Okinawa

Shisa on Taketomi Island

Lion-dog guardians abound in this subtropical paradise

Mandy Bartok Jun 08, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>A shisa crouches on a traditional tiled roof on Taketomi Island</p>

<p>Another shisa sits guardian on his rooftop</p>

<p>It's rare to find a shisa sitting on a porch or veranda</p>

<p>In recent decades, many artists have given shisa a more colorful, modern image</p>

<p>This shisa is playing the sanshin, a traditional Okinawan instrument that inspired the mainland version, called the shamisen</p>

<p>Even the post office on Taketomi is guarded by a shisa</p>

Okinawa is famous for its shisa, lion-dog guardians that are placed either on rooftops or in pairs on pillars outside of homes. They protect the homes from ill-fortune and natural disasters (ie typhoons and fires) and are much valued and loved by islanders. Over the years, the image of the shisa has changed a bit - the once serious looking lion-dogs now come in garishly bright colors and sport hilarious facial expressions but their purpose remains the same. A great place to spot many different varieties of shisa is Taketomi Island. Wander the streets of this well-preserved village and see how many you can discover.