Category: Food & Drinks

Abasā is the Okinawan name for the porcupine fish. While … Continued

May 4th on the lunar calendar is called yukkanufī (literally, … Continued

It’s not only birds and flowers which hail the coming … Continued

I first went to Okinawa in the autumn of 1991. … Continued

In 1991, I was working on my two movies based … Continued

Beniimo is a type of sweet potato that is popular … Continued

The ample foam rising above the teacup, the savory fragrance … Continued

Stir-fry¹; one of the all-star Okinawan daily dishes. Tôfu is … Continued

“Chi” is “yellow”, and “dēkuni” is “radish” in the Okinawan … Continued

Coastal hog fennel. Also called button siler in Japanese, given … Continued

Miyako Island was the first place I saw a coconut … Continued

Rachel Carson classified the seashore into three types: (1) a … Continued

The first time anyone sees any member of the giant … Continued

If I had to name one vegetable to represent Okinawa, … Continued

There has long been a widespread and heavily biased perspective, … Continued

Farmers are called harusā in Okinawa. An Okinawan language, out … Continued

You’ll find the spice hihachi, which is not unlike black … Continued

Exhausted after the sports day, a bowl of hījā (goat) … Continued

The song of kukkaru (ruddy kingfisher) brings the nagashi (rainy … Continued

Imaiyu coming from ima (now) - iyu (fish), stands for … Continued

Spring water profitable for humans. A general term for springwater … Continued

A man from Shuri once told me that he didn’t … Continued

Kibinago, the silver-stripe round herring, is called sururu in Okinawa. … Continued

Kippan are sweets made from Okinawan citrus fruit specialties like … Continued

Kūbu means konbu (kelp). It is one of the main … Continued

Latin Americans are known for their love of music and … Continued

In Okinawa, mango means summer. It grows on an evergreen … Continued

On a corner along the building of the Public Market … Continued

Okinawan rice cakes used to be made by stone-grinding watered … Continued

Muscovado is the go-to tea snack in any ordinary household. … Continued

Potato. In Okinawa, sweet potatoes are just called potatoes, nmu. … Continued

Beer produced in Okinawa. It owns a one and only … Continued

There is a saying, “In Okinawa, no part of the … Continued

With its outside wooden walls painted a pale, faint blue, … Continued

There is no formal name for the Naha public market. … Continued

A while back, ayu-fish different from those of mainland Japan … Continued

The reason why salt is called māsu in the Okinawan … Continued

Living in such a hot climate, Okinawan people have been … Continued

I don’t know who started it; sashiba are sometimes called … Continued

Made of flour, sugar, egg, and milk — pretty round … Continued

Sea grapes’ classical Japanese name is kubiredzuta. In the Miyako … Continued

“Hello,” “Nice to meet you” and hand your business card—a … Continued

A dialect for winter melon, probably deriving from shibu-uri (渋瓜) … Continued

Everyone knows a banana. That scentless, lightly flavored, thick-skinned, fat, … Continued

“We had shīmī yesterday.”　“I guess you're having shīmī bento today … Continued

Okinawa soba, much like Japanese soba and Chinese noodles, attracts … Continued

Some hot springs are called “Hell of XXX”.1 A heaven-like … Continued

The young rabbitfish is called suku in Okinawa. In mainland … Continued

The history of this dish begins in an eatery located … Continued

When I was in junior high school, there was one … Continued

Twunji-bīsa (winter solstice chill) is the seasonal wind that blows … Continued

An ingredient appreciated by drinkers. It is said to be … Continued

Wīchōbā is the Okinawan term for fennel. Okinawans consume many … Continued