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What's up, amazing people! This is IYASASA RADIO by Akane and Minami.
In this radio, we are going to talk about random topics in Okinawan, Japanese and English.
Hello, this is IYASASA RADIO by Akane and Minami.
In this radio, we are going to talk about random topics in Okinawan, Japanese and English.
Wonderful!
How did you know about IYASASA RADIO?
I found it on Instagram.
She googled IYASASA RADIO, you googled it?
I just wanted to find something.
Young Okinawan people, especially women, what they think about Okinawa, the culture and so on.
I just really interested.
And I googled or listened on Spotify or Instagram.
Isn't it amazing?
And then I followed you guys.
I always see what kind of people follow us.
And I found Haji-chan.
There are people who do Haji-chan.
I thought it was amazing.
I didn't know that.
Okinawan young people, especially women, don't know Haji-chan or Haji culture.
I didn't know that.
So, I don't know if you guys are interested in me.
I see.
So, were you surprised when I sent a message to you?
I was so surprised and so happy.
And it was New Year's holiday.
03:03
So, I was like, this is Hikiyose?
How do you say it in English?
What was it?
Attract.
Law of Attraction.
Hikiyose no Mousoku.
That's crazy.
I thought it was Okita.
Because it's 2020.
Thank you.
I always wanted to get Haji-chan tattoo.
But I couldn't convince myself to ask some random tattoo artist here in Okinawa.
I've never seen Haji-chan in Okinawa.
In the world, right?
In the world.
That's so special.
But is there any people doing like tribal or traditional tattoo, then they do Haji-chan as part of culture?
Yes.
One of the variation.
I talked too much.
Yes.
Moeko is working in Tokyo now.
This week, she came to Okinawa to do some work related to Haji-chan.
Thank you for coming.
And she did Sejutsu.
Before the radio, Minami got Haji-chan on my hand.
So pretty.
I got it on my finger.
Does it hurt?
Part of Kansetsu was hurt.
But the other part was Betsuni.
If I compare with the machine tattooing.
The way she tattoo is like hand poking.
Which means she doesn't use machine.
She use like one needle.
One needle.
By hand, right?
Poked.
Poked.
Do you bleed?
Do you bleed?
Sometimes.
It depends on the design.
But today is not so big.
How about your Haji-chan?
I bleed.
A little bit.
I see.
I've never seen a young generation people has actual Haji-chan.
Only you.
It's first time I saw actual Haji-chan on both hands.
Some people do tattoo on the body.
I've seen tiny tattoo looks like Haji-chan on the hand.
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It's like a real one.
The thing she had.
But there is.
In the same generation?
Yes.
The first time I knew Haji-chan.
No.
The first time I saw a young generation.
I saw a magazine called Studio Voice.
I've heard of it.
Culture magazine.
There was an artist named Yoshiyama Monika.
She is from Okinawa.
I found the magazine.
I didn't want to get Haji-chan tattoo.
But I wanted to know Haji-chan.
Tattoo artist.
How old were you at that time?
Maybe 25?
25.
I was 24.
Before you became a Haji-chan, right?
Yes.
Then I read the text.
The tattoo artist located the studio in Shin-Okubo in Tokyo.
At that time, I lived in Tokyo.
So I texted him.
Now he is my mentor.
This is my story.
Became one part of the story.
Became a tattoo artist.
How did you get your Haji-chan tattoo on your hand?
Was it hand poking?
The first time I got a Haji-chan tattoo was with a machine.
It was so painful.
Your fingers must have hurt.
Machine and poking, which is more painful?
Hand poking is more painful.
Not so painful.
Machine is more painful.
Because it's shaking.
Ah, I see.
The vibration.
Yes, it's painful.
It looks painful.
I hate pain.
But I was very happy.
Your mentor?
I was very happy when I got my Haji-chan tattoo on my hand.
You must have a sense of accomplishment.
I think it's cute.
I was very happy.
Were you nervous before you got your Haji-chan tattoo?
