THAT IS GOOD THAT IS GOOD

絶景×DJ Ree.K | 沖縄県 久高島

Zekkei × DJ Ree.K | Kudaka Island

さて前回のHIKARUさんから続いて、12月の初めも僕たちはまだ沖縄にいました。グスクでの撮影の翌日からは聖地として知られる久高島に渡り、Ree.Kさんのプレイを撮影する予定です。
ところが、今帰仁城から戻る道すがら、不穏な情報が飛び込んできました。
「今日の久高島行きのフェリーは午前中だけ運行し、午後は波が高くなって運休」
え?行けない…って可能性もあるの??

Following HIKARU’s last visit, we were still in Okinawa at the beginning of December.
The next day after the shooting at the Gusuku, we will be going to Kudaka Island, which is known as a holy place, to shoot Ree.K’s play.
However, on the way back from Nakijin Castle, we received disturbing news.
“Today’s ferry to Kudaka Island will run only in the morning, and will be cancelled in the afternoon due to high waves.”
What? Is there a risk that we won’t be able to visit…?

渡航前日の久高海運のTwitter Kudaka Kaiun’s Twitter feed the day before the departure
https://twitter.com/kudakaferry?s=20

ここで1ヶ月前の記憶が蘇ります。沖縄ロケをするにあたり撮影の候補地を探していた時のこと、グスクでの撮影はすぐに決まりましたが、もう1箇所の撮影候補地がなかなか決まりません。そんな中、久高島で撮影したらどうか?という打診を受けました。沖縄の聖地として知られる久高島で撮影ができるなら是非実施したい!沖縄のロケーションサービスからは、撮影可能との連絡を頂きました。ところが地元の友人などに聞いてみると…

This brings back memories of a month ago.When we were looking for a location for the shoot in Okinawa, we decided on the gusuku soon after, but we couldn’t decide on the other location. Then, I was approached with the idea of filming on Kudaka Island. It was then that I was approached with the idea of filming on Kudaka Island. If we could shoot in Kudaka Island, which is known as the holy land of Okinawa, we would love to do it! The location service in Okinawa informed us that it was possible. However, when we asked our friends in the area…

「久高島は沖縄の中でも特に神聖な場所、DJの撮影なんて出来ないだろう」「絶対に無理だろう」という様な意見が大多数でした。

The majority of people said, “Kudaka Island is one of the most sacred places in Okinawa, so it would be impossible to film with a DJ,” or “It would be absolutely impossible.”

そこで出演者共々、事前に久高島の神様にご挨拶させて頂く機会を頂戴出来る様にお願いし、区長さんからも了解を頂き、なんとか安心して撮影できると思っていたのに、やはり久高島での撮影は難しいのでしょうか??

So, we asked for an opportunity to greet the gods of Kudaka Island in advance, and the mayor agreed. We thought we would be able to shoot without any worries, but was it still difficult to shoot in Kudaka Island?

ギリギリまで翌朝の船が出るのか、フェリーを運行する久高海運さんへ確認の連絡を入れてもらいます。しかしそれを左右する相手は天候のこと、誰も実際どうなるかは分かりません。ともかく明日港へ行ってみようということになりました。

Until the very last minute, we were asked to contact Kidaka Kaiun, the company that operates the ferry, to confirm whether the boat would leave the next morning. However, the only thing that would affect this was the weather, and no one knew what would actually happen. Anyway, we decided to go to the port tomorrow.

斎場御嶽 Sefa-utaki

時折小雨がパラつく薄曇りの天気、少し肌寒い中、南城市の安座真港に向かいます。
天候の事もあり、また久高島へのフェリーの事もあり、フェリーの出発点である安座真港へ向かう前に、琉球王国の開闢にまつわる最高聖地として久高島を遥拝できる斎場御嶽に足を運びました。鬱蒼とした林を御嶽の眼前まで進み(御嶽の中には入れなかったため)御嶽の手前から久高島の方向に向かって、ロケの成功をお祈りしました。
安座真港の隣のあざまサンサンビーチからは前方に久高島がうっすらと見えています。天候もなんとか持ち堪えており、フェリーへの車の積み込みが始まりました。先に車を積み込み、その間を縫うように僕たちも乗船します。

