Imo Mochi

Posted by  Tsukasa Hellinger

I’m fortunate to work at a place where my co-workers come from a variety of backgrounds. In Okinawa when there is a hoji or a Buddhist service for the dead, people go back to their hometowns to offer food and drink to their ancestors. Recently, one of my co-workers had to attend one of these services and was kind enough to bring us back some mochi or rice cakes.

 However, these weren’t ordinary mochi. They 

were green! When I asked her why they are green, she told me that sweet potatoes are mixed in to the dough of the rice cake. This explains why they are called imo mochi; imo means potato. The outer layer has a texture that is a little less sticky than regular mochi, and the center is filled with a sweet bean paste. The bottom is covered with a getto or shell ginger leaf which gives it a nice spicy herbal aroma. My co-workers and I all love it!
A good feature of this sweet potato dessert is that you can wrap it with a plastic wrap and freeze it, allowing you to store it in case you want to enjoy it later. From my experience, it tastes great even after thawing it out in the microwave!
This product is unique to Ie Island, so you won’t find it anywhere. According to my co-worker, there are only two places that sell it; a store at the harbor of Ie Island and a store at the harbor of Motobu Town. Since there’s only a limited supply, if you want to get your hands on this rare item you’ll have to go there early. Otherwise, they will sell out!

May calendar!

May calendar download! hope everyone had a wonderful early summer!
Click and download the large size. Enjoy!

May 2011

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Okinawa Story on Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/photos/okinawastory/

Family Gatherings on Traditional Holidays

Posted by Mari Rita Tobaru

Families gather directly front of the tomb for their Shimi “picnic”

Shimi (pronounced locally as “she-me“) is an official family gathering that takes place every year in April. The date of the event is based on the traditional Chinese calendar that is locally known as the “kyureki (old)” calendar. Clan tombs, during this time of the year, are full with people cleaning their tombs and preparing the area for lunch. Like the Obon gatherings, it is a time when families get together to offer food to their ancestors and pray. After the official rites take place, everybody enjoys their time exchanging and updating information about themselves while lunching together. 


This gathering is like a huge family picnic so many families choose a good weekend when the weather is warm and sunny. Since the gathering is relatively huge (one family can have as many as 15 to 20 family members or even more!), each family has its own task to do. Some may offer to participate in the cleaning (usually men) and some may help prepare the “picnic” grounds. Mothers or female elders of most families are mostly in charge of preparing the traditional “picnic” food.

Tradition is gradually changing, and some families also improvise by coordinating barbecues during this event. Whichever way this event is held, it is a special time with their ancestors.

As a foreigner, this event reminds me of the Christmas dinners I had with my families. Although I’m not blood-related at all, I get invited every year to a Shimi gathering. In my calendar, this event is labeled as a must-go event. Each year, the family makes sure that I know the date of the gathering and treats me like a real family member. In my heart, they are my family away from home.

Senaga Island

Posted by Masumi Tuha
Senaga-jima, a small island in Tomigusuku City, is one of the places I frequently visit by car, bike, or running. It is also one of the places where my husband took me to when I visited Okinawa before we got married.

So, what are the attractions of this island?

I would say the main attraction is airplanes passing overhead. The island is located just south of Naha Airport, and many people go there to enjoy watching airplanes take off and land; they pass just above you! It is so impressive, and you will never get tired of watching them. You may also be amazed at how often airplanes come and go in Okinawa. During the busy hours in the morning and evening, it is not an exaggeration to say that you can see airplanes approaching and departing every few minutes.

Other people come here to enjoy wind surfing. It was quite windy the last time I visited the island, and I could see several windsurfers.

This island is also a good place to have a barbeque party in the summer time. Children can play in the park. There are also four baseball fields on this small island (the perimeter is 1.5 km)!

This is a rock where couples who wish to have a baby come to pray to be blessed with a newborn.

The shape of the original rock was different. There were two holes near the top of the rock. It is said that if you throw a stone, and it passes through the upper hole, you will have a baby boy; if it passes through the lower hole, you will have a baby girl.

Even though it was recently recreated without holes, it still seems to have a special power.

In the evening, a beautiful sunset over the horizon on the side of the rock romanticizes people.

Senaga Island is an island of love and happiness. I strongly recommend you visit.

Ishigaki Beef Hamburger The “Holy Cow” Burger in Chatan

Fresh Cream Cheese Burger

Posted by Mari rita Tobaru

When you live in a country from an early 
age where there are many fast food establishments and restaurants serving many different types of hamburgers, you tend to look for good burgers everywhere you go. To me, burgers bring back good memories of family barbecues in Guam and in the United States. I still remember the culture shock I experienced when I found out that no McDonalds existed in Thailand when I moved there with my family 30 years ago. (One opened the following year.) After experiencing a country with no hamburger establishments, I was extremely happy when I came to Okinawa because there were fast-food restaurants (that I was familiar with) that served hamburgers. 

Hamburgers are now evolving in Japan. Just last year, I saw a magazine introducing all the best burgers served in Japan. I did my own research and personally found four hamburger restaurants in Okinawa. Out of the four, one restaurant named “Ishigaki-jima Kitchen Bin” serves a great large juicy burger made from Okinawa’s specialty, Ishigaki Beef! At this restaurant, burgers are made using Ishigaki Beef, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions and toppings like avocado, bacon and cheese or fresh cream cheese, combined and stacked together to create a mouthwatering American-style burger. Try this special Ishigaki Beef burger when in the area! You won’t regret it!

 Ishigakijima Kitchen Bin

1-11-21 Chatan, Chatan-cho

Tel: 098-936-7587

Hours: 11:00 – 22:00

*Accept major credit cards