IRABŪ of the Kudaka Island, Okinawa (feature film winner)
1h 41m
IRABŪ of the Kudaka Island, Okinawa, 102min., Japan
Directed by Kazuo Okada
Kudaka Island in Okinawa is home to just over 200 people and holds a sacred cultural legacy centered on the grand IZAIHŌ festival, celebrated once every 12 years for more than six centuries. The island is renowned for its traditional production of IRABŪ, smoked Erabu sea kraits, revered as a divine gift from the gods and once presented at banquets for distinguished guests of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
https://tokyocinema.jp/irabu-E.html
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/intro-audience-feedback-irabu
In the late 1980s, following the passing of key highest priestesses, both the festival and IRABŪ making were halted. This documentary seeks to revive that legacy by digitizing unreleased high-definition footage from the last 1978 IZAIHŌ and capturing new 4K testimonies from surviving practitioners.
By exploring traditional craftsmanship, culinary heritage, and enduring faith, the film emphasizes the importance of passing on traditions across generations, making it essential viewing for those interested in Okinawan cultural history. This extraordinary profound journey into revered heritage.