{"id":2649,"date":"2016-07-04T16:54:52","date_gmt":"2016-07-04T16:54:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/?p=2649"},"modified":"2017-04-04T09:25:12","modified_gmt":"2017-04-04T09:25:12","slug":"the-tomori-lion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/the-tomori-lion\/","title":{"rendered":"Story Of The Tomori Lion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Travel to Okinawa, Japan with Keith and Michael as they take you on a photographic journey from past to present–the story of the Tomori Lion.<\/p>\n

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Copyright \u00a9 Michael Lynch All Rights Reserved The Lion’s Wounds: Probably every caliber of bullet available at the time has left it’s mark on the Stone Lion of Tomori. Pentax K10D f\/11 1\/100 ISO 100 Pentax 18-250 Focal Length 35mm Manfrotto 725B and Cable Release<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Its image has graced both the pages and cover of several books about the \u201cBattle of Okinawa.\u201d One famous picture from the period shows only the solitary stone statue perched on a knoll that is completely barren of vegetation. Another picture<\/a> shows U.S. military personnel hunkered down beside it to avoid enemy snipers on the next ridge.<\/p>\n

With its sardonic grin and its piercing eyes fixed in a resolute gaze, the Tomori Lion statue is one of the Battle\u2019s best known survivors. Surprisingly, even though tourism is one of the pillars of the local economy, it is also one of the least visited sites on the island.<\/p>\n

This part of tiny Okinawa is where the great WWII battle, known to locals as the \u201cTyphoon of Steel,\u201d drew to its bloody close. It\u2019s also where some of the most ferocious and desperate fighting took place.<\/p>\n

The true number will probably never be known, but ballpark guesstimates say that as many as a quarter-million souls met their maker during the three month long battle. To see it as it is now and compare it to historical photographs shows just how fierce the fighting was and how much the place has changed.<\/p>\n

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Copyright 2010 \u00a9 Michael Lynch All Rights Reserved In memory of those who died here–Photoshop enhancement by M. Meier. Pentax K10D, f\/11 1\/8 ISO 100, Pentax 18-250 Focal Lenght 65mm, Manfrotto 725B and Cable Release<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Goose Bumps” Marla–don’t know what else to say! This has special meaning to anyone who’s ever lived through bombs, bullets, grenades, mortars and artillery and lived to talk about it. We lock it away somewhere and only talk about it with others who’ve been there, too. And that’s only when we get drunk. That’s all I can tell ya. >>>Mike<\/strong><\/p>\n

Though the lion amazingly survived intact, it did not go unscathed. Pock marks of varying sizes mark its body to indicate that it was hit by gunfire from just about every conceivable direction. On its left side are several large holes that were obviously made by a high caliber machine gun.<\/p>\n

The size, angle and depth of the holes indicate that it was probably made by an American aircraft during a strafing run.<\/p>\n

But the story of the Tomori Lion predates the great battle. Legend has it that in the late 17th<\/sup> Century the people of Tomimori Village, as it was called back then, were plagued by frequent fires. So great was the problem that they consulted with a \u201cHoly Man\u201d who told them that in nearby Mt. Yaese there was an evil spirit that caused fires.<\/p>\n

He advised them to make a Shisa and place it so it faces the mountain. By doing so, it would allow no evil to approach from that direction. The legend goes on to say that the fires miraculously stopped.<\/p>\n

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Copyright \u00a9 Michael Lynch All Rights Reserved Close up of Stone Lion Dog Pentax K10D f\/11 1\/13 ISO 100 Pentax 18-250 Focal Length 55mm Manfrotto 725B Tripod and Cable Release<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just what the heck is a Shisa you ask? A Shisa is a lion or \u201clion dog\u201d<\/a> which originated in China. They are powerful talismans that are believed to have the power to ward off evil. Today they are a cultural icon closely associated with Okinawa.<\/p>\n

They can be seen just about everywhere you look to include the entrances to homes, castles, temples, bridges, mausoleums and as is the case with the Tomori Lion, as guardians of the village.<\/p>\n

Incidentally, in addition to being the largest, the Tomori Lion is assumed to be the forerunner of all village Shisas on Okinawa. Apparently the advice provided by the Holy Man must have worked, because soon afterward, other villages in the district built their own Shisa, which coincidentally on this part of the island, also face Mt. Yaese.<\/p>\n

