The Tombs

The island of Okinawa is riddled with tombs. They are located on hillsides, next to beaches, in fields, next door to currently occupied homes. It is impossible to go very far without seeing them. They may be seen singley, in pairs, or small multiples, and also can be seen covering the landscape of a hillside by the dozens and hundreds.

The Okinawans do practice ancestor worship, as seen during Obon and the Eisa festivals. The individual tombs can be seen with small altars. The altars are usually placed directly in front of the tomb opening. The altars hold small plates and cups for the offerings brought to the ancestors.

The oldest versions of the tombs are called turtleback tombs or kamekobaka. These are modeled on the process of women giving birth. The rectangular opening is where the cremated remains of the ancestors, in their individual urns, are placed. Because the tomb itself represents a woman's womb the placing of the remains inside the opening represents the ancestor being returned to his or her origins.


The house shaped tombs are the more modern tombs and were reserved until recently for the nobility.



Families visit the tomb sites several times a year to pay respect and bring their food offerings.


The third photo was a tomb built into the back wall of a cave down by the Sea. Rustic it may have been, but there were unmistakable signs that family members had recently been in attendance.