ASHITOMI Junko

Researcher on Okinawan food culture. Born in Okinawa, graduated from Kagawa Nutrition University in 1966. She has been involved in the research and reproduction of Bukubuku tea and Ryukyu dynasty sweets, and has contributed to pass on and develop Ryukyuan cuisine with her mother, the late Masako Niijima, who rediscovered Ryukyuan cuisine. Awarded the Ryukyu Shimpo Prize in 2021.