#windmill palm

[robertpallesen]

Street Scene, Portland, OR © Robert Pallesen

[rggtattoos]

Tattoo Analysis: Shimabukuro Rikiya

Everything in Rikiya's tattoo reflects his love and dedication to his hometown and the people that live there.

(Tattoo Breakdown)

Being that the eye is such a small detail to be the only bit unfinished, I am guessing that Rikiya had his tattoo done in small bites at a time over a number of years. That is assuming the artist didn't just drop dead mid-session. The Nakahara family isn't exactly flush with cash, so I can see him doing it in more affordable chunks. The eye is a key part of emotional expression, and as 3’s story unfolds Rikiya grows from a brash, impulsive kid to a source of emotional support to Kiryu and Morning Glory. He learns to listen, and ultimately to give his life for the people he loves.

Snakes protect sacred places, and Rikiya gives everything he has to protect the orphanage, Kiryu, and all of Okinawa. Okinawa is definitely a sacred place in Y3. It’s arguably where we see Kiryu at his happiest. We are shown its natural beauty, how peaceful it is, and the kindness of its citizens. It is a safe haven for Kiryu, Haruka, the Morning Glory kids, and Nakahara’s daughter. 

Harming a snake is said to bring curses, and Rikiya’s death does incur the wrath of Kiryu, who spends most of 3 trying to be a peaceful civilian who stays out of yakuza affairs until Rikya's death forces his hand.  

Also Habushu (Viper infused Awamori- a distilled rice alcohol unique to Okinawa ) is used to enhance male virility. I don't know what to do with this information. There are also reports of the snakes used in the drink surviving the process and "reviving" when removed from the booze.

Windmill palms are real servants of the people as far as plant life goes. Useful for making medicine, tools, clothes, and wax. Rikiya is a simple, small town boy who loves his home and does everything to support the people living there, often directly. He helps people anyway he can, from supporting a girl who moved away from Okinawa who lost her way in life, to playing the heel in a wrestling match to boost the mood of a sick kid.

More of an anecdote than symbolism, but while I was researching palm trees for Rikiya’s tattoo description, I was struggling to find much about them. They don’t really come up in any myths or legends that I could find. However, on a gardening-based message board I saw a discussion where a few people were discussing that some Japanese people, when questioned, seemed to believe that there are no palm trees native to mainland Japan. They are almost solely associated with more beach-y locals, despite there being several species native to the main island. Once again this was an extremely isolated conversation, but something could be said about the parallels to a native plant that is seen as foriegn, and Okinawa’s Japan-but-not relationship to the rest of the country that is discussed a bit in 3.

[bitsoflight]

A Bit of Green. 

[fatchance]

Windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei), at the Norfolk Botanical Garden, Norfolk, Virginia. 

[rggtattoos]

島袋 力也, Shimabukuro Rikiya

ハブとシュロの葉 - “Habu and Windmill Palm Leaves”

Type: Traditional,

Artist: Eye by Utabori

Features: 

Habu Viper - Protobothrops flavoviridis, aka the Okanawa habu, is a species of venomous pit viper native to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan.

In Japanese legend snakes represent wisdom, and are messengers of the gods. They protect sacred places and bring curses to those who disturb them. It is considered to be bad luck to see a dead snake, and harming a snake can bring misfortune to entire villages.

Habu vipers are also used in Habushu, an alcoholic spirit consisting of a Habu Viper submerged in Okinawan awamori, a distilled rice liquor. Habushu is said to help with a number of health issues, such as arthritis and male virility.

Unfinished Eye - Blindness in Japan has historically been associated with magic and the ability to foretell the future. In Eastern countries, the eyes are crucial to conveying expression, even more so than the mouth. 

Windmill Palm Fronds - Trachycarpus fortunei, a variety of palm native to China and Japan. Its fibers are used to make coats, brooms, brushes, and doormats; wax is collected from the fruits; and a drug used to stop hemorrhaging is extracted from the seeds. This species is also cultivated as an ornamental in more urban areas, as well as in the west. Palm trees in general are often associated with beachy locales like Okinawa

[robertpallesen]

Windmill Palm, Portland, OR © Robert Pallesen

[robertpallesen]

Windmill Palm, Portland, OR © Robert Pallesen

[robertpallesen]

Windmill Palm, Portland, OR © Robert Pallesen