When i was a little girl, i sometimes stayed with my Obaa-san (grandmother). She had a house in the Tsuboya Pottery District in Naha.
During my visit, i could hear Obaa-san’s tom-tom (beater) on her weaving loom. She had a small convenience store adjoining her house, so I often heard the voices of small children too. They came by to purchase candy and ice cream from her. The tom-tom and happy young voices surrounded me during the day…
In the evening, the sounds changed. Instead, i heard the voices of those visiting the local Okinawa Soba house for dinner…laughing, chatting, and slurping…laughing and slurping…
Late at night, i fell asleep to the sound of the bells and drums emanating from a nearby Buddhist temple…
My Oji (Uncle) has drawn a picture of Obaa-san’s old house so that my Okinawan family can cherish our good memories there…i have such good memories of those sounds around me…
Scharine Kirchoff, Fiber Artist 