Crafted from Kuba leaves long regarded as a sacred presence in Miyakojima, the tree reflects the island’s quiet spirit, where nature, ritual, and craftsmanship are woven into a single, contemplative form.

A Sacred Material, Reimagined for the Holidays

Rosewood Miyakojima presents a Christmas tree created in collaboration with artist Kyoko Ogawa, using Kuba, a material deeply rooted in the island’s spiritual and cultural life. Since ancient times, Kuba has been cherished in Miyakojima as a protective and sacred presence, used in rituals, offerings, and daily tools that connect people to the land. In this installation, its natural texture and gentle shadows are shaped into a serene expression of the festive season. The work offers guests a moment of quiet reflection, honoring the island’s heritage while celebrating the holidays with an elegance that rises from nature and the calm spirit of Miyakojima.

Within the broad and gently unfolding leaves of Kuba, a single tetrahedron comes into view. Inspired by the Platonic solid, this form represents earth. For artist Kyoko Ogawa, earth is the foundation upon which all things begin and take root. It is the quiet center from which the island draws its strength.

Surrounding this grounding presence, octahedron motifs are placed along the tree like traces of passing winds. They suggest the movement of air and space across Miyakojima, giving shape to elements that are usually unseen. Each piece carries the lightness of a memory carried on a breeze.

Interwoven Kuba strands form soft curves that recall the image of a dragon. Long regarded in ancient stories as a figure that links the heavens and the earth, the dragon here leaves a gentle impression of rising energy that moves upward through the composition.

Scattered among the branches are small stars known affectionately in Okinawa as 'Hoshikkoro'. These handmade toys, created by children and passed down through generations, bring a sense of innocence and quiet joy to the work. Beside them, slender ornaments called 'Tinpao' sway lightly. In the Miyakojima dialect tinpao means a serpent of the sky and expresses the idea of a rainbow that appears after the rain and softens the spirit.

Together these symbols create a work that carries a single wish.
To envelop everything in light.
The light that radiates from this piece is a gentle offering to all who visit, bringing warmth to Rosewood Miyakojima and surrounding every presence with a quiet, embracing glow.