Category: Life

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

It’s lovely, this name. It’s called just the way it … Continued

February 23rd 1995, Amami rabbits, Amami jay, and others—both special … Continued

As you drive down Yanbaru or the southern part of … Continued

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

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

Beniimo is a type of sweet potato that is popular … 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

When I first visited Okinawa, the thing that made me … Continued

The crystal clear waters surrounding Okinawa, home to an abundance … Continued

A dugong is a marine animal in Okinawa that suddenly … Continued

I first learned of flying foxes when I was asked … 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

Habu is one of the five most poisonous snakes in … Continued

When the wind blows, the leaves of the happiness tree … 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

At the time of this writing (1998), it’ll be twenty … Continued

The Iriomote yamaneko is a small wild cat found only … Continued

In Okinawa, there is a well-known folk song about fireflies … Continued

Upon arriving at Taketomi Island, the first greenery you’re likely … Continued

My father's home island is a small island called Geruma. … Continued

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

It has become harder in city areas like Naha, but … Continued

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

I once flew over Iriomote Island by helicopter.  … Continued

As its English name indicates, medaka (rice fish) is a … Continued

“Do you know mibae (fruit flies)?” If you ask the … Continued

Soil found on the main island – up north from … Continued

In Kijoka—known as the village of bashōfu fabric—in Ogimi there … Continued

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

Just as there are unchināchu humans—in other words, Okinawans—there are … Continued

Countless varieties of butterflies can be found on Okinawa Island … Continued

An outstanding beast among the land animals of Okinawa—Ryukyu wild … Continued

Rampant plants are believed to have the power to drive … Continued

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

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

“Have you ever seen a star sand walk?” … Continued

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

Tachigan, Tonbara, Twungan, Tachise—called by various names on various islands, … Continued

“About yamakunibū…” … Continued

Yonagunisan (Attacus atlas ryukyuensis) is one of the biggest moths … Continued