Nothing quite breeds like success, because it wasn\u2019t very long before village Shisa of varying sizes were to be found all over the island.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s cynic might question the veracity of the Holy Man\u2019s claim about evil spirits being the cause of the fires. They might even go so far as to speculate whether or not he (the Holy man) might have had a relative in the stone cutting business in need of a little economic assistance.<\/p>\n

But you have to remember that during the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom, what Okinawa was once known as, the people were renowned for their honesty and integrity. This is why the tiny kingdom thrived as an economic trading powerhouse of the time. The Okinawan people are also known for being non-confrontational. Both of these facts might also explain why they have no weapons and were sub sequentially annexed into Japan without a fight.<\/p>\n

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Copyright \u00a9 Michael Lynch All Rights Reserved Artists rendering by Satoke \u00a9 2010 This is a photo taken of a sketch drawn by a local artist. He was commissioned by Mike to depict the seen as he saw it based upon an old US Army photo taken during the battle of Okinawa. In the artist’s\u00a0mind, the Stone Lion appears much larger than the men who were sheltered by it during the war. A powerful symbol, indeed!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lastly, this isn\u2019t Chicago! Conspicuously absent from any accounts of the legend is any reference to Mrs. Oshiro (a common Okinawan name)\u2014her cow allegedly kicked over a lantern. Nor did the Holy Man protest about having inherited a mess left to him by the Holy Man formerly in charge.<\/p>\n

Today the Tomori district is a part of Kochinda Town and a suburb of Naha City. It\u2019s a mix of sugar cane fields and quiet suburban homes. The prefectural government designated the Tomori Lion as a Tangible Prefectural Cultural Asset and built a small park on the tree covered knoll where it sits.<\/p>\n

The trees and brush have grown so much it\u2019s hard to believe that this is the same place as those famous WWII photographs so graphically depict.<\/p>\n

Tourist\u2019s wishing to visit should travel by car. From Naha take highway 507 southeast toward the Peace Prayer Memorial Park. Just south of downtown Kochinda town look for Highway 52. At the very next traffic light make a right hand turn onto highway 14. About 300 meters down the road you\u2019ll see a bus stop on the left side of the road and a mock up of the statue.<\/p>\n

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Copyright \u00a9 Michael Lynch All Rights Reserved The sign on HWY 52 points the way to the Stone Lion.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Copyright \u00a9 Michael Lynch All Rights Reserved The narrow-winding road dead-ends at the Lion Dog site. Doc’s car is barely visible (between blades of sugarcane) at the road’s end.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Copyright \u00a9 Michael Lynch All Rights Reserved A wide angle view of the stone stairs leading to the Lion. They were extremely slippery after a recent rain. Panasonic DMC-FZ50 f\/11 1\/6 ISO 100 Focal Length 7mm–ground to steady the camera and 10 second timer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Copyright \u00a9 Michael Lynch All Rights Reserved Going up the stairs, the Stone Lion is first spotted off to the right. Panasonic DMC-FZ50 f\/11 1\/6 ISO 100 Focal length 7mm with 10 second timer, using the viewfinder.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Note: Although the railings going up the stairs appear to be made from logs, they’re actually concrete. Realistic fences and stairs which appear to be made from logs can be found in parks throughout Japan. The colors and textures of these termite-proof trees are so convincing, you actually have to scratch one to believe they’re not made of natural wood!<\/p>\n

On the opposite side of the road you\u2019ll see a small mom and pop store and a narrow side street leading into a quiet subdivision.<\/p>\n

Follow that road and the signs the rest of the way to the lion. At the last turn you\u2019ll see a small shrine and a steep one lane paved road leading up through the sugarcane fields to the top of the knoll where the Tomori Lion stands its century\u2019s old silent vigil.<\/p>\n

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Copyright \u00a9 Keith Graff (Doc) All Rights Reserved Meet Michael Lynch… Photo by Doc taken while Mike was composing a Stone Lion shot. Pentax K200D with Tamron 18-200 Focal Length 24mm f\/5.6 1\/60 ISO 100 Manual Focus Manfrotto 725B Tripod<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

This photo gives a sense of appreciation for how greenery has returned to the site. Sixty-five years ago, American and Japanese bombers and artillery destroyed everything on these hilltops, except for the Stone Lion.<\/p>\n

Article by Keith Graff (Doc)
\nPhotography by Michael Lynch<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Travel to Okinawa, Japan with Keith and Michael as they take you on a photographic journey from past to present–the story of the Tomori Lion. 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