Kumejima, Okinawa (2)

Hello everyone!!

Ready to continue from where we left last time?!

Tamaki san was walking on the beach in Kumejima…

and…

Horses!!

Tamaki san gets close and greets the two men.

Then he asks them if Kumejima is famous for breeding Horses.

The man (Inoue san) explains that these horses are tinier compared to the normal horses. They are called zairaishu. And he also says that the residents of the island, used horses for transportation in the old days. instead of cars or Tractors. So it was a common thing for every family to have at least one horse.

Tamaki san gets closer to one of the horses and says that he is making a very kind face…

But Inoue san says that he likes pulling pranks on people XD

Then Inoue san says their names…

the one on his left side is called Beckham!!

and the one on the right is kukuru which is the word for “Heart” in Kumejima!

OK… let’s have a ride with Beckham on the beach!! XD

Inoue san gets on Kukuru and Tamaki san goes for Beckham!

The other young man wants to help him get on but Tamaki san tells him not to worry, he can ride…

the young man becomes confused and maybe worried…

hehehehe but Tamaki san knows how to ride a horse…

he gets on and while the young man is still looking at him with a worried face,

he simply starts riding with Beckham.

Inoue san asks him how it feels like and he says that it’s a little bit different since they are tinier…

but he is walking strongly and with courage…

Beckham keeps moving his head up and down and he is not familiar with the stranger riding on his back…

but Tamaki san doesn’t do anything and lets him get used to him ^^

And it happens in a short time… they start walking together in peace after a few moments…

Then as they ride on the beach, Tamaki san and Inoue san keep talking about the value of the horses every household owned in the old days. The ones who had the better horses in their house, were of course the ones who had better jobs and social positions.

Beckham is relax already… walking softly and gently XD

Inoue san is surprised and asks Tamaki san if he has been taking horse riding lessons for a long time, but Tamaki san says that he has only had a short-time practice session… Inoue san is amazed but Tamaki san tells him that he may be able to ride the horse now, but he actually had a hard time getting used to it in the beginning.

The tough and long hours of practice, even caused him some injuries XD Fans may know about this story… at a certain time during his practices, he even had bleeding accidents XD

Hmmm but we all know… he can ride the horse with no problem at all!!

After a nice ride around the beach, Tamaki san stops Beckham and pats on his neck, while praising him.

hehehe this is something only people who know how to ride a horse do!

It’s time to go now…

he comes down and hands the rope to Inoue san.

Tamaki san says that Beckham is VERY clever!! He is  gentle and quiet but he does what he wants to do as well! XD

hehehehe riding on a horse teaches you a lot about it ^^ People who have experienced that, know what I mean! It becomes a world only you and the horse are living in… like a strange battle XD

Thank God Tamaki san was experienced and did a great job… they simply became friends XD

While Tamaki san is bending over Beckham’s face and keeps petting him softly, Inoue san tells him that the skin around his nose and his mouth is very soft…

Tamaki san goes for it and somehow becomes react to that and moves his lips XD

It’s not food… don’t eat his fingers please!!! XD

☆

Going back to the road again….

Tamaki san finds an old man working on a field…

he gets close and greets him, then asks him what he is doing!

He answers “Satoukibi” which is a kind of Sugarcane being produced in this area.

Then he lets us know that they have a tiny company here,

producing Kokutou (muscovado) from the satoukibi!

Tamaki san is interested and asks him if he would let us take a look inside,

and luckily, he says it’s alright and invites him in!

Tamaki san gets inside the field to cross and get to the company’s main building!

The old man (Gima san) takes us to the backyard of the company.

The sign is cute as well XD

Now they are going to show us how to make juice from the satoukibi!

Gima san’s daughter, Kazumi san, will help Tamaki san with that! XD

They have to put the stem in between the two rolling plattens,

and Tamaki san has to push the handle and spin it,

so that the juice gets out from the stem!!

A REAL manual system you can say XD

Tamaki san gets ready and starts spinning the handle.

Kazumi san tells him that he shouldn’t spin it so fast,

or the juice will jump out and get wasted.

The juice starts coming out…

It has a mild yellow color. 100% Natural XD

Keep spinning the handle. Tamaki san is amazed by the amount of the

juice coming out from one single stem…

While everyone’s busy with the Juice producing and talking about it…

suddenly Tamaki san looks at the face of the lady holding the cup in her hand…

hehehe! We cannot see it from where the camera is,

but seems like the juice splashed out and jumped on her face XD

Tamaki san and Kazumi san both laugh and ask her if she is alright XD

It’s OK! It’s natural juice ^^

Now they ask Tamaki san to try the Satoukibi Juice!

