Portrait of Fumiyasu Yamakawa (88 years old) during his daily yoga Training on Naminoue Beach in Naha.

Houses in Taketomi-jima, a small island with no motor vehicles. Yaeyama Islands/Okinawa Prefecture/Japan

Portrait of Setsuko Nishime ( 97 years old ), the eldest citizen in Kudaka, sacred Island. Kudaka/Island/Okinawa Archipelago/Japan

Mrs Yamakawa (92 years old /right) with her neighbour and friend Mrs Taira (91 years old/left), in an alley of Ogimi Village. Okinawa Island/Japan

Mrs Taira (91 years old) singing a song on the benefits of nature in front of her garden in Ogimi Village.

Edible seaweed on Taketomi-jima shore. Yaeyama Islands/Okinawa Prefecture/Japan.

Two whale sharks swim inside the giant tank of Churaumi Aquarium (the second largest in the world) near Motobu. Okinawa Island/Japan

Vegetables (including goya, Okinawa bitter gourd) on a stall of Makishi in Naha. Okinawa Island/Japan

Crab and Crayfish in a fish-tank of Makishi market in Naha. Okinawa Island/Japan

Young girl observes a harisenbon ( porcupine fish of the family of fugu/globefish) hanging above a stall of Makishi market in Naha. Okinawa Island/Japan.

Tropical fish on a stall of Makishi market in Naha. Okinawa Island/Japan

Pork meat seller in Makishi market, Naha. Okinawa Island/Japan.

A 92year –old kamaboko (fish paste) seller behind her stall of Makishi market in Naha. Okinawa Island/Japan.

Emi Kinyo prepares a typicl Okinawan cuisine bento tray in her „Emi No Mise“ restaurant locatedin Ogimi Village. Okinawa Island/Japan

Mrs Yamakawa (92 years old) , faithful customer of „Emi No Mise“ restaurant which offers Okinawan typical cuisine in Ogimi village. Okinawa Island/Japan.

Portrait of kobudo master Masahiro Nakamoto (71 years old) in his dojo in Naha. Okinawa Island/Japan.

Kobudo master Masahiro Nakamoto performs a nunchaku kata in his dojo in Naha. Okinawa Island/Japan.

Karate-ka perform a kata in master Shigeru Takamiyagui´s dojo in Chatan. Okinawa Island/Japan

Training fight between two students of Shigeru Takamiyagui karate master in his dojo in Chatan. Okinawa Island/Japan

Elder ladies gather everyday for a gateball paty in Kume-Jima. Kume Island/Okinawa Archipelago/Japan.

90 year-old lady waiting her turn in her daily gateball party in Kume-jima. Kume Island/Okinawa Archipelago/Japan.

Elder lady joins hers partners for their daily gateball party in Kume-jima. Kuma Island/Okinawa Archipelago/Japan.

Elder ladies gather for a chat after their daily gateball party in Kume-jima. Kume Island/Okinawa Archipelago/Japan.

82 year-old farmer cutting sugar cane in a field of Ishigaki-jima Island. Yaeyma Islands/Okinawa Prefecture/Japan.

Garden of Uezuke house in Kume-jima dating from 1750 (oldest dwelling in Okinawa Archipelago). Kume Island/Okinawa Archipelago/Japan.

King appears in a historical reconstruction of Ryukyu Kingdom era inside Shuri castle during Naha annual festival. Okinawa Island/Japan

„Bukubukucha“ (Okinawa tea ceremony) organised by Mrs Chieko Tanaka. Okinawa Island/Japan.

Portrait of Yoshi Hirata (80 years old) weaving tsumugi fabric in her house of Kume-jima. Kuma Island/ Okinawa Archipelago/Japan

A 80 year- old weaver sells the tsumugi fabric she has just finished (checked by the buyers) in Kuma-jima cooperative. Kuma Island/ Okinawa Archipelago/Japan.

Sanshin maker Kisai Arakaki working on an intrument in his workshop of Okinawa City. Okinawa Island/Japan.

Traditional bullfight in a ring of Nakijn village. Okinawa Island/Japan.

Family gathering in a private room of a restaurant in Naha. Okinawa Island/Japan.

Yamashiro couple ( Mrs: 87 years old/Mr 86 years old) in their house in Kuma-jima. Kuma Island/Okinawa Archipelago/Japan.

Nabi Furugen , yuta (shaman lady) from Kudaka sacred island (photo at the back) gives a talk about Okinawa mythology. Okinawa Island/Japan.

Ceremony organised every New year´s eve in Okinawa Peace Memorial in remembrance of the 230.000 people who died in the Battle of Okinawa. Okinawa Island/Japan.

Mother and daughter have lunch in a famous American „Fast Food“ restaurant in Nago. Okinawa Island/Japan.

Young people finish a „fast food“ meal in Naminoue shrine in Naha. Okinawa Island/Japan.

Portrait of Professor Makato Suzuki , cardiologist and gerontologist based in Naha, expert in longevity in Okinawa archipelago . Okinawa Island/Japan.

Photos: Fredric Mouchet