We headed for Azama Port in Nanjo City in light cloudy weather with occasional light rain and a bit chilly. Because of the weather and the ferry to Kudaka Island, we visited Sefa-utaki, the highest sacred site related to the founding of the Ryukyu Kingdom, where we could worship Kudaka Island, before heading to Azama Port, the departure point of the ferry. We walked through the dense forest to the front of the Utaki ( we were not allowed to enter the Utaki) and prayed for the success of the filming from the front of the Utaki towards the direction of Kudaka Island. From Azama Sun Sun Beach, next to Azama Port, we could see Kudaka Island faintly ahead. The weather was holding up well, and we started loading the cars onto the ferry. The cars were loaded first, and we boarded the ferry as if we were in between them.

なんとか出港すると、大荒れでは無いものの、100トン未満の船はかなり波に揺られます。車両を繋いだデッキを窓から覗いてみると、時折大きな波の飛沫が車まで飛んできます。それでも島に近づくと少し海が穏やかになり、島の周辺には南国ならではのライトグリーンの海が広がっています。

When we managed to leave the port, although it was not very rough, the ship of less than 100 tons was quite shaken by the waves. Looking out the window at the deck where the vehicle was connected, I could see the occasional large splash of waves flying up to the car. Nevertheless, as we approached the island, the sea became a little calmer, and the area around the island was covered with the light green sea that only a tropical country can see.

久高島は実際のところ自分自身も初上陸、かなりワクワクしながら久高島へ乗り込みました。その後、区長さんに案内してもらい、久高島の対となる2箇所の祭場、久高殿(くだかでん)と外間殿(ほかまでん)にご挨拶のお参りをさせて頂きました。
久高殿と外間殿は島の人たちが暮らす生活エリアの中にありますが、ひっそりとしてなんとも静謐な佇まいです。それが、長い間島の人たちに守られてきた空間であることを感じさせ、自然と恐れ多い気分になります。

久高殿 Kudaka den
外間殿 Hokama den

It was actually my first time to Kudaka Island, and I was quite excited to get there. After that, we were guided by the ward chief to the two opposite ceremonial sites on Kudaka Island, Kudaka-den and Hodoma-den, where we paid our respects.
Kudaka-den and Hokama-den are located in the living area where the islanders live, but it is quiet and somewhat serene. This makes you feel that the space has been protected by the islanders for a long time, which naturally makes us feel fearful.

ご挨拶を済ませた後、翌日の撮影のロケハンのためカベール岬を目指します。行きすがら幾つかの場所をめぐり、観光案内や島のルールについて伺います。カベール岬へ続く真っ直ぐな砂利道は祭事の時には立ち入り禁止になるそうですが、日常的にも夜間は岬全体が立ち入り禁止の聖域であるそうです。観光客はもちろん、島の人も夜間には絶対に立ち入りません。その様なお話を伺いながら岬に続くその砂利道を走っていると、雲間にほんの少し晴れ間が覗いているのが見えました。

After greetings, we headed to Cape Caberu for location scouting for the next day’s shooting. On the way, we visited several places to get tourist information and learn about the rules of the island. I was told that the straight gravel road leading to Cape Caberu is off-limits during festivals, but even on a daily basis, the entire cape is a sanctuary that is off-limits at night. The entire cape is a sanctuary at night, not only for tourists but also for the islanders. As I drove along the gravel road leading to the cape, I could see a glimpse of sunshine peeking through the clouds.

今日の午後はロケハンのみで、明日の早朝に撮影の予定でしたが、そこはTHAT IS GOODの撮影をこなしてきたスタッフ、この機会を逃すまいと、急遽撮影準備を始めます!

This afternoon was only for location scouting, and the shooting was scheduled for early tomorrow morning, but the staff, who have been shooting THAT IS GOOD, didn’t want to miss this good opportunity, we quickly begin preparations for the shoot!!