I was super nervous.
At that time, the tattoo studio was in a mess.
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It was so scary.
I was scared of entering the studio.
It was my first time to meet Horishi.
It was your first time to meet all of them.
It was my very first tattoo with Haji-chan.
You got it right.
It's amazing.
I was very nervous.
But Horishi is a good person.
That's how I felt.
I wanted to get my tattoo.
You were more nervous before you got your Haji-chan tattoo.
You were kind.
Yes, I was.
It was my first time to meet Horishi.
Haji-chan is a custom in Okinawa from the Ryukyu Kingdom era to the end of the Meiji era.
It is a custom unique to Okinawa.
This Haji-chan has a custom of tattooing the back of the hand, fingers and elbows when a woman gets married, which means the so-called adult ritual.
There was also a custom of putting in the Haji-chan when getting married.
But from around the age of 13, tattoos were gradually increased.
And when the engagement was made, the pattern was completed.
Haji-chan was very popular among women in Okinawa.
It is a custom unique to Okinawa.
It is a custom unique to Okinawa.
It is a custom unique to Okinawa.
It is a custom unique to Okinawa.
It is a custom unique to Okinawa.
It is a custom unique to Okinawa.
It is a custom unique to Okinawa.
It is a custom unique to Okinawa.
It is a custom unique to Okinawa.
It is a custom unique to Okinawa.
Haji-chan was very popular among women back then.
Haji-chan was very popular among women back then.
But it was banned after Meiji era.
But it was banned after Meiji era.
I will explain why it was banned.
I will explain why it was banned.
In 1872, an illegal tattoo ordinance was enforced in Tokyo,
prohibiting both carving and guest tattooing by carvers.
The ordinance will be carried over to the old criminal law for misconduct 1882
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and police criminal punished order 1908 in Okinawa,
which became a prefecture due to the Ryukyu disposition in 1879.
Laws and regulations for misconduct, including the prohibition of irises,
were enforced in 1899 after a while from the mainland.
This year is 123 years since the Haji-chi ban.
Can I add something?
However, it is said that Haji-chi was longing for many women,
and according to Okinawan female historian Harumi Miyagi,
even after being banned, it was hidden and continued until the early Showa period.
It is common practice in Okinawa.
It is difficult to eliminate it suddenly,
and it is thought that it was alive in the spiritual culture of women.
In 1872, an illegal tattoo ordinance was enforced in Tokyo,
prohibiting both carving and guest tattooing by carvers.
The ordinance will be carried over to the old criminal law for misconduct 1882
and to the criminal law for misconduct in 1908.
In Okinawa, which became a prefecture due to the Ryukyu disposition in 1879,
laws and regulations for misconduct, including the prohibition of irises,
were enforced in 1899 after a while from the mainland.
However, it is said that it was longing for many women,
and according to Okinawan female historian Harumi Miyagi,
even after being banned, it was hidden and continued until the early Showa period.
It is common practice in Okinawa.
It is difficult to eliminate it suddenly,
and it is thought that it was alive in the spiritual culture of women.
How did you know it?
Probably, I don't know, I don't even remember.
Did you know it naturally?
Yes.
But when I went to the history museum,
there was something like this,
so I might have known it when I was in elementary school or junior high school.
You already learnt in school.
Yeah, for me.
I don't remember.
I was so shocked to see the picture of an old woman being so embarrassed.
Like, when I was a child, I thought tattoo is kind of like a Yakuza thing,
15:04
but old Okinawan lady has tattoo and they act like Yakuza at the time.
That's what I thought, so I thought they were bad ass.
Because I didn't know history when I was a child.
But did you study it?
I didn't study it.
But did you know its existence?
I knew it.
For example, did you go to the history museum and see it?
I did.
I don't know.
I don't remember.
I googled it and I found it by myself because I always wanted to get a tattoo.
But I wanted to find some reason why I get it.
Or is there some good style that fits me?
And I found hajichi.
I think I can get it.
And I think...
