Tataku is THE town for fishermen.

A unique feature of this area is their tradition of the “Jamaki” or straw snake ritual. Perhaps you already noticed straw scattered all around the sacred tree.

In other regions, during this annual festival, the old jamaki or straw “snake” is removed for a new one and then burned as a memorial service. However, here in Tataku, the old jamaki is left tied to the tree and a new jamaki is tied over it. Thus, the straw scattered on the ground was weathered off from the old jamaki.

Why is that the old jamaki is left on the tree rather than burned? With no one in the island who could explain this, the answer is left to the imagination.