OKINAWA

Town tree: the Ryukyu ebony tree (kokutan).
The Ryukyu ebony tree is a mid-sized evergreenthat is often planted roadsides and in gardens.
It is used to make the sanshin, a banjo-like musicalinstrument.
(Proclaimed as of December 12, 1982)

HAEBARU-Profile

伝統Town flower: Bougainvillea
A tropical vine-like plant having modified leaves
that look like flowers, turns into various colors suchas red, orange, or white.
(Proclaimed as of December 12, 1982)

文化Haebaru Town's Character

Haebaru sits near the middle of thesouthern Okinawa Island, boarded on all
sides by Naha, Tomigusuku, Nanjo, Yaese,
Nishihara, and Yonabaru. Endowed withsoothing greenery, Haebaru has flourished
as a transportation hub and has developed
its own distinctive history and culture.

Tradition

CultureHaebaru is endowed in historical and cultural
heritage. Much of the artifacts and customs
that are cultural treasures have withstood timefrom the Ryukyu Kingdom era and havesurvived the war to convey their valued
messages for future generations.

Haebaru is blessed with numerous traditionalarts that have been passed from generation togeneration. Some of the contemporary
performances begun as communal purification
or exorcism rites, while dances and comic
dramas have long been enjoyed by villagers toconvey lessons and culture from the past.

Ishi-jishi in Teruya
Along with the Ishi-jishi in Teruya,
there are three other Ishi-jishis left
in Kaneshiro and Motobu. Bearing
fierce features to ward off evil
(Buchigeshi) or to protect against
fire (Higeshi), they were created tofend off disaster.

Continuationof rich history
and culture
A placid town
blissfully richin agricultureAnnual Event in Haebaru Town

New Year's Marathon (Jan.)

沖縄県

沖縄唯一︑海のない町︒

HAEBARU TOWN,

鮮やかな歴史と文化息づく
実り豊かな黄金南風原の平和郷

HAEBARU, the lone landlocked Okinawan town

The only
landlockedtown inOkinawa

Tobi Asato Kite-Flying Contest (Jan.)I am Haerun ofHaebaru
Town

Intangible Cultural Heritage
Shishi-mai

Haebaru is25 min.
by car fromNaha Airport!

Shishi-mai, or the lion dance, isperformed in all sections of Miyahira,Kyan, and Motobu of Haebaru to purify
and exorcise evil; each is performed ina unique style.

Haebaru Products Fair (Feb.)

Summer Festival Kids Park (Mar.)

OKINAWA

Kashikake in Miyahira

HAEBARU TOWN

HaebaruSearch

http://www.haebaru-kankou.jp
158 Aza Motobu, Haebaru-cho, Shimajiri-gun, Okinawa Prefecture
TEL 098-851-7273

FAX 098-851-7109

MAIL chiiki-machidukuri@haebaru-kankou.jp

Kashikake is a classical female dance
that had begun to be performed with
two songs after World War II. Originally,
it was danced with three songs in threeparts. It is still performed today inMiyahira in the traditional style.

Haebaru Tug of War Tour

Hometown Haebaru Expo

(26th of June on lunar calendar)(Nov. of every other year)

Mekata-boh
Mekata-boh is a traditional stick dance
performed to stave off disaster and to castaway evil spirits. This dance is reverenced inregions such as Miyagi, Kaneshiro, Kyan,Teruya, Tsukazan, and Kamizato.

HAEBARUTOWN

The Haebaru Calendar
of Events is packed
with things to do!
Visit Haebaru!★
Haebaru Youth Festival(Nov. of every other year)

Furujima Sta.

HAEBARU TOWN

YuiR

Naha City Hospital Sta.

ail

10 Kyan

Gibo Sta.

Omoromachi Sta.
Miebashi Station Sta.
Shuri Sta.
Makishi Sta.

Prefectural Office Sta.

Shurijo Castle

Asato Sta.

.
i Stusa

Naha Citya
Okinaw ayswExpres②Oona①Arakawa

Tsubogawa Sta.

Nishihara JTCdNaha IC

Asahibashi Sta.

ru RoaKok③Miyagusuku

Naha Airport Sta.
YuiRai
Haebaru is 25 min.
l

Onoyama Park

Onoyama Park Sta.

⑤Miyahira④Kanegusuku

Kanegusuku
Intersection

Haebaru Town Office

Akamine Sta.

⑦Motobu⑧Tsukazan⑨TeruyanalioNat

Haebaru Town
Cultural Center⑩Kyan

Haebaru Minami ICywaort

Nakachi ICTomigusuku CityhaNapAirsres⑪YamakawapEx⑫Kamizato

Tomigusuku IC
Haebaru is a place of scenic beauty and is comprised of 12 small
communities. Each region has its own history and culture inheritedfrom past generations. Along with historical sites and cultural
artifacts, the traditional performing arts are still very much part ofthe charm and of the people's daily lives. The following is an
introduction to theattractions of Haebaru,
from its active agriculturegrown in rich farmlands to
its high-quality art crafts.

Brochures foreach area arealso available.

