Muchi: Traditional Okinawan Rice Cake

Hi everyone, this is Megumi.

How’s your Christmas day? I hope all of you had a wonderful time.

As for me, I had a great Christmas night with my family and friends, with great dishes; roast chicken, sushi and a Christmas cake. My older brother, who is working at a supermarket, brings home a lot of Christmas cakes every year. He is like a Santa clause for us.

Finally, 2012 is coming soon!!! Also it’s getting cold these days, please take care and eat some hot foods not to catch a cold.

Here in Okinawa, it is the custom to eat ‘Muchi’ on December 8^th in the old calendar.

 (In 2012, New Year’s Day is the day!!!!) Have you ever heard of ‘Muchi’??

‘Muchi’ is a traditional Okinawan rice cake, which is wrapped with Alpinia Zerumbet named Gettou in Japanese.

                                           This picture is Gettou leaves

It is commonly believed that we can have a good luck and keep our good health by eating Muchi.

We have the same pronunciation for evil and medicines, both are said ‘yaku’ in Japanese. Tradition says that “if we can ward off yaku (evil or sickness), we don’t need to take yaku (medicines),” which means Muchi has a power that can turn away misfortunes!!!!!

The family, especially who have small children, hang the same number of Muchi as their children’s age from the ceiling, praying for the healthy growth of them. Okinawa's coldest season is coming soon, and we call it “Muchi bisa” (bisa means the cold in the local language); since we eat Muchi this time of year, Muchi lets us know the arrival of the winter season.

                                                   Muchi

 We have a variety of flavors of Muchi, such as pumpkin, beniimo (purple sweet potato) and black sugar etc. It is loved by the young and the old, and the taste is flavorsome and appealing. You can feel the smell of Gettou leaves. And you can get these Muchi at almost every supermarket in Okinawa this time of year.

If you try Muchi, I’m sure that you will like it and wouldn’t stop eating.

Please enjoy your time with the traditional local food in Okinawa.

We’re going to take the New Year’s vacations for a few days.

So we’ll meet all of you next yearJ

May the New Year brings you happiness!!!!!!!!!! See you soon.

Megumi

Solemn New Year's Countdown - Mabuni, Fire and Peace bell Ceremony

The Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum

This May, I had an opportunity to visit the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Park in which the Cornerstone of Peace has been established in order to inscribe all the war victims' names.  It is located on Mabuni, Itoman city which is known as the southern battle field of the battle of Okinawa (World War Ⅱ).

In the park, there is a museum called the Peace Memorial Museum, which gives a sobering overview of the lead up to the battle, the battle itself and the reconstruction of Okinawa after the war.

First, I walked through the museum to see the exhibition and took time to read the articles on the war. There are a variety of exhibitions which made me think about the Okinawan war history and my grandparents who experienced the war. The articles on the Okinawan emigrants to South Sea Islands remind me of my grandfather and his family who moved to Saipan during the war period in Okinawa.

One thing that I was impressed and loved about this museum is its structure, which leads visitors to a beautiful ocean view at the end of their exhibition.

When I reached the exit of the museum, the beautiful ocean view was appearing in front of me. On sunny days, it is amazing.

In this peace symbolic park, there is a solemn event hold at the end of each year. 

The ceremony called “Mabuni, Fire and Peace bell Ceremony” and will be held at the Peace Memorial Hall on site from New Year’s Eve (12/31) through New Year’s Day (1/1) 10:00 p.m.- 1:00 a.m.



The Okinawa Peace Memorial Hall located in the park. 



Every person who takes part in the ceremony will put up a torch for requiem of the war victims and pray for peace while listening to a peace bell rings.

If you are interested in the New Year’s countdown in a peaceful atmosphere, please check the Fire and Peace bell Ceremony at Mabuni, Itoman city.

Takako

How do you spend the end of the year ?

Hi, this is Shizuka.

It's getting close to the end of the year. Do you have any plans ;such as to join  a countdown party,  to stay at home and so on? And who will you spend the New Year's Eve together?

 Well, I hope to go out somewhere to join the party and to get the new year

started there. But I haven't decided where I will spend the day yet...

 

 Last year's New Year Eve, I went to Okinawa Marriott Resort & Spa, one of the resort hotels in Okinawa with my girlfriends. I joined the countdown party held there, and that special time made us very exited and feel happy!

After the party, we went to 'Futenmagu'(a shinto shrine) in Ginowan city.  I prayed 'the best wishes for the coming year'. Of course, we drew omikuji (sacred lots) to read our fortunes of the year.



Futenmagu in Ginowan city
People pray for success in business, safe driving, and good marriage there.

  

May you and your loved ones find all the happiness in the world in the coming year .

Shizuka

Akachichi (あかちち)

Hi!  This is Naoko.  I was suffering from prolonging cough, but I am almost recovered. 

Since it had been rainy too long, we were all ecstatic to have a sunny day yesterday and today.  Today is absolutely beeeeeeeautiful.  I feel like my whole body stretches towards the sun. 

Many people think that Okinawa is always warm and sunny, but actually no.  We do have winter, and it gets cold.  I mean, it doesn’t get as cold as the northern part of Japan and we do not have snow, but winter in Okinawa is very windy.  So pack a windbreaker instead of a thick coat or a sweater when you come to Okinawa from December to March. 