I was also kind of scared by my parents' reaction.
I was like, if it's a traditional Okinawan thing, maybe I can get it.
So I googled it for a long time.
But there were people who wanted to get it.
So in the end, I couldn't get it until I was 30.
Getting tattoo is a big deal for everyone.
Especially in here, in Japan.
It stays on your body forever.
People are probably trying to find the reasons to get it.
I think there are people who know the reasons.
There are many reasons.
But if there is no reason, people look for patterns.
So I think hajichi is pretty cool as an Okinawan.
And the design is cute, too.
It looks like it's easy for a girl to do.
It's like a hand and a line.
Recently, Minami was talking about hajichi.
She always tells me that she wants to talk about hajichi on the radio.
So I went to the bookstore and tried to find some articles and information.
I think I saw this book, too.
And I studied about hajichi in the book.
I've never had a conversation with my parents about tattoo and hajichi.
I wonder why they didn't tell me about it.
Yeah, but I'm still here.
It's pretty old-fashioned, isn't it?
I think so, too.
It's the generation of my parents.
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Yeah.
And this time, I visited an Okinawa soba restaurant.
And the people said,
Oh, you've heard about hajichi.
But they said,
Oh, we forgot about the hajichi tattoo.
We forgot about it.
That's what I felt.
But my father said the same thing.
I know that.
I forgot.
People of the time when hajichi was popular already died.
That's right.
Now people don't talk about it.
But I feel that the younger generation is getting excited about hajichi.
In Okinawa.
Is there any difference of people's reaction when you're in Tokyo and Okinawa?
Yeah, totally different.
What about in Tokyo?
Oh, like...
What the fuck is this thing?
In Tokyo, people still don't care about someone else.
Just looking at the tattoos, they have no reaction.
People think that you like to get tattoos on your fingers.
Also, hajichi tattoos look like tribal tattoos.
It's just a design.
Yeah, I think so.
But the oldest people...
If I went to the center...
Oh, the center.
The old lady asked me,
Why did you do such a painful thing?
In the center?
Yeah, in the center.
When you guys are naked.
She asked me,
This is Okinawa.
Tribal tattoos.
And I told her about the history.
Her reaction was like,
Oh, the history of Okinawa is different.
I like it.
Oh, I see.
It was interesting.
So I thought it would be nice to have a conversation like this.
By talking about it from the beginning,
it would be nice to have a positive reaction.
How about Okinawan people?
Like...
They said...
I was almost amazed.
They said that...
Beautiful.
Positively beautiful.
Something.
I didn't expect it.
I was surprised that people rejected.
Because I had this Okinawan tattoo.
So I was like, what if...
21:04
I was a little scared to get negative opinions.
I'm not a tattoo artist.
I tattooed them.
Yeah.
Maybe as she was talking,
I felt that hajiji is more acceptable than tattooing.
In Okinawa?
Yeah.
In Okinawa and probably out of Okinawa too.
Because they think it's a tribal tattoo?
Like tribal and they have a good meaning on it.
That's what I felt.
If you know that.
Yeah.
Also, it's available.
Available.
In the onsen or energy?
In the super sento,
it's like...
Everyone comes?
It's for individuals.
In the super sento.
But in the sento,
it's like a public space.
So...
For example, yakuza doesn't come in.
It's an open space.
Public space.
So it's okay.
What about onsen or pool?
Energy.
It depends on their company.
Yeah.
But you can say like,
it's not tattoo, it's hajiji.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
But it depends.
And you should google it.
I'm gonna do it in red.
So you were born in Tochigi?
Tochigi, Utsunomiya.
And you were born and raised in Tochigi.
And your dad is Okinawan?
Yeah.
And your mom is Tochigian?
Yeah.
So she has two identities.
Yeah, I have two identities.
But my father only lived in the 90s.
Years old.
So he really missed Okinawa.
I think.
More than Okinawan people who live in Okinawa.
So...
That's the most interesting part.
But I didn't know that.
Until like...
Until recently.
