by Sonali Dutta
The most southern part of Japan, Okinawa is famous for being a “blue zone” and having some of the longest-lived people across the globe. The island group has a unique culture, quite distinct from the rest of Japan, due to their geographical separation and history (some elements of the cuisine can be traced from Ryūkū royalty), that is reflected in the food. For example, the purple sweet potato features heavily in many dishes and rice is relatively recent compared to the rest of Japan. Similarly, due to the American presence, traditionally non-Japanese ingredients such as Spam and fusion dishes like taco rice are common.
Having been lucky enough to travel to Okinawa’s main island in December 2023 (and also the fortunate discovery of a fantastic Okinawa restaurant in Tokushima!), I was able to sample some of the delicious food first-hand.
Teaspoon of Sunshine 