8月中旬の旧盆に行われる「エイサー」は、先祖供養のために行う踊りのこと。久米島では、それぞれの集落の男性を中心に、女性や子供もおそろいの衣装を着て、パーランクーと呼ばれる打楽器を打ち鳴らしながら踊ります。まずは自分たちの集落の家々を練り歩く「道ジュネー」から。そして集落の神社への「奉納エイサー」、最後は大きな広場で大人数での演武です。太鼓や三線、民謡、そして踊り手が一体となった勇壮な様子は集落への誇りを感じさせ、観ていて胸が熱くなります。

Around the middle of August each year locals perform eisa dances in memory of and to honor their ancestors. Centered around the men, women and children all in matching garb dance while beating drums called paranku. Some dances start off by parading through the streets and dancing from house to house in a particular neighborhood. This is followed by a final dance at a local shrine or other designated area where all join in for the finale. As the drums, dancers, singers and sound of the sanshin integrate and become one, you can feel the pride of the village and it warms the soul.

意外かもしれませんが、沖縄の人々は海に入って泳ぐことはあまりしません。海辺では、仲間とのんびりお酒を飲んだり、バーベキューをしたり。船を持っているうみんちゅ達は、釣りをしたり、船上で魚をさばいて食べたり。美しい海とその上に広がる空を見ながら、なんとも贅沢な海あそびを堪能しているのです。

It’s hard to imagine but many Okinawan people don’t spend much time swimming in the ocean. They do, however, very much enjoy beach barbecue parties with friends and family. Those with boats go fishing and often fillet fish and eat sashimi right on the boat.Surrounded by the beautiful sea as well as the clear open skies, you can truly have some “ocean fun”.

沖縄そばの中でもレベルが高いと評判の「久米島そば」。特に、多くのお店が提供している「味噌」ベーススープのそばが絶品！昔、米どころとして有名だった久米島は味噌づくりも盛んで、久米島の「味噌」そばのほとんどすべては、島で作られた味噌を使っています。しまんちゅに人気の「やん小」は、久米島赤鶏、無農薬のもやし、海洋深層水入り自家製麺、と久米島食材にこだわったお店です。

Among the well known and delicious Okinawa soba dishes, Kumejima soba is reputed to be one of the tastiest. The miso based soba is served in most shops and is especially delicious. Long ago, famous for rice, Kumejima also thrived in miso production. Nearly all of the Kumejima miso soba served is made with locally produced miso. One particularly popular shop “Yangwa” uses local red chicken, noodles made with deep sea water, pesticide-free bean sprouts and other locally grown vegetables.

角力と書いて「すもう」と読みます。相撲とは違い、背中が地面についたら負けというルール。琉球王国時代に祭りの余興として行われた力比べが、15世紀頃今のかたちに発展したと言われています。久米島は、沖縄の中でも角力が盛んな島。6月から9月まで久米島7ヵ所で開催され、小学生から大人まで大勢の地元民が参加します。

Sumo wrestling is very popular in Japan. Okinawa sumo is much different though, requiring the athletes to take each other down from a standing position without releasing hand grasp on their opponents belt. A winner is decided within three minutes where in, they have forced an opponent’s back to touch the ground. Sumo was once a major form of entertainment throughout the Ryukyu Kingdom and is still quite popular. From June to September tournaments are held in seven locations around Kumejima. Elementary school children up to adults participate and compete for money and prizes.

お酒のある場所やお祭りに欠かせないのが三線。島でもいたるところでその音色を耳にします。赤屋根瓦の民家がつづく真謝エリアにある「新垣三味線店」は、本土復帰後から47年、三線を手づくりしてきたお店。島にある三線のほとんどがこの店の新垣おじいが作ったものだという噂も。気さくなおじいは作業をしながらなんでも話してくれるから、素材へのこだわり、音色の違いなど、いろいろ聞いて島の文化に触れてみましょう。

You can’t have a proper festival and drinks without a sanshin (a three-stringed banjo like instrument), with it’s familiar sound that can be heard throughout the island. In the Maja area of Kumejima, for 47 years the Arakaki Sanshin Shop, with it’s traditional red tile roofing, has been making sanshin instruments. It’s rumored that most of the sanshin on the island were made by old man Arakaki at this shop. Very particular about materials and the various tones various that materials produce, Arakaki-San is a friendly old man that is happy to share stories about the island while you watch him work.

しまんちゅに人気なのが、うみんちゅ（漁師）が営む島のかまぼこ屋さん。一番の名物は、久米島の近海で水揚げした新鮮な魚を惜しげもなく使った、できたてホヤホヤのかまぼこ。長さ30センチ近くあるビッグサイズにびっくりです。その他、お刺身や天ぷら、お惣菜なども販売していて、お店はいつもお客さんでいっぱい。「昼前に商品が全部並んだと思ったら、夕方にはもうなくなってるさー」だそうなので、早めの時間に。

Popular among the locals are the fishermans’ kamaboko shops. The specialty is the freshly cooked kamaboko made from fresh fish caught in the clear waters around the island. They’ve got foot long jumbo size ones too! Wow! There is always a line with customers buying kamakoko, sashimi, tempura and other tasty side dishes. Early afternoon is the best time and don’t be surprised to find everything sold out by evening.

8月に行われる「大綱曳き」は、長さ45m・重さ5トンの大綱を全しまんちゅが二手に分かれて引っ張りあう3年に1度の大イベント。もともとは雨乞いの儀式だったそう。出陣太鼓やドラの鐘、ホラ貝、爆竹の音が勝負のときを盛り上げ、空手や古武道の演武、カラフルな旗頭，歴史上の英雄に扮した男たちの演武など、綱曳き前の見どころもたくさん。綱曳きにはその場にいる人誰もが参加できます。

Every three years in August, the locals divide themselves up into east and west teams and have a large tug-o-war contest using a 45 meter long 5 ton rope. Originally this was done as a ritual to bring rain. It’s a very exciting ritual filling the air with sounds from drums, gongs, trumpet shells, firecrackers, whistling and the men performing martial arts and other exciting to watch demonstrations. Once the 45 minute long opening demonstration is finished the actual tug-o-war starts. All are welcome to join in and if you don’t know what side to be on, no problem, just pick a side.