GALLERY — OKINAWA, MAY 2006
May 2006 — I traveled to Okinawa and joined Sensei Daniel Kogan & his students at the Shinjinbukan Honbu Dōjō. The training sessions with Onaga Kaichō were from 8 PM to 3 AM. During the days, we reviewed our training notes & tried to recover for the next day.
For the most part, taking pictures during training is not allowed, but we were able to take a few pictures during our "free time"...
Barbeque Party Hosted by James East
Visit to Ryusei Kimono Shop
Above: We were invited to visit the Ryusei Kimono Shop, located near Shuri Castle by Onaga Michiko Sensei. When we arrived, Michiko Sensei served us "ocha" or tea...
Below: And we started a tour of the store...
The highlight of the day was "Gabbi Chan" (Gabrielle Carson, Sho Dan) being transformed from her casual look to a traditional Kimono... Is that the same girl??
We took a few pictures of the ladies wearing Kimonos...
And I jumped into the photo shoot...
Gabbi Chan was introduced to the exquisite art of serving tea with her Dōjō peers...
The Ryusei shop manufactures their own hand painted silk prints, which are called bingata in Okinawa. These silk prints are hand painted using both Okinawan & Japanese designs...
Left Below: Vincent Liew, Ni Dan, taking pictures of the bingata.
Right Below: Jimmy Mora with Vincent Liew.
A view of Shuri from the top of the Ryusei shop...
Barbeque Party Hosted By James East
At the end of the first week of training, we has a small party at the home of James East, a long-time student of Senaha Shigetoshi Sensei and member of Shinjinbukai in Okinawa.
Below Left: Onaga Sensei & Senaha Sensei with some other guests.
Below Right: Sensei Daniel Kogan with his students chating with Onaga Sensei...
Below: Me sitting next to Onaga Sensei...
