Okinawa, Japan 18: Heiwa Dori and Makishi Public Market
Written & Directed by James Knott

If you do not see a video box here, then this video can be seen on YouTube.

Shopping on Heiwa-Dori is a great way to take in Okinawan life. The tastes of the people are revealed with what is on sale in this maze of small shops. Get lost in the culture and pick up a few authentic souveniors with James Knott as he wanders through this asian shopping mecca. Items available - goya, smoked irabu sea snake, awamori, shisa dogs, clothes, umbrellas, pottery and anything else you can think of. If you're feeling hungy head to the Makishi Public Market and get some fresh fish, lobster, crabs and clams and have it sent upstairs to be prepared by one of the nearby restaurants.

OKINAWA, JAPAN

Okinawa is Japan's southernmost prefecture. Over 1.25 million people are scattered across nearly 150 islands.

Okinawa has a unique culture that goes back several hundred years to when it was an independent country known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. This kingdom was known to trade frequently with China and as a result adopted much more from the Chinese than the rest of Japan.

The main island, Okinawa-honto, is surrounded by vivid, bright blue ocean and coral reefs. It is densely populated and urbanized in the south, while the the mountainous northern part of the island consists of just a few fishing villages and dense forests.

The beautiful, sub-tropical setting combined with historical roots that are more intertwined with China than Japan, have created a wonderful culture that is distinctly Okinawan.

TRANSCRIPT
Okinawa, Japan 18: Heiwa Dori and Makishi Public Market

THERE IS NOTHING GLAMOROUS ABOUT HEIWA-DORI AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHY YOU SHOULD GO.

WHEN YOU ENTER THIS STREET - OR ITS SISTER STREET – MUTSUMIBASHI DORI - FROM ITS ENTRANCE ON KOKUSAI-DORI, YOU STEP INTO A CONFUSING MAZE OF SHOPS.

THIS NETWORK OF COVERED STREETS AND ALLEYS IS WEATHERED AND WORN. THE STORES HERE ARE NEITHER POSH NOR SWANK - AND OKINAWANS COME HERE TO PICK UP EVERYDAY ITEMS.

FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE SOLD AT MANY SHOPS – SOME - VERY FAMILIAR WHILE OTHERS SEEM MORE EXOTIC. THIS WOMAN SELLS GOYA – ALSO KNOWN AS BITTER MELON – THESE BUMPY MELON ARE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE OKINAWAN DIET THAT THEY EVEN HAVE THEIR OWN LINE OF CHEESY TRINKETS.

YOU CAN ALSO BUY SMOKED IRABU SEA SNAKE. THIS POISONOUS SNAKE IS THOUGHT TO HAVE A MEDICINAL EFFECT WHEN EATEN.

OTHER SHOPS SELL LESS UNUSUAL, BUT DISTINCTLY ASIAN ITEMS, LIKE CHOPSTICKS, EISA DRUMS, AND GIFT ENVELOPES FOR MONEY – BECAUSE OKINAWANS GIVE MONEY AS GIFTS FOR ALMOST ANY OCCASION.

THERE ARE DRUG STORES AND GROCERY STORES.

A HYAKU-EN SHOP – WHICH IS THEIR VERSION OF THE DOLLAR STORE.

THERE ARE QUITE A FEW SOUVENIOR SHOPS SELLING AWAMORI, SHISA DOGS AND HELLO KITTY – BUT THE FURTHER YOU WALK INTO THE MAZE THE LESS TOURISTY IT FEELS.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF CLOTHING STORES - SHOE STORES, - AND AN UMBRELLA STORE - BUT THESE UMBRELLAS AREN’T JUST FOR RAIN – OKINAWAN WOMEN ARE FREQUENTLY SEEN PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM THE ISLAND’S POWERFUL SUN.

WITH A LITTLE LUCK, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE TO MY FAVORITE PLACE - THE MAKISHI PUBLIC MARKET. SOMETIMES CALLED “OKINAWA’S KITCHEN” – THIS ENORMOUS FOOD MARKET HAS ALMOST ANY KIND OF MEAT OR SEAFOOD YOU COULD DESIRE.

NO PART OF THE PIG GOES TO WASTE – PORK IS PACKAGED FOR USE IN OKINAWA SOBA AND OTHER DISHES. EVEN THE FACE IS FOR SALE - WITH OR WITHOUT SUNGLASSES – BOY IS THAT CREEPY.

VENDORS DEAL IN PEPPERS, SPICES, SAUCES, SEAWEED AND SO MUCH MORE. FRIENDLY OKINAWAN FACES HOVER ABOVE TASTY DISHES – MANY OF WHICH ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LONG LIVES OF THE PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND.

THE SEAFOOD SECTION FEATURES BRIGHTLY COLORED FISH, CLAMS, CRABS, LOBSTERS, SNAILS, OCTOPUS AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU COULD IMAGINE. IT’S FRESH FROM THE OCEAN AND THEY SLICE IT UP INTO SASHIMI RIGHT THERE AT THE MARKET.

THE BEST PART IS THAT AFTER YOU SELECT THE PERFECT PIECE OF SEAFOOD, YOU CAN TAKE THE ELEVATOR TO THE SECOND FLOOR WHERE ONE OF MANY SMALL RESTAURANTS WILL PREPARE YOUR FRESH FOOD JUST THE WAY YOU LIKE IT.

OISHI DESU NE!