Blog for The Okinawa Cultural Association of Texas

April, Okinawa & Shimi

April in Okinawa is when everyone gathers for the occasion known as Shimi.  It is a wonderful time of family that is akin to Thanksgiving in the United States.  Except that the family members invited to Shimi actively includes those that have passed on to the other side of life.  A picnic at the family tomb is the main activity, but even if the weather doesn’t cooperate the celebration still goes on.                                                                         

Here is an article from PocketCultuers.com where the author explains his families Shimi activities; and through some delightful photos shares with us the joyous time of Shimi in a typical Okinawan family.                                                                                                                                                                                  Ancestor worship in Okinawa,Japan

Okinawa family – a tie that binds.

Never having seen each other before, growing up in two different parts of the world with scores of decades separating their ages, words were not needed as they looked into each others eyes and instinctively knew they were family.
“Matsuda Relatives” This link contains the story.

Coming home to a place I have never been before.  This is what the blog “Adventure with Kay Makishi in… OKINAWA!” is about.  Kay is a second generation Okinawan born and raised in the USA currently in Okinawa on a government scholarship to learn more about her cultural heritage and study Japanese.