Karii (happy precedent) is a word meaning "good luck."
In Okinawa, when something joyful or happy happens,
"Karii chikirana (Let's share the joy), karii!"
is a well-known greeting for toasts.

Yanbaru is the birthplace of Okinawa Island and the source of its water.
The Yanbaru festival started in 2017 with the aim of making this area,
with its beautiful nature and rich culture, a new source of art.
Thanks to your support, the festival is now in its 7th year.

With this year's festival being the lucky number "7," we set our sights on our 8th year.
We hope that this year's festival will be a source of even more joy and happiness.
We are calling out to you in high spirits and vigor.
Gusuyo! Karii sabira!

Born on Ishigaki Island in 1959, he has been the general director of the "Yanbaru Art Festival" since 2017.
With the beauty of Ryukyu and Okinawa's ancient shadows and sense of colors as his main theme, he engages in free-expression activities regardless of genre, like photography, design, video, and calligraphy. His major works include "Suderu -Metamorphosis of Primitive Ryukyu-" (Yanbaru Art Festival 2018-2019), "Suderu Umarekawaru" (Kyoto International Film Festival 2019 Art Division), Island Cat Movie "Nyaha!" (2018), A documentary film "Us 4 IRIOMOTE-Seiseiruten" on the theme of nature and life on Nishi-Omotesando (released on YouTube in 2021).