What is the "Kouji-nu-seimei Festival (Kouji-nu-seimei)" held on Izena Island?
Seimyosai (Seimy Festival), held in spring throughout Okinawa, is an important custom in which families and relatives gather at gravesites to express their gratitude to their ancestors.
The first such ceremony to be held on Izena Island is the Kouji Nu Seimei (Public Affairs Seimei Festival). This is the most prestigious ceremony for the island, hosted and performed by the village of Izena before ordinary families.
Outline of the 2025 event
Time: 10:00 a.m. - (Time required: approx. 30-40 minutes)
Location: National Important Cultural Property "Tamagoden (Izena Tamaryo)
Location: At the foot of the ruins of Izena Castle, Izena Island, Okinawa
Viewing: Free (no reservation required, visit quietly)
Why is it being held on Izena Island?
Izena Island is the birthplace of King Shoen, the founder of the second Sho dynasty of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Izenatamaudo, the resting place of his parents, is a National Important Cultural Property and is still carefully protected by the descendants of the Sho family.
The Gongji Seimyoeongsai, held at the Yureung, is a prestigious ceremony that symbolizes the deep ties between the Sho family and Izena Village.
The meaning behind the offerings
In a typical Seimei Festival, a stacked box filled with burdock root, sanshin meat, fish paste, etc. is offered, but the offerings at the Kojiki Seimei Festival are completely different. The following items are carefully arranged on a stand and lined up according to the traditional arrangement.
Naked chicken
raw or fresh fish
Tofu, kelp, and other offerings
These dishes are special and not found in ordinary homes, creating a majestic atmosphere befitting a tomb associated with a royal family.
Ryukyu lacquerware used is genuine
The vessels and stands used in the ceremony are also noteworthy. The Ryukyu lacquerware used here bears the family crest of the Sho family and is a genuine cultural asset. The Sho family and their relatives, the Mekaruke family, donated these valuable items to Izena Village. Normally, they would be kept in a museum, but only during this ceremony are they taken out and actually used.
In recent years, the lacquerware has deteriorated and some of it has been replaced by restored lacquerware, but it still lives on as a "culture that is passed down through use.
Access and Visiting Points
Venue] Izena Tamaryo (Tamagoden)
Access】About 10 minutes by car from Izena Port and Nakada Port / At the foot of Izena Castle Ruins
Parking] Available (limited number of spaces, ride together recommended)
[Notes.
Observe quietly during the ceremony.
It is good manners to refrain from taking photographs or recording.
Please respect the fact that this is a religious ritual and be careful not to talk or enter privately.
Feel the history, travel in the spring in Izena
Spring on Izena Island is more than just flowers blooming. The Kojiki Seimei Festival, held amidst the serenity and solemnity of this island, is a profound cultural experience that cannot be experienced through sightseeing.
Why not witness a part of that history on the island that nurtured King Shoen?
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