Yeah, recently.
So when you were growing up in Tokyo,
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you didn't really care about Okinawans or Japanese people?
Yeah, I did.
When I was a kid,
maybe...
14?
14, I guess.
And...
How should I say it?
There was an English textbook.
Like, where are you from?
You know, the first step in English.
Where are you from?
Like, who are you?
And in that textbook,
it said, I'm not Okinawan.
Wow.
I'm not Okinawan.
When I saw that,
my father is Okinawan.
But me.
At that time,
I thought about it a lot.
Of course,
and my face was like
Okinawan.
Yeah.
So people asked me a lot.
Like,
where are you from?
My hometown is Heshiki, right?
Yeah, Heshiki is really strong.
Okinawan.
My existence itself.
So people asked me a lot.
Yeah, people asked me a lot.
My ex-boyfriend is Heshiki, too.
Really?
Is he your relative?
No, no, no.
Really?
But Heshiki is very popular, right?
Where in Okinawa is Heshiki?
There aren't many people in Okinawa.
Really?
Okinawa city?
No.
Heshiki?
Heshiki?
Heshiki?
But her dad is from Heshiki, right?
But her dad is from Heshiki, right?
But
my parents are from Yonagawa.
What?
I said there aren't many people from Yonagawa,
but did they all leave?
Yeah.
I'm going to ask my parents.
But Heshiki has a lot of places.
Yeah, that's true.
But it's not there.
But it's not there.
There are a lot of people from Yonagawa,
but it's not related to Chinen-son.
It's very close, though.
Well,
Chinen high school is also in Yonagawa.
That's funny.
But
to become a hajicha
to become a hajicha
is quite
I'm not saying I'm prepared,
but I feel nervous.
But it wasn't there.
It wasn't there?
How did you become a hajicha?
I mean, what made you want to
be a hajicha?
It was interesting.
The first step was my mentor.
He
I visited him
as a customer.
27:00
Shin-Okubo, right?
After that
I lived in Berlin.
After that
I became a hajicha.
Completely.
I became a hajicha.
At that time,
he said,
you should become a hajicha.
Because you have already
done it.
You can do it professionally.
How do you say it in English?
As a professional?
Expert.
Only hajicha.
So he recommended me.
And then
I go back home.
And then I was thinking.
So at the time,
you wanted to be a tattoo artist.
Before you became a hajicha.
You were interested in being a tattoo artist.
You were interested in being a hajicha.
That's right.
You thought about it after he told you.
Yes.
You went home and thought about it.
Honestly, I didn't
want to be a tattoo artist.
But you graduated
art major
in a university.
So you were interested in designing.
Yes.
I was interested in drawing and painting.
You were connected.
Yes.
Actually,
tattooing is easy to start.
For me.
Because I was an artist.
Painting.
So I didn't
resist that much.
It's a new thing.
But
it's not something far away.
And there are many people
who draw and do tattoos.
It was natural.
Some people draw and do tattoos.
That's right.
I was nervous
at first.
But it wasn't
something far away.
You learned
many things
and became
a hajicha.
Yes.
I was interested in
Okinawa.
Everything
mixed together
and it went to be
a hajicha.
Yes.
How did your parents react
to your tattoo?
I'm very curious.
My Okinawan father
he said
the first time
he just
rejected a little bit.
He had a negative reaction.
I was
surprised.
He said
your tattoo is
kind of nostalgic.
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He reminds me
of his
grandmother.
Because she
got a tattoo.
She had a tattoo.
So that's why I did it.
How about your mom?
It was so
hard for me.
Because
she said
you should leave
from my home.
My mom said exactly
the same thing.
And then I
would go for a walk.
And I went
to my home.
But now she supports me.
She follows me a lot.
I think
many parents
are like that.
But I think
my mom understood
that I was interested in Okinawa
rather than hajiji.
I think so.
I think so.
My parents talked to me.
I think so.
I think
you were able to understand
because it was hajiji.
Yes.
I had a normal tattoo.