昨日に引き続き風が強いのが難点ではありますが、その風が雲を吹き流してくれ、音楽に合わせて天候がさらに回復していくようでさえあります。プレイするRee.Kさんの背後の海には時折日光も差し込み始め、その度に海の色が変わりライトグリーンに煌めいています。

The only problem was that it was still windy as yesterday, but the wind was blowing away the clouds and the weather seemed to be getting better as the music played. Ree.K, who was playing, the ocean behind her started to get sunshine from time to time, and the color of the ocean changed every time, shimmering a light green.

一旦DJセットの演奏を終わりカメラをチェックしていると、DJの目の前に設置したGoProの映像がなぜか撮れていません、そこで、さらに20分ほどリテイクして撮影を続けます。その頃にはRee.Kさんの後ろに一瞬太陽も顔を出し、夕方手前の黄金色の光を放ってくれました。

Once the DJ set was done playing and we checked the camera, for some reason the GoPro set up in front of the DJ was not capturing any footage. So we retake and continue filming for another 20 minutes. By then the sun had momentarily appeared behind Ree.K., giving us a golden glow in the early evening.

その後、片付けを始めた途端にザーッと雨が降ってきて、まさに天候の一番良い瞬間を捕まえた!という感じ…もしくは、空や海や島が僕らを助けてくれたのか…ともかく無事に…どころか、予想を超えた良い映像が撮れたのでした。

Then, as soon as we started to wrap up, it started to rain, and we caught the best part of the weather! Or maybe it was the sky, the sea, and the island that saved us… Anyway, we made it… not only safely, but we got better images than we expected.

食事処とくじん Restaurant Tokujin

明日撮影のはずがその日のうちにとても良い映像が撮れてしまったため、僕らの緊張も一気に緩みました。宿へ帰ると、コロナで観光客が減ったため、撮影時には唯一の食堂であった「とくじん」で夕ご飯…というより、もう打ち上げです。とくじんには、区長さんと一緒に(漁業組合の)元組合長さんもいらっしゃり、三線まで披露して頂きました。

We were supposed to shoot tomorrow, but we were able to get some very good footage that day, so our nerves were suddenly relaxed. After returning to the lodge, we had dinner at Tokujin, which was the only restaurant at the time of the shooting because the number of tourists had decreased in Corona…or rather, it was time to party. The mayor of the ward and the former head of the fishermen’s union were also there, and they even performed the sanshin (Okinawan guitar) for us.

さらに、地元の漁師さんに夜のタコ獲りに誘って頂き、スタッフ2名が参加しました。タコ獲りとのことでしたが、スタッフ2名は素人でしかも雨の夜の漁のため、波打ち際で出来る範囲での漁となり、でもそこは自然豊かな久高島のこと、様々な生物と邂逅したそうです。

In addition, a local fisherman invited us to catch octopus at night, and two of our staff joined in. We were told that we would be catching octopus, but since the two of us were beginners and it was a rainy night, we had to fish as much as we could at the edge of the waves. However, the island is rich in nature, and they encountered a variety of creatures.

ゾウリエビ The japanese mitten lobster

そして次の日、漁師さんが獲られた獲物の中からゾウリエビを食べさせて頂きました。なんと豪快に手で殻を剥がし、ハサミで身を切り分けて、お醤油が無かったため港の海水につけて食べました。これ以上ない鮮度抜群の獲れたてで、ぷりぷりとしていて、今まで食べた中でも一番、ともかくとても美味しかったです。

The next day, the fishermen let us eat the japanese mitten lobster from one of his catches. Surprisingly, he peeled off the shell by hand, cut the meat with scissors, and dipped it in seawater from the harbor since we didn’t have soy sauce. It was the freshest, plumpest, and most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten.

元々撮影予定であったその日は、1日中雨が降っている状況で、ゾウリエビを味わいながら…本当に昨日のうちに撮影ができて良かったなあと、心から思ったのでした。やっぱりお醤油でも食べてみたかったな〜とも思ったのですが…。

It was raining all day on the day we were originally scheduled to shoot, and as I tasted the japanese mitten lobster, I thought to myself, “I’m really glad we were able to shoot that yesterday. I also wanted to try it with soy sauce…

毎回奇跡的に天候に恵まれるTHAT IS GOODの撮影ですが、実はこの久高島での撮影は、その数々の奇跡の中でも最上級で、本当に何か大きな力が働いたとしか思えないような夢の様な一瞬の出来事でした。今でも僕の記憶の中の久高島は雨混じりですが、この映像を観るたびに、こんなに晴れてたんだ!とびっくりします。皆さんもぜひそんな奇跡の一瞬とRee.KさんのDJプレイを楽しんでください!
そしていつか島を訪れる際には、島のルールを守って、素敵な思い出を作ってもらえるとありがたいです!

