianwan Liquor) that is distilled there. But this is no normal Awamori it is made from Habu Snake and fermented for 5 years. Because the limestone caves stay at a constant temperature of 25 degrees all year long as well as a consistent humidity it makes for an ideal environment for Awamori’s fermentation process.

Gyokusendo Cave Lake

Within the labyrinth of Ryukyu limestone visitors can see over 1,000,000 massive stalagmites and stalactite, which are made more impressive when you consider that it takes most of these structures 3 years to grow just 1mm; and some of them are many meters long. On my journey through the cave I was also lucky enough to encounter some of the native animals that live there like fish, reptiles, and bats. The caves were a real highlight of this trip for me, and would say they are worth a visit to anyone visiting the main Okinawan island. The cave is modestly light with color LED lights and florescent lights set along a raised corrugated steel pathway. The way is sometimes dark, but no need for a flashlight, and the path is often very wet and a little slippery so wear shoes with good grip.

Gyokusendo Cave Waterfall

The 5Km (just over 3miles) Gyokusendo Cave located at Okinawa World was discovered in 1967 by a Ehime University Research group. Beyond being one of the most popular tourist destinations in Okinawa it has also been used as a film location for various movies including 1974's Godzilla vs Mecha Godzilla. Okinawa World is a touristy theme park about Okinawan culture that contains the caves within its grounds.

Former Navy Underground Headquarters #2

After the war, the headquarters was left pretty much as it stands today. In March of 1970, the tourism development board removed the remains of soldiers and restored 275 of the original 450 meters of the headquarters. There are tunnels 30 meters underground that run in all directions to the various rooms and offices. Pictured is the celling of the expanded entry to the tunnel that is part of the museum that was added to the underground section.

Former Navy Underground Headquarters #1

The Okinawa District Headquarters of the Japanese Navy were built under a hill near Naha in 1944 and marks made by the construction party's pickaxes can still be seen on the walls and ceilings.The Imperial Navy Vice Admiral Minoru Ota (commander of the Japanese Navy on Okinawa) and 4,000 of his men lived and ultimately committed suicide here toward the end of WWII. There are still traces of the mass suicide, including a farwell message written on the wall by Ota and grenade shrapnel. This farewell message was for his commanding officer and told about the devotion of the Okinawan citizens who served in the Imperial Army during the fierce battle.

Shuri Castle Kankaimon

Kankaimon, welcome gate, is the main gate of Shuri castle; first built around 1477-1500 during the reign of King Shō Shin. The gate was burned down during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 and restored in 1974.

Okinawa 沖縄

I just returned from Okinawa, took a little trip to Naha which is the capital city of this prefecture. Naha is a coastal city located on the East China Sea coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands. Photograph is of Kokusai Street, called, “The Miracle Mile” because of its rapid recovery during the post-war era, and is often crowded with shoppers and is packed with souvenir shops and restaurants.