Itoman Hari cancelled for second-straight year, opening night gong-ringing prays for end to pandemic and safety at sea

Itoman Hari cancelled for second-straight year, opening night gong-ringing prays for end to pandemic and safety at sea

Itoman Hari executive committed chairman Hiroshi Higashionna praying for safety at sea for fishermen and an end to the COVID-19 pandemic while ringing a gong – June 7 at Santinmo park in Itoman


June 7, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

Itoman – The gong-ringing ceremony to open up the Itoman Hari dragon boat race season was held at 5:00 p.m. on June 7 at Santinmo Park in Itoman. In the sprinkling rain, the loud ringing of the gong could be heard at dusk throughout the city as participants prayed for safety at sea for fishermen and for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to end.

Hiroshi Higashionna, chairman of the Itoman Hari executive committee, strongly wished for, “An end to the coronavirus pandemic as soon as possible, and for normal life to resume,” and rang the gong five times each while facing north, south, east, and west. This year, he chose to wear the red hari gin of Niijima, one of the three villages, which also includes Nishimura and Nakamura.

The Itoman Hari begins each year on May 4 of the lunar calendar (known as Yukkanuhi). This had originally been planned for June 13 this year, however due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19, the hari races were cancelled for the second year in a row. Higashionna said, “It breaks my heart, but in order to prevent the spread of the disease, now is a time of self-restraint. Even though the races have been cancelled, we cannot lose the ritual of the ringing of the gong, which has continued on for generations. Higsashionna also performed a votive karate sanchin.

(Translated by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

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