Taimo

 Are you Okinawan? Do you know about Okinawa? If you say “Yes!” to first question, you should say “Yes!” to the later.

 “Taimo” is specialty of Ginowan’s products in Okinawa. But almost people don’t know about it. Taimo is connected something, history, government and nature. It is an interesting food, so I’d like to you know about Taimo.

 First, I’ll tell you why people grow Taimo in Ginowan. Do you know that Ginowan was the mountain? Nagata in Ginowan was crest and Oyama in Ginowan was ground. Thus it filters Nagata’s rain water and flow of clear water to Oyama. However people only grow Taimo in Oyama, because Oyama is under the Futenma base. It protects nature and this nature can filter dirty water. Some people are against bases. So Taimo has a complex relationship.

 Second, I’ll tell you about Taimo protects other nature. Taimo is grown just in a paddy field. But lately, paddy field is decreasing in the world. So plants and bugs that live in a paddy field are decreasing. And then, Oyama’s paddy field have many redlist living things, plants to 9 species and bugs to 8 species. Oyama have more them than Yanbaru that has a lot of nature. Taimo’s paddy field is of particular value.

 Finally, who protects Taimo. Ginowan is the suburbs more and more. Some people want to change Taimo fields into places where people can live. But other people say “STOP!” Do you know who the other people are? They are non Okinawan. They are from mainland Japan. They think that Taimo is good and their field is very important. But most Okinawans don’t know about it.

 I am Okinawan. But I don’t know about Okinawa. So now, I try to know it. The one told me “where you stand, dig deep and pry. Down there is the spring.” This words is Nietzsche’s. If you don’t know Okinawa like me, sometime the spring may vanish away. You should know Okinawa. Because you are Okinawan.