Okinawa islands of Japan. Okinawa islands are located in a subtropical
area close to Taiwan. Okinawa islands are famous for the beautiful sea
and coral reefs. People living on main lands of Japan visit there for
vacations. Of all the Okinawa islands, Iriomote Island is a special region
richly endowed with nature. There are many natural species that are
endemic to this island.
worshipped Ficus microcarpa as a sacred tree in olden times. They
believed that this tree with aerial roots is a place where spirits (fairies)
Now Hibiscus trees are planted as gardening trees right throughout the
Okinawan islands. Bougainvilleas and plumerias are also planted as
gardening trees as is usual in tropical islands like Hawaii.
about 50 years ago. Ravenala madagascariensis, this Madagascarian
plant is often planted as an ornamental tree by the road.
America) was brought to Okinawa. Okinawan people eat its young fruits
as a vegetable like the people of South East Asia. Citrus depressa is a
small citrus that is native to Okinawa slands and Taiwan. People flavor
foods with Citrus depressa or just drink its juice.
germicidal. People also make an herbal tea from its leaves because it has
a good fragrance.
native to subtropical areas. It seems that this flower has three petals
compared with the most common species Commelina communis.
islands. There are five native mangroves in Iriomote Island: Bruguiera
gymnorrhiza, Kandelia candel, Sonneratia alba, Rhizophora stylosa and
seaside in Okinawa islands. Birds and coconut crabs (Birgus ratro) eat
berries of Pandanus odoratissimus. People do not eat them because they
are not sweet. Cycas revoluta is a poisonous plant. However, people in
olden times mashed its poisonous trunks, washed them and then ate the
marina is a food for dugong (seapig). The right below might be Halimeda,
a calcareous seaweed.
seaside in Okinawa islands.
seaside. Crinum asiaticum seed can float on the water of the sea, then
reaches other islands and germinate there.
taken out to sea and reach other islands where they germinate.
Satakentia liukiuensis is an endemic species of Iriomote and Ishigaki
Liliaceae. It displays small, purplish pink flowers in summer and has hard
leaves.The right below is the sight of the seaside in Iriomote Island.
(including South China, Taiwan and Philippine). Epipremnum pinnatum
(Araceae) is an evergreen vine. It is sometimes appreciated as an
ornamental foliage plant.
ornamental foliage plant. Dipteris conjugata, this fern grows on the
riverside (humid place) in mountains.
beautiful white leaves. Begonia fencis grows in the humid ares of
forests. People eat its leaves as a vegetable.
its sap as a poison for animal hunting. Rohdodendron amanoi grows at
the riverside or on the slopes of mountains. It is an endemic azalea of
dasymallus yaeyamae) eat these berries. The right below is "MARYUDU
Fall" in Iriomote Island.
are also indigenous to the mountains of Iriomote Island though I could not
take the photos there:
Asia. Chysiptera cyanea is often found on coral reef of Okinawa islands.
on main land of Japan. Their language is regarded as a dialect of
Japanese, however its pronunciation and vocabulary are quite different.
Okinawa islands were an independent kingdom until the lord of the
Satsuma area (Kagoshima Prefecture) invaded in 1609 (the early Edo
Period). Since Okinawa islands are located midway between East Asia
(China, Korea and Japan) and Southeast Asia, Okinawa kingdom (called
Ryukyu kingdom at that time) prospered as a key junction of trade
between both areas. Therefore, Okinawan people created their own
culture, which in turn was influenced by both of these cultures. Their
traditional costumes are different from Japanese kimonos and are very
showy (a combination of vivid colors with tropical images). They put lion-
shaped ornaments on the roofs of their houses as to ward off evil. This
tradition is influenced by the culture of South China. One of their
traditional foods is called CHAMPLU which is a stir-fried food with mixed
vegetables and meat. It is said that the origin of this word is Indonesian
word and means "mix". Their traditional music is also different from
Japanese traditional music. Its melody is similar to Indonesian music.
Okinawan culture is thus very unique as a mixture of East and Southeast