Otōri
Encyclopedia
is a custom in Miyako Island
, Okinawa Prefecture
, Japan
of drinking awamori
, a distilled beverage native to Okinawa Japan. The custom involves one person offering a toast to each of several other people in a round.
. The first record of otōri on Miyako Island
was in the 14th century, when shochu was shared by soldiers going to fight. In the 16th century, the same custom was recorded on Kurima Island.
.
Miyako-jima
Miyakojima is the largest and the most populous island among the Miyako Islands of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It lies approximately 400 kilometres east of Taipei, Taiwan...
, Okinawa Prefecture
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
of drinking awamori
Awamori
Awamori is an alcoholic beverage indigenous to and unique to Okinawa, Japan. It is made from rice, and is not a direct product of brewing but of distillation ....
, a distilled beverage native to Okinawa Japan. The custom involves one person offering a toast to each of several other people in a round.
Otōri
Otōri usually involves fewer than 20 persons, but this is not a rule. One person, the oya (master of ceremonies), makes a short speech related to the particular celebration or ceremony being observed, drinks, pours awamori for the neighboring person. The oya usually moves counterclockwise around the circle, doing the same for each person. In some areas, clockwise may be employed.Origin of otōri
Otōri originated in a toast conducted in the 16th century in Okinawa. At that time, sake was considered very precious, and people shared sake, so that it was evenly enjoyed by everyone who attended a party. This custom, called Yoron Kenpo, remains practiced on Yoron IslandYoronjima
is one of the Amami Islands of Japan. Yoron lies 22 km north of Hedo Point, the northernmost point on Okinawa Island. Situated along the line between the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, it is the southernmost island in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is also informally known as...
. The first record of otōri on Miyako Island
Miyako-jima
Miyakojima is the largest and the most populous island among the Miyako Islands of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It lies approximately 400 kilometres east of Taipei, Taiwan...
was in the 14th century, when shochu was shared by soldiers going to fight. In the 16th century, the same custom was recorded on Kurima Island.
Recent otōri in Miyakojima
In the 1980s, otōri became popular in Miyako Island, Okinawa PrefectureOkinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
.