🐦 A Subtropical Flight: A 5km Ptarmigan GPS Art in Musical Koza 🐦
Okinawa City, famously known as Koza, is a vibrant hub where international influences and Ryukyuan traditions blend into a unique “Champuru” (mixed) culture. This 5km GPS art course invites you to sketch a Ptarmigan (Raicho)—a sacred bird of the Japanese Alps—across the subtropical landscape of central Okinawa.
The journey begins at Okinawa Zoo & Museum (Okinawa Kodomo no Kuni). This hillside complex, featuring the hands-on Wonder Museum, reflects the city’s playful and family-oriented side. As you trace the silhouette of the bird, you will transition from the zoo’s lush greenery to the spiritual quiet of Nakasone Ugan, a traditional sacred site where locals have offered prayers for generations.
The route then carries you into the heart of the “City of Music.” You’ll pass Koza Music Town, the center of Okinawa’s rock and Eisa heritage, and the charming Theater Donut – Okinawa, a retro café-cinema perfect for a mid-walk snack. Navigating past the modern Okinawa City Hall, you’ll experience the characteristic undulations of Koza’s terrain.
The Ptarmigan is an alpine species that inhabits snowy peaks far to the north. Drawing this “Messenger of the Gods” in the humid, sunny air of Okinawa is a creative irony that defines this GPS art. By the time the digital bird appears on your screen, you will have woven together the threads of Okinawa’s ancient faith, modern entertainment, and military-influenced history. Lace up your shoes and enjoy a subtropical flight through the soulful streets of Koza!
DETAIL (EXTERNAL LINK)
A PIONEER IN GPS ART.
1st work was authorized by Guinness World Records as “the Largest GPS Drawing”.
He is the only Japanese person to be featured in a Google documentary as an innovator. He is fascinated by the idea of drawing with GPS and has published more than 2,500 works.
