On Taketomi Island in Taketomi Town, Okinawa Prefecture, Mandalar, an event to celebrate the longevity of an elderly person who turned 97 years old, was held grandly throughout the island.
On Taketomi Island, the event of ``Mandalar'', which means ``windmill'' in the island's language, is held, similar to ``Kajimaya'', which is widely held in Okinawa Prefecture, and is based on the legend that people return to their child's hearts at the age of 97. Celebrate longevity.
On the 18th, three women living on the island, all born in 1938, celebrated Mandalar.
Wearing red costumes with golden embroidery, the three gathered in front of Semochi Utaki, the most sacred shrine in the area, received blessings from local people, and boarded a bus decorated with windmills and other decorations. I did.
As the bus traveled around the island, the three of them waved in response to cheers from the roadside, and reminisced about their youth.
The island was in a celebratory mood from beginning to end, with locals performing dances and chanting "Banzai" in each village.
One of the recipients of the blessing, Namiko Nohara, said, ``I'm very happy to welcome Mandalar.I'm grateful for all of you.''
A woman celebrating along the road said, ``I thought it was wonderful that they were celebrating.I think it's wonderful that the grandmothers who have known the island for so long are doing well.''