But
I thought it wasn't Okinawa.
So I thought
it was something else.
But you are a
traditional tattoo artist.
Yes.
They should be proud of it.
It's so rare.
I don't know.
You can say that to them.
Bingata artist,
Yachimu,
Hajiji artist,
Moeko.
But
being an artist for
Yachimu and Bingata,
nobody
has a negative image
for them.
But doing hajiji is like
people's perception for tattooing
in Japan.
It's because of Japanese history
of Yakuza, right?
Because of the laws
in Japan,
we can't go to hot springs
or pools.
It's because of the regulations
in Japan.
That's not a really good thing.
That's what you might think.
But
it's becoming
acceptable.
In Tokyo,
there are many people
tattooing.
You were in Berlin
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before
you moved to Tokyo?
Yes.
What did you do in Berlin?
University?
I went to
German language school
because I wanted to
apply
to art university in Germany.
Why did you choose Germany?
Because of visa.
To make a visa is too easy.
In South Asia,
it's not so
paid, a lot of money.
Immigrants
don't have to pay that much.
That's why.
Do art majors
go to Europe a lot?
Yes, a lot.
University in America
is really expensive.
Visa is also expensive.
But
especially in Berlin,
a lot of people are artists.
So I want
more connection with them.
I have friends there.
Do you have
a different way of living
compared to Japanese people?
There are a lot of hippies.
But
there are good things and bad things.
Because you are a hippie?
Yes.
I don't want to talk about it here.
No, it's fine.
Berlin is a good city.
I had a good experience
in Berlin.
Because I met a lot of artists.
I had a completely different
way of living.
It was the best.
Did you struggle
learning German?
Yes.
Danke.
But I forgot it.
One of my American friends told me
German is the
hardest language to learn
more than Japanese.
That's why
I thought it was really difficult.
Because the sentence
also...
Grammar?
Grammar is a little bit
similar to English.
But just for a reason.
It's easy to get confused.
I see.
So native English speakers
in American schools
and German language schools
can speak English.
But it's difficult
to speak in German.
It depends on your mother's language.
What kind of language
is most difficult to you.
German is more
36:00
like a variation.
It's like a gradation.
How do you say it?
Is it masculine or feminine?
It's neuter.
So it's like a fork and a knife
and a spoon.
It's different.
So many things to learn.
German...
There's a variety of languages.
German people speak English too.
Most of them.
But then that's easier.
When I was in Berlin,
I shared an apartment.
I spoke
in English.
Not in German.
So I was really confused.
At school, I spoke German.
At home, English.
But they were both
the same age.
And similar.
I was really confused.
It was hard.
You can't tell the difference
between words.
They're similar.
But different.
The pronunciation is different.
But the usage of English
is different.
I see.
So I was really confused.
Is it like...
There's that too.
Japanese and English
have different nuances.
It's different.
Like what?
There's a lot.
I can't think of one right now.
Like TV.
What do you mean?
TV and TV?
TV and television.
But Japanese call it TV.
I see.
It's like business English.
It's totally different.
Sorry, I can't think of one right now.
TV.
Whatever.
So you've been doing Hachichi Project
for two years now?
What?
One year.
How many people have you done
Hachichi tattoos so far?
Roughly.
Roughly?
How many people?
How many?
Not many.
I see.
You do it at home?
Yes.
I have a private studio.
So I share my
private space.
So how do customers contact you?
I throw a DM
on my Instagram.
Only Instagram.
Amazing.
It's the power of Instagram.
Yes.
It's amazing.
39:00
You found us on Spotify.
Not Instagram.
But I forgot Instagram.
Is there a lot of Okinawans
who came to you to get Hachichi tattoos?
Or more
people from Okinawa
or people from Hondo?
People from Hondo.
People who come to get Hachichi tattoos.
Yes.
That's mostly.
Do you explain
what Hachichi is to them?
To those people?
But they already know.
I see.
They Google
Hachichi's background and history.
But
sometimes they don't know.
