Virtually everything that this restaurant is made of is recycled. Fortunately, the food isn't. In fact, its nothing short of delicious.
Tebichi are quite large. The have to be, they used to support the weight of a pig. Their also quite slippery so holding them with chopsticks is a bit of a challenge.
In Japan, many small restaurants allow customers to order their food from a vending machine. Put in your money and out pops a ticket for what you want. Then just take your place and the waitress will bring your water and take your ticket to the kitchen. In a few minutes, she'll return for your food.
A great way to prevent employee theft at the register as well as minimize record keeping and the number of staff you need to operate a business.
This is a unique open for business sign. When the wheels are turning, that means the fires are burning and the restaurant is open for business.
The broth is made from bonito fish, the noodles from buckwheat. Add two humongous pieces of dikon raddish and two ewually humongous tebichi or "Pig's Feet" It's Japan so slurping your noodles is allowed. A little pickled ginger on the side if you like. You can also add koregusu which is hot peppers soaked in sake and shichimi togarashi which is ground hot peppers.
A friend and I stopped along this beach to watch the local horse riding club bring the horses down for a little aqua therapy. We got there a little earlier than they did but I couldn't resist this shot of the tranquil sea at this secluded beach. In the background a thunderhead towers thousands of feet into the sky. Popup thinderstorms such as the one seen here are typical sites for island dwellers.
Photo shot with a Sony Cybershot DSC-H7 on Okinawa Japan.
A temporary bridge is erected to assist visitors in accessing both sides of the river and enjoying the beauty of the Koi no bori swimming in the breeze overhead. Behind the building in the foreground is the tiny village of Oku in far northern Okinawa. This village is in about as remote an area you can imagine. Still people come from the big city by the bus loads to see this display and celebrate Kodomo no hi with the people of this tiny village.
the hardest part of buying a snack at a festival in Japan is deciding what to buy. First of all its all delicious and secondly, well, its all delicious!
A festival food stand or Matsuri Yattai. Here you can find everything from fried squid and octopus to the more familiar fresh roasted sweet corn from Hokkaido or the ever popular Corn Dogs known to the locals as "American Dogs!" Everything smells as good as it looks and tastes even better. A little squeamish about trying something out of the ordinary. don't be, the Japanese are gourmet eaters and everything is simply put delicious, or as they say in Japanese, Umai!
A family visiting the area enjoys the water and the scenery under the Koi.
Keith Graff has been a member since 7 April 2008 and goes by docgraff.
Currently in Okinawa.
A retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer living as an expatriate in the "Goya Republic." I love this place for it's rich history, culture, and natural beauty. Presently, I do freelance writing and photography for local publications.
A writer first and photographer second, my passion is the photo essay. I select the photographs I post on this and other sites to tell a story. Hence, even though I'm still a hack wannabe, you're better off reading my stories first and viewing the pictures second.
You can also find Keith at www.goyarepublic.com.