Anonymous (9/23/23)
For me, hajichi is a form of cultural pride. Our hajichi are the bold symbols of generations of resistance to the colonization of our people, lands, and traditions. Our hajichi represent an overt way to proudly mark our distinction from the colonizers and showcase the perseverance of our Shimanchu roots.
For me, hajichi is a form of cultural pride. Our hajichi are the bold symbols of generations of resistance to the colonization of our people, lands, and traditions. Our hajichi represent an overt way to proudly mark our distinction from the colonizers and showcase the perseverance of our Shimanchu roots.
Angie Brey-41-Oakland, CA (9/23/23)
I learned about hajichi when I was around 15 years old on one of my summer visits to Ishigaki. My aunt showed me a book full of photos and descriptions of hajichi and I was in awe. My Jiichan fondly spoke of his Bachan’s hands being covered with hajichi. I decided then that when I was old enough I would get my own hajichi. For years and years I scoured the internet trying to find any information, photos, and translations I could on Okinawan hajichi but the info was always so limited. I managed to find drawings of Yaeyama’s hajichi symbols and had my wrists tattooed several years ago. It’s been incredible seeing the ways social media has allowed the Shimanchu diaspora connect and through that watching all the information about hajichi be translated and shared, and the tradition revived. It fills me with so much pride.
Jay Makato, 25 from Oʻahu Hawaiʻi (9/2/23)
One night i looked up okinawan tattoo because i wanted a piece that represents my Oki side and i came across hajichi. I did research for about 3 days before deciding how iʻd want my piece. After all the research iʻm proud to soon be able to revive something once lost.
One night i looked up okinawan tattoo because i wanted a piece that represents my Oki side and i came across hajichi. I did research for about 3 days before deciding how iʻd want my piece. After all the research iʻm proud to soon be able to revive something once lost.
Anonymous (9/2/23)
The revival and survival of the okinawan culture.
from Oroku Picnic 2023 (7/16/23)
In memory, hajichi was something the family was not proud of or hidden or talked about . As 3rd gen in Hawaii I'd like to know more.
from Oroku Picnic 2023 (7/16/23)
(paraphrased from orally told story)
My grandma had hajichi. I thought it was scary. My mom told me the arrows pattern meant that when you get married you have to "go" and can't come back home.
- story from a grandma with a grandchild
Emily Takara, 19 from California/Hawai'i (7/16/23)
My grandpa says that his grandmother had hajichi, and even was a spiritual priestess/leader back in Okinawa.
I learned about hajichi about a year ago when I started learning more about my Okinawan heritage through art and then started following @hajichi_project on Instagram and heard about the "Okinawan Princess Da Legend of Hajichi Tattoos" book. I was super interested and read some articles, watched some videos, and listened to a couple podcasts about hajichi and also learned a lot from hajichi project. When some of my family and I decided to visit Okinawa in March 2023, on top of being really excited about seeing Okinawa and meeting family there, I was interested in getting hajichi tattoos from the hajicha in Okinawa, hajichi project / Moeko Heshiki. I reached out and drew some images and tried to understand the meanings of the different symbols. I learned a lot from her and was thrilled to set up an appointment just in time.
When I finally met her for the tattooing, she shared lots of photos and books about hajichi and made sure I understood the significance and history of hajichi. I decided to get the younger hajichi version with the two dots on the middle fingers on the left hand and got a kasuri fabric design I had found done by a Hawai'i Okinawa seamstress on my right wrist (leaving space in case I want to get the Ichichibushi symbol later) which I thought was a neat combination of Uchinanchu art and Hawai'i immigrant design. A few months later, the hajichi feels like a natural part of me and is such a neat story and connection and experience to have on my hands.
I also did a hajichi and bingata temporary tattoo drawing at the Oroku Picnic in 2023 and then did a booth about hajichi and collecting stories of hajichi at the Okinawan Festival in 2023 and got almost 100 responses (check them out in the written stories section)! I'm so grateful for everyone's support and openness to share their stories and thoughts. I learned so much from everyone, and hope they took away some new perspectives as well.
I look forward to continuing my journey with hajichi!