Post #310560 by tikipedia on Sat, Jun 2, 2007 5:50 PM

I picked up a couple of Shisa Dog mugs from Sam's Restaurants, which are located in Okinawa, Japan. For the geographically challenged, Okinawa is the largest island in the Ryukyu chain, an archipelago between Japan and Taiwan. Although Okinawa is now part of Japan, they are culturally different (including different language) and was once an independent kingdom.

Sam's is a small chain of tropical/maritime themed restaurants that have been in Okinawa since at least 1970s, when I was growing up there. The restaurants went by several names, including "Sam's Anchor Inn" and "Sam's by the Sea".

The mugs are that of a stylized Shisa Dog, which is a traditional Okinawan figure that looks kind of like a cross between a dragon and a lion. Shisa Dogs are not unlike Polynesian tikis, and are supposed to ward off evil spirits.

A real Shisa Dog

Montage of Sam's decor

Front of Sam's by the Sea

Front of Sam's Anchor Inn (note the 'Exotic Tropical Drinks')

Inside of Sam's by the Sea

Inside of Sam's Anchor Inn

Some more decor