A Mysterious Discovery! ~Kamiyama Teragama Cave~

Hello! It’s M, back again for my monthly update! 😊The rainy season has officially begun this month in Okinawa🌧️. Amidst these gloomy rainy-day blues, I’d like to introduce the Kamiyama Teragama Cave, one of the designated historical sites located within Futenma Air Station!

Located just east of the old Kamiyama village settlement, this cave measures around 40 meters long. At its widest point, it is 13 meters across, with a ceiling height of 3 to 4 meters. It’s quite massive! 😯

The Kamiyama Teragama Cave has been a deeply important place for the local community. According to local legend, the Goddess enshrined at Futenma Shrine stopped here while traveling from Shuri toward Futenma.

Furthermore, the people of Kamiyama believe there is a "Kusai" (a spiritual link or chain) between Teragama and the Futenma Gongen (Futenma-gu Shrine). Both are recognized as sacred sites bound together spiritually and through faith. Because of this, Teragama was never just a simple cave; it has always been cherished as a sacred space deeply intertwined with Ryukyuan religious culture.

As a sacred site of Kamiyama, Teragama has nurtured the history of Ginowan City and remains an object of worship to this day. Inside the cave, there is a ritual site located on a small terrace just below the cave entrance.

In the past, during annual events such as the "September Prayer" (of the lunar calendar) or on June 15th, village officials would visit the cave to offer prayers.

After the war, because the site became inaccessible inside the base, officers of the Kamiyama Hometown Association have continued to offer prayers through “Yohai” (praying from a distance) from a joint altar established at their association office.

During World War II, about 180 people used this cave as a bomb shelter. However, this natural cave lacked a steady supply of drinking water, and survivors recall great difficulty of securing water at the time.

Additionally, because the cave had no rear exit, an elderly man from the Yamashin-Gibo family used a compass inside to dig an "Ajimi" (escape hatch)!

In December 1981, during a cultural property survey inside the base, a rare artifact was discovered: Line-engraved Stone Tablets made of crystalline schist!

It was fascinating when I first read about it. I couldn't help but wonder, "What on earth is this...?! 🤔"

These flat stones are engraved with various pictograms and symbols. They are incredibly rare, with only about 11 such items ever found in Okinawa!

While most were found at prayer sites related to the Gusuku period, the "when, by whom, and for what purpose" remain a mystery. The carvings include things like chicken, plants growing from seeds, sickles, and ships with rudders and oars. They likely served as some practical, ritual, or recording purposes.

There are more behind the scenes rare footage of the cave and facts about the stone tablet on our official YouTube channel titled, “神山に残る文化財”(Cultural Properties Remaining in Kamiyama) Please do check it out🫡!

Similar to this site, there are still many historical sites and stories left to be told. Stay tuned as I share information about the finds within the base!