Ceremony with the Daikokuten (Daikoku Mask) god of wealth, farmers, food, and good fortune at RyuKyu Mura in Okinawa Japan. This mask can be used as a disguise or to benefit from the luck and protection of Daikoku.

Former U.S. Marine and Art Director and contributing photographer to both Okinawa Living Magazine and Okinawa Outdoors Magazine as well as a contributor to Okinawa Guide and the Best of Okinawa Living book published by MCCS Okinawa. I lived 15-years in Okinawa Japan,  2-years in China and am currently a resident and photographer in Denver, Colorado.

John Russell Burgreen III

A Shinto priest performs a traditional ceremony called "jichinsai" asking the earth spirit to bless the streets of Naha City in Okinawa so they may be a safe and prosperous environment. This ceremony is usually performed before a construction project begins in Japan

Former U.S. Marine and Art Director and contributing photographer to both Okinawa Living Magazine and Okinawa Outdoors Magazine as well as a contributor to Okinawa Guide and the Best of Okinawa Living book published by MCCS Okinawa. I lived 15-years in Okinawa Japan,  2-years in China and am currently a resident and photographer in Denver, Colorado.

John Russell Burgreen III

Sunset near Camp Butler and an ETC (expressway) overpass in Okinawa, Japan. 

A Shinto procession passes by a corner store in Naha City, Okinawa Japan.

Former U.S. Marine and Art Director and contributing photographer to both Okinawa Living Magazine and Okinawa Outdoors Magazine as well as a contributor to Okinawa Guide and the Best of Okinawa Living book published by MCCS Okinawa. I lived 15-years in Okinawa Japan,  2-years in China and am currently a resident and photographer in Denver, Colorado.

John Russell Burgreen III

The Shikinaen gardens is a circuit-style garden with a Chinese-style arch bridge is situated across a large pond in the center of the garden, and a Chinese-style hexagonal building, called Rokkakudo, is located on a small island in the middle of the pond. Okinawa's Shikinaen Royal Garden was built to entertain envoys of the Chinese Emperors. 

Former U.S. Marine and Art Director and contributing photographer to both Okinawa Living Magazine and Okinawa Outdoors Magazine as well as a contributor to Okinawa Guide and the Best of Okinawa Living book published by MCCS Okinawa. I lived 15-years in Okinawa Japan,  2-years in China and am currently a resident and photographer in Denver, Colorado.

John Russell Burgreen III

An Okinawan man harvesting sugarcane in Yomitan Village, Okinawa Japan. Uji, or sugarcane, is the largest crop in Okinawa Prefecture. Brown sugar is made by boiling the juice squeezed from the sugarcane. It’s high in calcium and all kinds of minerals. Also, the material left over from straining the juice of the sugarcane is known as “bagasse” and, as it contains many dietary fibers, its powdered form has recently gained popularity as an effective product for good digestion.

Former U.S. Marine and Art Director and contributing photographer to both Okinawa Living Magazine and Okinawa Outdoors Magazine as well as a contributor to Okinawa Guide and the Best of Okinawa Living book published by MCCS Okinawa. I lived 15-years in Okinawa Japan,  2-years in China and am currently a resident and photographer in Denver, Colorado.

John Russell Burgreen III

Kudaka Island is said to be the first place created by Amamikiyo who is credited with creating the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa). Festivals to pray for abundant harvests throughout Okinawa originated with Amamikiyo first bringing grains to the region and the king of the Ryukyu Kingdom (Okinawa), as well as Chief Priestesses of the era, would pilgrimage to Kudaka island. Most of Kudaka Island's coastline remains unspoiled and the government of Japan has designated the Plant Community of Kaberu on the northeastern edge of Kudaka Island as an officially recognized natural treasure.

Araha Beach is 610 meters long and is located in Araha Park, Hamby Area in Chatan Town.

Bise is in northern Okinawa Japan and is known for its Fukugi Trees that serve as a windbreak protecting this seaside village and its streets of sand. Large tidepools can be found all along the coastline in the Bise region of Okinawa.

Kinjo-cho is a castle town in Okinawa Japan that was constructed in 1522 when Okinawa was known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. In World War II, during the Battle of Okinawa, all of the roads in Kinjo-cho except for this one 300-meter stretch of cobblestone were destroyed.

Fishermen haul in the morning catch at the Yomitan Village Port in Okinawa Japan.

Aerial photography of the Manzamo cliffs in Onna Village, northern Okinawa Japan.

A section of seawall near Mihama American Village (Chatan Town) in Okinawa Japan. Located in the middle of Okinawa’s main island, the resort town of Chatan is filled with both modern and traditional Okinawan appeal and provides easy access to major sightseeing destinations. It’s an ever-evolving area where you can enjoy marine activities year-round and the entertainment of Mihama American Village

Hamahiga island consists of two villages that are on opposite sides of this 7-kilometer wide island (Hama and Higa). Homes in both villages have traditional Okinawan red tiled roofs, stone walls, and residents of Hamahiga island work as either farmers or fishermen. Though part of Uruma City, Hamahiga Island is connected to Henza Island by the Hamahiga Bridge.

An Okinawan shisa (lion-dog) on a traditional Okinawan red-tiled rooftop. Shisa are placed on the roofs of homes, or in front of entrances, to ward off evil spirits. These guardian lion-dogs originated in China and were later exported to Korea, Japan, and Okinawa. All variations of the Okinawa shisa are close relatives of the Japanese shishi and the komainu lion-dogs, objects whose origin, function and symbolic meaning they share.

A view of Naha City and the South China Sea from Shuri Castle. Shurijo Castle became the kings’ castle after the unification of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and served as the center of politics, diplomacy, and culture during the Ryukyu Kingdom era. 

Seawall at the Ginowan City Marina in Okinawa Japan.

Low tide near Hamahiga Island in Okinawa Japan. Hamahiga island consists of two villages that are on opposite sides of this 7-kilometer wide island (Hama and Higa). Homes in both villages have traditional Okinawan red tiled roofs, stone walls, and residents of Hamahiga island work as farmers or fishermen. Though part of Uruma City, Hamahiga Island is connected to Henza Island by the Hamahiga Bridge.

The Ungami matsuri (festival) in Ogimi Village's Shioya Bay is held for the upcoming harvest season and for the good health of the local population. This 500-year old Okinawa festival has been designated as a national cultural treasure by the Japanese government. Japan has the highest population of of centenarians in the world and Ogimi Village itself has 10 Okinawans over 100-years old as of 2020. 

Dragon boat race (hare) in Itoman City, Okinawa Japan. Dragon boat races held on Okinawa are generally held to bless the local fishermen so that they will have a bountiful fishing season. The longest race distance is 2,150 meters during the last race known as Agai Subu. Itoman dragon boat races take place every year in the Itoman Fishing Port on May 4th.

Former U.S. Marine and Art Director and contributing photographer to both Okinawa Living Magazine and Okinawa Outdoors Magazine as well as a contributor to Okinawa Guide and the Best of Okinawa Living book published by MCCS Okinawa. I lived 15-years in Okinawa Japan,  2-years in China and am currently a resident and photographer in Denver, Colorado.

John Russell Burgreen III