They don't know at all?
A little.
A little.
Because
what is important
is respect.
You know.
That's right.
Because foreigners
and travelers.
But you're based in Tokyo.
So
Okinawan people cannot reach to you easily.
But
now
there seems to be a lot of people
who want to get Hachichi tattoos.
I already have my friends
who said to me
that they want to get Hachichi tattoos
because I did it from her.
My friends said too.
I mean my co-workers wanted to
get Hachichi tattoos.
I want more.
But
I didn't know who to ask.
I didn't know who to ask.
It was the same for me.
There was a demand.
Before you met her,
did you ever think
to get your own Hachichi books
and bring them to your favorite artist?
Yes.
I thought so too.
But
I thought
you don't have to get Hachichi tattoos
in a hurry.
It doesn't matter when you're young.
So
I took it easy.
I got it at the right time.
But you have Gouen.
Gouen?
Gouen.
Yes.
I hope my mom
will like it.
I hope my mom will like it.
Have you
met
Hachicha before?
Only tattoo artists
do Hachichi?
My mentor.
Her mentor.
You're the only one
who does Hachicha, right?
Yes.
In Japan?
I see.
You're the only one.
42:01
I'm only an expert.
I do Hachichika.
In Tokyo?
Yes.
I've seen
some articles
on international media.
Ametropole?
And
Japanese articles.
No?
Do you prefer foreign media?
Yes, I do.
I see.
It's rare.
I haven't seen
anything like that.
Especially in Japan.
Yes, it's interesting.
Only Yakuza
and idols
have tattoos.
I didn't know that.
How do you
get in touch with
foreign media?
Instagram.
Instagram.
Yes.
It was a great interview.
I didn't
do much research.
I was asked
a lot of questions.
But all the people
I've met
watched the interview
and asked me questions.
They asked me about
Okinawan history and background.
It was easy for me to answer.
I wanted to do this kind of work again.
Yes.
I heard that
you like people
who like Okinawan culture and history.
You?
Yes.
It doesn't matter
if you're Okinawan or not.
But I like people
who study culture
and history
and want to cherish
Okinawan history.
I like passionate people.
I don't know why.
Akane also
likes Okinawan culture.
Maybe.
I like passionate people
who are more like you
than Okinawan people.
People who are half Okinawan
or people who are
from outside Japan.
They are more passionate.
I see.
They send me messages on radio.
Thank you so much.
You're welcome.
When I see
such reactions,
I feel happy.
I want to do my best.
I mean,
I want to cherish
what I have.
What I have in Okinawa.
Identity is interesting.
Yes.
I was born and raised in Okinawa.
But
Okinawans are
very strong.
They think a lot.
Yes, they do.
45:01
I think
I was in San Francisco
when I was 20.
I was in a
culture exchanging class.
I needed to explain
what Japanese culture is.
I was like,
because I'm Okinawan.
I explained in two ways.
In Japan, Japanese people
do like this.
But in my hometown, Okinawa,
Okinawan people have a different culture.
Celebrate date is different.
Obon is different.
New Year is different.
I went to Okinawa
a lot.
Finally, everyone said,
OK, you are Okinawan.
I did it until I became Okinawan.
One of my Japanese friends told me,
why are you so appealing
that you are Okinawan?
Ah, yeah.
She said, you are a part of Japanese.
I was so angry.
You are right,
but I am right too.
I have maybe two nationalities.
I don't know.
There is a fact that
I was born and raised in Japanese culture
and I grew up as Okinawan.
But I can't tell that.
Ah, I see.
You grew up in the same place.
For example, in Japan.
I don't know how far you grew up in Japan.
I don't know how far you grew up.
In my opinion,
well,
in the first place,
people don't care about their identity.
Japanese people don't care about
their identity.
Yeah.
But they think about it.
Because I am an Okinawan.
So,
I think
it is negative
to think about
your identity.
In Japan.
And
they envy me.
Because I have
like half
mixed cultures.
So,
sometimes I feel that way.
