Collect a Shisa dog and bring

Collect a Shisa dog and bring home the island's guardian.

Off Kokusai-dori in Naha, turn onto the tranquil Tsuboya-dori and you'll feel like you've stepped into another time and space. Winding stone paths are flanked by old red-tiled houses and pottery studios. This area, a pottery town since the Ryukyu Kingdom, is also one of the birthplaces of the Shisa dog.

Shisa dogs are uniquely Okinawa's guardian beasts, with faces ranging from majestic to innocent. Those with open mouths pray for warding off evil, while those with closed mouths protect blessings. Walking along Tsuboya-dori, you'll find Shisa dogs of varying shapes displayed outside nearly every pottery shop: some with eyes wide open, as if shouting away disaster; others with beaming smiles, evoking joy.

Collecting a Shisa dog is like taking home a piece of Okinawa's blessings. Palm-sized ceramic Shisa dogs are the most popular, perfect for display in the entryway or on a desk, allowing them to quietly guard you as you leave and return home each day. There are also some brightly colored modern designs that transform the traditional heaviness into childishness and warmth, making people want to take them all away.

Post by 諸文武 | Sep 25, 2025