Animation of a Taimo Farmer

Water Potato Field

The Taimo is a staple crop, grown in the wetlands of Kin Town. Call it a yam if, you like.

Hard working guys and gals, work this crop year round, producing these purple potatoes.

At the bottom edge, of this photo, is sort of a rice paddy dike. The farmer, is in water.

Men and women, aged between their 20's and 90's, can be seen, farming the taimo.

Most of them, know me because, I'm always slipping and sliding on the muddy dikes.

They know, I'm a cameraman, hunting wildlife and, won't harm their crops.

Some of the gals say, "Hi Mikesan." It makes me wonder. "How she know my name?"

I always greet people, in those fields but, never formally introduce myself.

Maybe some of those younger ladies have seen me in a karaoke bar and, got my name that way.

Girls, have different wardrobes for farming and partying.  I always look the same.

Out in the potato fields, they might be wearing scarfs or face masks. Can't recognize them.

Me, it's always a white beard, yellow flip-flops and, regular duds. Nothing fancy.

Anyway, I decided to make a GIF of someone, farming the water potato fields.

These folks deserve a lot of credit for their hard labor so, I made this dude the subject.

When I get spruced up, to do some downtown drinking maybe, I'll figure it out.

If, some gal says, "Mikesan, why didn't you take my picture?" I will next time.

More About Taimo

They are also known as taro or tannmu and, a fertility symbol.

Taimo are featured on the painted manhole covers in Kin Town.

Some people call them Purple Sweet Potatoes.

If, you ask me, they are an ingredient in the best cheesecake on this island.

The Japanese Bicchu Hoe (備中鍬 ) or Call It a Potato Hook

A Hand Tool That's Been Around Awhile

 

 

Today was one of those days, outdoors didn't seem like the place to be.

Someone shared an image from down south and a Twister Alert.

So, I stayed close to the office and, only walked a short distance to buy lunch. 

About halfway there, I realized I forgot something this morning.

Somebody didn't remember to take along 25 important items and left them soaking in a cup.

My teeth ! 

Well, I had a healthy lunch, mostly of soft foods that are easy to gulp down.

Then, I go bored and had to find something, outside, to photograph or, go crazy.

 Butterflies, worms, lizards and, even people must have all gotten the weather warnings.

It's nice to be able to ask someone what this tool is called in the local dialect.

My handy-dandy English to Japanese Pictionary would have to do it for me.

In a few minutes, I had a picture to get close to a Japanese definition. 

This book, told me, the implement is a potato hook.

Next some translating and Japanese typing tools were used for positive identification.

Copying and pasting the characters in Google Japan was the next step.

Several sites were checked and Do It Youself (DIY) ones were the most helpful.

The give you the best images of the tools and, prices, as well.

Heck, you can buy one of these, brand new for under 20 US Dollars or,  1,583円.

There's even a YouTube video showing how the farmers use them,

Just about anywhere, I go on this island, I see someone using these tools. 

And, some of these folks are in their eighties and nineties.

Order yourself a Bicchu Hoe and, give it a try, before it's too late !

NOTE: This tool is also known as Kuwa -- another name in Japan for hoe.

Red Pepper Called Koregusu in Okinawa

Hot Scoop on This Fiery Plant

 

 

It's been almost 50 years since I left the farm to go see the world.

These photos have been hanging around in my pending files since September 2013.

Today, the research got done.

In local dialect, the red peppers are called koregusu.

In Japanese (唐辛子)‏ Togarashi would be the proper name for them.

Well, I have a stack of books from the library and couldn't find those peppers anywhere.

Being they were overdue, again, I decided to renew them.

Then, got some assistance, finding the correct Latin name for you.

Capscium annuum L, is what we came up with. And that's where the good stuff comes in.

The University of Florida says they originated in Central and South America.

We have them, growing all over the place in Okinawa.

In my never-ending pursuit of things to entertain you with, about plants and flowers, I found this.

"The Okinawans in Hawaii have another advantage as well. They consume vast quantities of a red-pepper alcoholic drink called Koregusu, which is supposed to get the blood circulating and stimulate the libido. How much? Willcox refers to one Okinawan patient who was upset by a nurse when she inferred that at his advanced age he should no longer be worrying about his sexual performance. "He was indignant," says Willcox. "He said, 'What do you mean, I am only 85! "

Courtesy of Honolulu Magazine

Now, that got me thinking. Maybe I should pick up a hoe and start farming, again !

Travel Photo Thursday: Okinawa's Hand Cultivated Rice

        This photo was taken on the outskirts of a small village named Yaka in Okinawa, Japan.

There are some small tractors and tillers used in preparing the rice fields but, planting, cultivating and much of the harvesting is manual labor.  No one would complain about the high price of a bag of rice in Japan if they experienced the hours of labor expended in its production. You can taste the effort involved.