So,
I don't have
anyone to share Okinawa with.
I don't have family.
Everyone travels to Okinawa.
But
what I see is different.
And what I feel is different.
They went to Okinawa as a tourist.
Yeah, as a tourist.
Maybe they only saw
a good part.
Like the ocean and
the hotel.
But
they don't think of Okinawa
as a holiday.
I see.
That day,
I want to appeal that
Okinawa is not a resort.
It has a dark history.
And the weather is nice.
Yeah.
June 23rd
48:01
is the hottest day in your life.
You should think about
the war.
So,
I'm thankful
that Okinawans
have a lot of money.
But I'm also thankful
for the people
who travel to Okinawa
to see the dark history.
I'm thankful for that.
And I'm happy.
But
the poverty in Okinawa
and
the divorce rate,
the suicide rate,
every single thing,
probably
tourists don't know about it.
Not at all.
I mean,
they don't need to know.
But as a local people,
it's not only
a heaven resort place here.
That's what I think.
But I think
they do it
to promote
tourism.
I think they do it
to promote tourism.
But
as a resort place,
Okinawans
are being
featured
in the media
and magazines.
But I feel like
it's just like that.
When Shurijo was on fire,
I was like,
why are Okinawans
crying when they see Shurijo?
That's right.
I was often told that.
I was often told that.
I sold Shurijo's
reconstruction t-shirts.
I sold Shurijo's reconstruction t-shirts.
I just wanted to do it
without thinking about anything.
But some people
were like,
why are you doing this?
I think it's good
to have different opinions.
On one hand,
I went to Shurijo
when I was young for a trip.
To know its history
and its importance
really touches me.
And seeing
Shurijo burning in their home
really touched my heart.
really touched my heart.
I think there are
many tourists
who can understand this.
I think there are
I think those people have similar experiences to me
and maybe they know a little bit about it
Some people might be sad about the fact that they've been to a tourist spot and it's gone
Yeah, I think so
I think there are many different perspectives
I was in Tokyo at the time
and I was really worried about people from the same school as me
I was like, why am I so worried about this person?
Especially when you live far away, it's always a day or two late
51:03
I heard about it on the news
and it was right after I came back from Berlin
My dad was crying
because he was far away
I was really shocked
I couldn't talk about it with anyone other than my family
Yeah, I think so too
I heard about it on the news
and everyone was talking about it
I thought it was the same feeling
but I couldn't talk about it with anyone
Yeah, you were in Tokyo
Yeah, I was there for a long time
I wasn't in Okinawa or Matsu
Yeah
But you have now a place to talk about it, like with us
Yeah, with us
I'm sure you'll get to know more people from Okinawa
Yeah
That's great, you're going to expand your plans
Yeah
That's great
You've been doing the Hajitsuie project for about two years now, right?
One year
One year?
You're making me talk
Wait, what's the Hajitsuie project?
What is that?
I'm tattooing with a handbook
Yeah
It's kind of a traditional method
with a handbook
Yeah
It's called the Hajitsuie
It's a project
Yeah, it's a project
It's just a name
It's a project, but it's like your job
Yeah
That's your Katagaki
Yeah
It's like your personal name
Yeah
What's the different process between Hajitsuie and tattoo?
Almost the same
The way of doing tattooing
It's handbook
With a handbook
That's really important
Yeah
It's important
It's also important because of the history
Why did you do the Hajitsuie with a handbook?
I wanted to close to traditional method
Are you asking why traditional Hajitsuie was handbooking?
Yeah
But there was no machine, right?
In the old days, everyone was doing bookings
I think every tribal tattoo was handbook from the beginning
Yeah, but it depends
Yeah
So you do it by hand first
Yeah
Because there was no machine
I think machine is a recent tool
Yeah
I think it's because the pattern is different
What?
Pattern?
Old tribal tattoo was handbooking
54:03
It's not a process
The design of Hajitsuie is Hajishi
Yeah
Yeah
What do you hold when you do Hajitsuie?
