Digital Museum for Endangered Languages and Cultures The Ryukyu Archipelago: Nishihara, Miyako Islands

デジタル博物館「ことばと文化- 琉球列島」宮古諸島 西原地区

MyaakuzIcI:Arabi (First day)

MaakuzIci is a festival in Nishihara to pray for rich harvest, conducted mostly by men. It is held for four days around August or September on the 甲午(Kinoe Uma no Hi), i.e. the 31st day in the sexagenary (60 day) cycle of the Chinese Lunar calender. The festival is conducted by Nanamui, a group formed for conducting communal rituals. The first day is called Arabi, the socond, Nnakanuhi, the third Atunuhi, and the last Buutui. On Nnakanuhi, a ritual called Masumui is conducted to write in the names of the newly born babies on the notebook of the Deities.. There are parades, Kuityaa dances and Sumo wrestling dedicated to the Deities.

Contents IDmyaaukzIcI
Production dateOctober 21st, 2008
PlaceNakama Utaki, Nishihara, Miyakojima City
Length00’51″39
Camera Masashi Iwakura, Mikiko Takahashi, Tamaki Motoki
AuthorsContents Production Team, Kyoto University and Yukinori Takubo

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