The Ultimate Pork: Ryukyu Pig Named Agu

Served at a Health Festival

The annual Nuchigusui (health fair) was held in Kin Town today.

All sorts of, good for your health, items were on display including food and drinks.

They had health care specialists and, people who could give you massages.

Fruits, flowers, vegetables, tonics and special ingredients, to lift your spirits, were available, too.

The event most folks, come to see, is the butchering of the Maguro (tuna) and, they eat it.

A few hundred images of that, are in my pending files, to be seen some other day.

These little pigs called Agu (アグー) were a hot item today, as well.

Some were cooked in smokers, others, sliced and grilled over charcoal fires.

The Ryukyu pigs are special. Their pork contains less than 25% cholesterol.

Genetics wizards claim the hogs came from China, hundreds of years ago.

During the Battle of Okinawa, most of the livestock were destroyed.

Pigs from Western countries, were brought to the island so, people could survive.

Back during the 1980's someone, discovered Agu hogs, living in the wild up north.

Eighteen of them were determined to be pure bred; not, mongrels mixed with other breeds.

The little black pigs, called Shimabuta (locally) are making a comeback.

The pork is tender and sweeter than, the average hogs farmers are raising.

So, with the demand for healthy foods, on the increase Agu meat has become popular.

Checkout this video, in Japanese and English:

Silly Sign Will Make You Think Twice

Warning: This May Be Serious

Having done Sunday's Silly Signs for about a year, I decided to terminate the project.

This one caught my attention, when it was spotted in a pastry shop.

Of course, I asked the lady behind the counter, for permission to photograph it.

These days, it might not be politically correct. Maybe, it's an antique.

Just in case somebody, can't read, I'll tell you what it says.

"No Trespassing Girls Only Violators Will Be Slapped"

MORE SILLY SIGNS IN THE DOOZIES

Waxing Crescent Moon Over Japan

Kin Town After Sunset

Today office work had to be done and, there wasn't much time, to get out with the camera.

Close to 100 images were processed and added to a Facebook Album.

A day without, taking any photos is like going without oxygen, for me.

So, when this slim moon appeared from behind some clouds, I got up on the roof and shot it.

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Sigma 50-500 with 1.4 converter Focal Length 700MM

Exposure:  f/11   1.3sec   ISO 100

Location: Kin Town Okinawa Japan

Date and Time:  DEC 2 2016  7:16 PM

End of the Month Parting Shot: Osprey in Flight

Maybe Not the Best Bird of November

But, it sure was fun trying to catch this critter in some blue skies.

Yesterday, was sort of a goof-off day, for the professor (Doc) and I; we had no plan.

Neither of us, carried long lenses, which we should have, for shooting birds.

The weather forecast was sort of iffy and, rain could be expected.

When he arrived at my office he said, "Where should we go north or south?"

Having just received an influenza shot and, a bit sore I didn't really care.

Any where, I could get by, without humping a heavy lens and tripod, sounded good.

We started going north, then came up with another idea,

Let's drive south, to Itoman and see if, the Spoonbills have showed up, this year.

All Kinds of Birds

There were ducks, herons, coots, egrets, Japanese White Eyes and stilts but, no Spoonbills.

We positioned ourselves on the far side of the wetlands, with the sun at our backs.

After awhile, of picking away at birds, that were truly out of range, an osprey flew by.

It was way up in nice blue skies but, wouldn't get close enough for, us to get some great shots.

Every time, it came within range, the rascal would turn and, fly into the sun.

Sometimes, I swear those birds know what, I'm trying to do and, just mess with me.

While they circle around overhead, I talk to them, trying to get the best pose.

"This way, that way, look at me, when the sun lights up those eyes" and stuff like that.

Should one of those psychiatric doctors come along, I'd probably get hauled away.

So, I really don't speak loud enough for anybody, close by, to hear me.

Take a Little Break

What, I tell Doc, "If you quit paying attention, for a minute, the osprey will come back."

Whenever, you get away from the camera, to relieve yourself or, light up a cigarette, it happens.

I bet, out in the wilderness, it's been my misfortune, over a thousand times.

So, we practised being vegetarians, for a while by, smoking Japanese cigarettes. 

No. I'm not crazy. Frank Zappa, is where I learned this from. Cigarettes are food.

He said, "Tobacco is my favorite vegetable."

So, that's a good enough excuse, for me, to become a part time vegetarian. Hah.

There were only three cigarette butts in my pocket when, I took this shot.

And, I told Doc, we could go do lunch because, I thought maybe, I got a good one !

Wordless Wednesday: Grey Heron and Traffic Mirror