Yeah
I see
So you have many types of Hajitsuie on the hands
What is this?
This is vagina
So you have four vaginas on your right hand and left hand
Penis
On the left hand
It's so simple
What about the penis?
Penis?
Kind of a shell
What do you mean?
Shell
Shell is like a vagina, right?
Yeah
What about this?
This is sun
It's like Tida
It's like chicken ganache
It's like moon
It's old
But I'm not for sure
It depends on the people
I interviewed the old ladies and they all have different opinions
I see
Yeah
What about this?
Ya?
Yari
Yari?
It's like bamboo leaves
What does it mean?
It means you are strong
Yeah, you are strong and you will come back
You will be taken to that world
Yeah
That's why it's called Yari
It means you will stay even if you die
Yeah, it means you will stay even if you die
It's like a symbol
It means you won't be taken to Japan
Yeah, it means you won't be taken to Japan
Yeah
It's like a nationality symbol
It's like a symbol
It's like a symbol
It's like a symbol
But everyone admires it
Yeah
It means old people are fashionable
That's why more young people are interested in it
I think so
I think it's getting more and more
Yeah, I think so
History repeats itself
The history of the era of admiration is coming back
By Hajiji Project
If you know, she has like full vagina and moon and sun and Yari and flower on both hands
57:09
It's pretty cool
Yeah
I think the combination is the only one
Yeah, the way of doing it
Yeah, that's right
When I read Hajiji's book, I thought it was interesting that the signs of Miyakojima, Honto and Nantokajima were different
Yeah, I thought so
It's not a dialect, but it's like the taste of soba is different
Yeah, the thickness of soba noodles is different
It's different depending on the place
Are you okay with Hajiji going to be a little bit like modern and stylish?
They need respect
If there is respect
And also a little bit knowing Okinawa's background and history
Because when I started Hajiji Project
Especially in Japan, people don't know and don't care about Okinawa
Like sightseeing, heaven, resorts, palaces
So they know about Okinawa
Through Hajiji
It's a good thing for people to know Okinawa's history
It's good to start from Hajiji
The entrance is Hajiji
Because Hajiji is beautiful
Yeah, I don't talk about Hajiji
When I say something, people react
Even my friends who have been with me for a long time
They don't talk about Hajiji
But when they see it, they say it's good
Or they say it's open
The reason why we started this conversation
I don't know, even though it's my job
I feel like I'm accepted
People around me don't reject me
I think it would be better if the taboo was relaxed
That's why we decided to do this
It's my personal opinion
1:00:01
It's my style
It's good if people know about Hajiji
It's not an imitation
Even without the taboo
There was something like this in Okinawa
If people are interested in it
That's enough
The image of Okinawa that I know
It's a little different
That's why
So deep
There are people who do it with paintings and nails
You use this mark as a symbol
You draw pictures, right?
But
That's different
Hajiji disappeared
It's gone
I'm afraid it will disappear soon
If it is digested as a thing
No, it's not a thing
Jaguar
It will disappear soon
There are people who can't do it
I don't do it
That's right
But it's a good thing
I think most people have a hard time doing it
I do it once
That's right
I'm going to take that step
I think I can make a lot
Yes
I'm really excited
Her performance
Thank you so much
So we invited a guest, Moeko Haji-chan
From Tokyo
She talked about
How she started Hajiji
And her student life in Berlin
We asked her about
How Hajiji
What did you ask?
I forgot
Okinawa
We talked about her Okinawan identity
Customer reaction
How she wants to be a Hajiji project person
In the future
I think Hajiji is pretty cool and beautiful
A lot of people should know about Hajiji
And Okinawan history as well
Moeko's Instagram
I will put the link on the description
On Spotify, YouTube later
So please check her out
And also don't forget to follow
Iyasasa Radio's Instagram too
1:03:02
So if you are interested in Hajiji
Please contact us
Or Moeko-san
That's all for today
Danke, danke
Danke
Thank you so much
Bye-bye