Every time THAT IS GOOD shoots, the weather is miraculously blessed, but this shoot in Kudaka Island was one of the most miraculous, a dream-like moment that I can only imagine was the work of some great force. It still rains a lot in my memory of Kudaka Island, but every time I watch this video, I am amazed at how clear it was! I hope you enjoy this miraculous moment and Ree.K’s DJ performance! And if you do visit the island someday, I hope you’ll follow the island rules and make some great memories!

そういえば、最初の撮影で録画できなかった正面のGoProですが、あれもきっと島の神様が気に入って持って行ってしまったんだろう… そうだそうだ、きっとそうだ!出来上がった素敵な動画を見てそう思いました。

Oh, and by the way, the GoPro on the front that we couldn’t record on the first shoot, I’m sure the island gods liked that too and took it with them… Yes, yes, yes! I thought so when I saw the wonderful video that was made.


久高島への行き方

How to get to Kudaka Island

那覇空港からフェリー乗り場のある安座真港までは、車で約1時間。安座真港は南城市にあって、先ほど記事に登場した斎場御嶽のすぐ近くです。安座真発 久高島行きは、朝8:00にフェリー、9:30に高速船、その後1時間半〜2時間ごとに、フェリーと高速船が変わるがわる17時までの間に、1日当たり計6便運行されています。(※ただし、天候などによって欠航になる場合もあります。事前にお電話で確認しましょう。)

It takes about one hour by car from Naha Airport to Azama Port, where the ferry terminal is located. Azama Port is located in Nanjo City, very close to Sefa-utaki, which was mentioned earlier in this article.The ferry departs from Azama Port at 8:00 a.m., the high-speed boat departs at 9:30 a.m., and then the ferry and high-speed boat change every 1.5 to 2 hours until 5:00 p.m. A total of six flights per day depart from Azama Port to Kudaka island. (※The service may be cancelled due to weather conditions. Check by phone or Twitter beforehand.)

島でのルール
(久高海運のWEBサイトより多少書き替えて抜粋)

Rules on the island (excerpted with some changes from the Kudaka kaiun website)

・神行事の期間中は、集落から北への立ち入りが制限されます。
・集落内では、騒音を出す行為などは控え、水着や肌を露出したまま歩くことは控えてください。
・自転車や自動車は安全運転で、樹木や芝生を傷めない運転を心がけてください。
・島から一切のものの持ち出しを禁止します。(動植物はもちろん石や砂なども)
・拝みや祈りの妨げになる行為はおやめください。
・賽銭箱のないところに賽銭をおくことはおやめください。また、献花、線香、お供えものもお控えください。
・島内には立ち入り禁止の場所、遊泳禁止の浜が多数あります。

地域のルールを理解して、島の暮らしや信仰を、訪れる私たちも大切にしながら観光を楽しんでください。

・During the Shinto event, access to the north from the village is restricted.
・Please refrain from making noise in the village, and do not walk around in swimsuits or with your skin exposed.
・Bicyclists and motorists should drive safely and avoid damaging trees and lawns.
・It is forbidden to take anything out of the island. (Not only plants and animals, but also rocks, sand, etc.)
・Please do not disturb the worship or prayers.
・Please do not leave money in places where there is no money box. Also, please refrain from offering flowers, incense, and other offerings.
・There are many places on the island that are off-limits and beaches that are off-limits to swimming.
Please understand the local rules and enjoy sightseeing while respecting the island’s lifestyle and beliefs as we, the visitors, do.

THAT IS GOOD 編集部:中村
THAT IS GOOD Editorial department : Nakamura

pagetop