5 Miyahira

Haebaru is made up of 12 communities,
each with its own festivals and cultures.
4 Kanegusuku

1 Arakawa
At Yonabaru road, there is an oldbridge over Nagera river, whichis considered as a splendid
masonry work of the Ryukyu. It
was used by pilgrims as aAgari-umai route and also
Kikoe-okimi (the highestpriestess) on for the inauguration
rituals called (Uara-uri).

In the late 14th century, Uchimi Gusuku Aji
led his family and established the Gusuku(castle) at Intunchimo. After the war, thecastle ruin was demolished and only theremains of Mafe-no-Utaki (sacred place),
which was placed at the entrance ofGusuku, can be seen.

Kasuri Road
Constructed in 1989, the artistic roadstretches over the Motobu, Teruya,and Kyan areas.
Soothing sounds from weaving looms
emanate from the workshops that line
both sides of the path, which is inlaid
with tiles and brick.

7 Motobu
The areas of Motobu, a renowned
producer of Kasuri, Teruya andKyan are connected with Kasuri
road. This road was dotted by anumber of Kasuri textile
workshops and a Kasuri hall,accompanied by soothing soundsof the weaving loom.

9 Teruya

Handiworkcolored byhistory andtradition.

Located on the southern, hillyside of an area called Demui,
Teruya was used as fire beaconand lookout platform during theRyukyu Kingdom era. On thehilltop, there are Shisa and Utaki
which are considered sacred andvisited by local worshippers.

Kasuri12 Kamizato

Nakandakari Chiku Bechin, a person considered
as a pioneer in education, had established aschool for local children. Miyahira is considered
to be the starting point of education and its value
has been passed on to the present generation.

6 Yonaha
It is said that the sea was nearer inearlier times in Yonaha. At the site ofUsandaki, there is a structure that isbelieved to be a grave of Usanshi whois the main character of Urashimalegend, an old fairy tale. It is said thatUsandaki used to be a beautiful hilly
area sloped like Mt. Fuji.

9d 32

RoaoadOroku Sta.

⑥YonahaHaebaru Kita ICHaebaru
Rby car fromNaha Airport!

Haeba

Naha Airport

Kasuri no Michi

The "Jugoya (night of the full moon)
Ashibi" event, resumed after the war andhas given opportunities for "Mekata-boh"and "Shishi-mai" performing arts to takeplace. "Choja-no-Ufunushi" is the only
Kumiodori play that perfumed inHaebaru. This event is registered as anintangible local cultural asset of thetown.

11 Yamakawa
Yamakawa is an area of active
agriculture and one of thelargest growers of vegetable.
With a stable supply ofagricultural water and a strong
communal bond, Yamakawa
was selected as one of the
100 best hometowns in Japanin 2009.

8 Tsukazan
The ritual of tug of war was believed to have beenbrought from China in 14th century during the time ofKing Satto. The locals still observe the Uganjina
event yearly on June 26th in Chinese lunar calendar
and the Unna event once in ten years.

The "Shishi" lion figure in
Kamizato has a crescent-shaped
mark on its forehead and wasdeemed as the female in a pairwith the male Shisa in Motobu.
This is very rare type of Shisa. On
an occasion of Jugoya, the Shisa
parades through the communityand stops at the houses of thecommunity's head families toperform rituals that protects
against bad luck or disasters.

3 Miyagusuku
Miyagi is well-regarded as anarea of plentiful natural waterand of an old well called
Usukuga. From it originated thefolklore of the hairpin left by aheavenly maiden.

Kasuri originated in India and spread throughSoutheast Asia on its way to reaching
Okinawa during the Ryukyu Kingdom era. It
has developed into a distinctive style thatmatches the natural features and climate ofOkinawa. Its traditions steadily passed on toHaebaru, which has garnered the moniker,"the town of Kasuri."

Diligently CultivatedHaebaru Pumpkins

PumpkinHaebaru boasts of being thelargest pumpkin producer ofOkinawa. Nurtured under sunny
Okinawan skies, Haebaru
pumpkins are soft and fleshy, andare very popular in the Japanesemarket. 90% of the produced areshipped to mainland Japan.

Distinctive tropical hued flowers

2 OonaOona is the area establishedwithin three communities when
the former warrior class officials
retreated during the time ofabolition of feudal domains andestablishment of prefecturesduring Meiji era. Here stands asacred structure dedicated toSho Hiroki, the founding fatherof the Mabuni family. This
structure was given by kingdom
government of Ryukyu
to commemorate hisdeeds and isdesignated as the only
tangible cultural assetof the prefecture.

Strelitzia, the bird of paradise flower

Yielding as much as 20,000 flowers
annually, Haebaru is the largest
producer of strelitzias. The fiber fromits flowers and stalks have begun to be
used to make Washi, traditional
Japanese paper.

Indispensable popular Okinawan Summer vegetables

Hechima (luffa gourd)

Along with the goya, hechimas are a
popular summer vegetable. Haebaru
accounts for 30% of hechimacultivation within Okinawa, and is thelargest producer in Japan.