Fiercely smiling with fangs jutting, “shisa” or “shiisa” as the Okinawan people calls them are the chosen protectors dotted all around Okinawa Prefecture.
It’s a “SHISA” kinda life in Okinawa ………
Happy shisa on rooftop!!
FIERCELY SMILING with fangs jutting, “shisa” or “shiisa” as the Okinawan people calls them are the chosen protectors dotted all around Okinawa Prefecture. Shisa is said to be introduced from China (known as fu dogs or guardian lions). The Okinawa version is a cross breed between lion and dog. They usually come in a pair and if you noticed one would have the mouth open in a grin like manner (some even has a tongue sticking out like how dogs usually do), the other with closed mouth.
A shisa found during Okinawa festival with it’s tongue sticking out ….
Why does one need to open its mouth and the other close?
It is said that the male has his mouth closed to keep the bad out and the female’s open to share goodness. But some choose to believe the female’s mouth is kept closed to keep the goodness in and the male’s mouth open to scare the bad spirits away! Well whichever ways, these are protection and fortune dolls.
Instead of maneki neko a pair of shisa brings fortune in Okinawa. Noticed one has open mouth where the other is closed?
Legend has it the shisa was introduced during the Ryukyu kingdom period, a necklace with a shisa figure given as a gift from a Chinese emissary to the King of Shuri on one of the visits. Now the village of Madanbashi was often terrorized by a seadragon. Villages and property always destroyed, the noru or priestess was given a dream and instructed a little Chiga to inform the King to hold up the shisa towards the dragon. A loud sound came from the heavens and a heavy boulder crushed the dragon’s tail. There lies the boulder and dragon till today covered in plants and trees known as the “Gana-Mui Woods” in present day. A big stone shisa named Iri-nu has been built to protect the village against the dragon spirit. The locals still gather every 15th August during the lunar period to pray and offer fruits to Iri-nu.
Now another shisa legend takes place in Tomimori Village near Kochinda Town, located in the far southern part of Okinawa’s main island. Today you can look up the village under the name – Tomori Village. There were often many fire occurrence. Hence the people sought a Saiouzui advice. He believes it is caused by the Mt. Yaese and proceed to ask the people to build a shisa facing the mount. The fires has stopped ever since. The Tomori Lion is said to be one of the oldest.
Tomori Lion riddled by bullets from WWII.
You may also catch shisa making by a traditional craft artist at Tsuboya Yachimun dori, Naha traditional pottery making street. Unlike in other parts of Japan where one might encounter maneki neko or the famed daruma doll, here it is the shisa. There are many unique shisa which will greet you throughout Okinawa. They may be hiding on the rooftop, on the lawn or on the cashier’s table with different expressions.
Do you notice the many shisa on the rooftop? A cafe in Yacimun area.
On the Yacimun rooftop! You would have to spot them.
You just got to look out for them! Have a fun-filled shisa hunting on sunny Okinawa!
A family of shisa.
Ishigaki bridge …. shisa protecting travelers on the bridge on a sunny day!
Okinawan shisa festival …. of course they can look scary to little ones.
Hello kitty shisa only in Okinawa!
Shisa Dog slide in the park. From here you can see how Okinawan integrate shisa in everyday life.
Unique only in Yomitan Pottery Village famous for its almost white shisa.
You can join a shisa making class when in Okinawa.
