IRABŪ of the Kudaka Island, Okinawa

2025 Edition / Runtime: 102 minutes
Available formats: 4K DCP, 2K DCP, 4K MP4, 2K MP4, Blu-ray, DVD　

Planning, production and copyright:
Society for the Studies of Audio Visual Documentation for Cultural Properties / TokyoCinema Inc.,

　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.

　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.

Director’s Notes

On Kudaka Island

The IZAIHŌ Ritual

The IRABŪ Sea Krait as a Living Being

The Smoking Process of IRABŪ

Culinary Traditions Involving IRABŪ

Rituals and Ceremonies Associated with IRABŪ

Contact: info@tokyocinema.jp