So, Akachichi.  If you know what it means, you have a very good understanding about Okinawan language.  It means “dawn.”  By the way, I took these pictures.  You can guess what time I get up every morning!

Have a wonderful day!!

Kouri Island

Hi, this is Shizuka.

Here is one of my favorite places in Okinawa, 'Kouri Island'.
It is located in the northern part of the main island of Okinawa.
It is a small island of elevated coral reef .
 We cross 'Kouri Ohashi Bridge' to the island.



Look at  this picture! When you cross the bridge which stretches straight ahead, you feel as if you walk on the surface of water.
'Kouri Ohasi Bridge' is toll-free and the longest in Japan.
I recommend you to  cross the bridge when weather is great. I want you to see the unbelievably beautiful sea and sky! You will be moved as I was to see this stunning scenery.



Kouri island is famous for Okinawan version of 'Adam and Eve' tale.
Long long time ago, there were a boy and a girl in the island.They floated down from the sky and  naked. From the sky, rice cakes would  fall down everyday, and they ate them and lived very happilly.
They grew up into adults and one day they thought  'If rice cakes won't fall down to us, what should we do?' 
So the couple started to store them. Soon after, the rice cakes stopped falling down...
They sung to the moon and prayed for the food, but rice cakes never fell down to them again.
That made them realize how blessed they were before to live without labor.

One day, when they went to the beach as usual, they saw a pair of dugong copulating .Then they realized the difference of men and women, and understood what procreation is. Then they started having children. They were blessed with a lot of  offsprings.   


According to the legend and myth, the couple's descendants were Ryukyuan(the ancient name of Okinawan people).



Kouri island became famous as one of the tourist spots of Okinawa.
In the island's pristine environment, you can feel you are part of the nature.
The picture above is red hibiscus taken in Kouri island. Its bright red makes us happy, doesn't it?
You can see the flower everywhere in Okinawa. Also you can feel the atmosphere of the southern tropical island, warm even in winter. 
Please enjoy your stay in Okinawa.

Well, I wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!　


With love,

Shizuka.

For a new start with a new Okinawa techo in 2012

Hello, this is nariko, long time no see...!  I suppose every one will be busy this time of year, looking back to what should've been done/undone. Another new year is coming soon, so here's a lovely tip which might add some fresh colours on your life in the new year.

Some time ago, I saw a TV programme which featured local characteristics of Japan’s 47 prefectures.  TV celebrities from each region presented their local delicacies, lifestyles and custom, all so unique and individual that it’s amusing to find how diverse the local cultures are in this island country. It was when an Okinawan singer introduced ‘Okinawa techo (appointment organizer)’ to other guests that I realised they are very much deeply-local product.

‘Okinawa techo’, a general term for the Okinawa-packed organizers, are now very popular, especially among new wives and mothers who are not yet familiar with the old custom and rituals on the island. Not all, but still many household events are based on the old calendar and custom in the prefecture, the organisers full of information as such can help Okinawan housewives through their events-packed hectic year. Most techos also cover the daily info of tidal shift and the phases of the moon, both still essential in various life events of Okinawan people.  Some provide interesting titbits, from birthdays of Okinawa-born celebrities and athletes, the regional anniversaries or memorial days, sayings and proverbs from local folklores to home-remedies handed down today, very readable as well as useful to get a hold of Okinawan life.

They come in various sizes and designs, available at bookstores, souvenir shops and the internet. Why don’t you get a good kick off in 2012 with this unique, full of Okinawa-ness organizer for a change?

Cape Zanpa Park (Zanpa Misaki Koen)

(At the miniature zoo in Cape Zanpa Park: a baby goat whose legs got stuck on the face)

Hi!  This is Naoko.  It is rainy and much colder than yesterday.  I am taking lots of Vitamin C in order not to have a cold.  For your healthy mind and body, it is always a good idea to go out.  Cape Zanpa Park (Zanpa Misaki Koen) is one of the good places for a family with small children, but of course adults can also enjoy.  It is located in Yomitan village (mainland Okinawa). 

 The park has:

• spacious green areas where children can just run around, fly kites, play Frisbee, and more,

•  a playground with a big slider and a sand area

• covered barbeque areas (meat and vegetables are sold in a shop next to the barbeque areas) and a restaurant

• a miniature zoo (goats, rabbits, ducks, and turtles)

• a huge shisaa statue

• a reproduction of an old Okinawan ship (you can go inside)

• nice walking paths to the Zanpa lighthouse

My 2 years-old daughter and I go to this park a lot because she just love to run and feed the goats and rabbits.  The shop next to the barbecue areas also sells some carrots sticks in a cup for the animals for 100yen.  After feeding the animals, children can bring back the cup to get variety of sweets.

My favorite is the Agepan (fried bread roll).  It is only 100yen and you can choose four different coating: cinnamon sugar, soybean power with sugar, cocoa power with sugar, and sugar only.

Here is the routine course of my daughter:

1.    Go get her cinnamon sugar coated Agepan and carrot sticks for the animals

2.    Feed and tease the animals while eating half of her Agepan

3.    Run around the grass area, go inside the ship to have a good view, and climb up to the feet of the big Shisaa

4.    Go down the big slide in the playground

5.    Eat the rest of her Agepan

6.    Sleep in the car

There is Zanpa beach in a walking distance from the park, where you can swim or enjoy a beautiful sunset.

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