As always, Tamaki san tries smelling it before drinking…

But somehow he makes this amazing face! XD

They tell him that the smell may not be that great since it’s raw ingredient.

Then he goes for it!

“It’s sweet!!” he says!

A very old and traditional kind of juice, 100% natural but sweet!

Then Tamaki san enters the building and takes a look at the

process of making the Kokutou!

Gima san explains that they simmer the Satoukibi juice here in this pot.

Only 300 liters of juice can be produced from 500 kilos of Satoukibi!!

It’s a tough job!

Gima san then passes him a cup of the Syrup they make which is called Saataa yu!

Tamaki san tries drinking some…

“Uwaaa it’s very strong!” XD He says!!

Looking at his face, you can tell that it’s strong and sweet!

Gima san says that it’s almost like honey,

and they use it to make Mochi or Castella as well!

Then Tamaki san keeps the cup in front of the camera,

so that we can see the color of the syrup.

It’s the natural taste… nothing like sugar is added of course.

Tamaki san drinks some more and makes the same face XD

They keep simmering the Satoukibi juice for almost 5 hours.

The color and the shape of the syrup changes, and becomes sticky and strong.

Then they move it to another pot and let it cool down a little bit…

Tamaki san starts taking photos!

All made by hand and traditional…

he always enjoys that!

Kazumi sa starts mixing the syrup with a long stick.

Gima san says that this is the most stressful step of the process…

but despite that… Kzaumi san asks Tamaki san if he wants to try helping them!

So she hands him the stick and asks him to mix the syrup just like she did.

He is serious XD Working like everyone else!!

After the mixing job is done,

the have to put the syrup into a bigger space,

and spread it around to cool down a little bit.

Then after that, they cut them into small pieces.

They have to do this really fast since it will be hardened in a very short time!

The cutting as well, is of course done by hand!!

Tamaki san is amazed and says that it must be hard

since the syrup is already hardened.

He says that the way they do it traditionally and all by hand,

is great and the most important thing about the process! But of course…

it mus be tough for the person who is actually doing it ^^

Tamaki san says that this was his first time watching this process,

and he was quite surprised!!

And also says that he thinks the workshop has a very warm atmosphere,

being concerned about doing everything by hand…

There are customers who wait for this product while knowing how hard

the process of making the kokutou by hand is.

It’s because of their passion and support,

that a tough job like this can be done by people like Gima san and his family.

☆

Leaving the kokutou factory behind,

Tamaki san gets back on the road and this time…

walks into the wild nature of Kumejima!

A unique Limestone cave in the heart of the mountain…

Yajaagama!

Almost never been changed by the hands of the human beings.

Wild and mysterious XD

Tamaki san enters the cave…

It’s pitch black inside, no lights of course!

He takes out his light and use it to see the path he is walking!

It is a little bit scary… Anything unexpected can get out any minute XD

But the expression on Tamaki san’s face is a proof that he is enjoying this!

“Round-shaped or sharp stones…

even the colors are different!

It’s like the whole universe has been turned upside down…

It may be a beautiful view if you look at this all upside down!”

Tamaki san says while walking in the cave.

It’s amazing… the many many drops of water on the surface of the stone…

Showing how much water is actually absorbed into them!

He finds a stone with details looking like a chandelier…XD

Then he finds sparkling dots on another stone…

What could this be… he is wondering!

Seems like the sparkling dots are because of

the many Crystals made by the Calcium carbonate,

existing inside the texture of the stone.

Wondering around again…

he bceomes interested in the shape of another stone,

and puts the light on it while saying the the stone is still changing

shape and growing bigger!

Then he takes out his camera and take a photo with his left hand,

while keeping the light up with his right hand!

NICE!

Then he says that being here,

somehow makes you feel like you are inside the sea water…

The landscape here looks similar to what you can find under the sea!!

After walking all the way through the 800 meters long cave…

Finally it becomes bright again!

A very beautiful place!! Covered with plants and huge trees.

Without wasting a second,

Tamaki san takes out his camera and starts taking photos.

“Looking at this huge scale and see how different it is

comparing it to what we can find in the main island (of Japan), 

The beauty of the nature…

Sometimes it’s just hard to describe it with words…

that’s why you will just keep staring at it,

and can’t take your eyes off!

It’s a mystery after all…”

Tamaki san says.

It is decided!!

The beautiful and mysterious cave of Yajaagama

and this beautiful scenery…

will be chosen as the

kokoro no hikyo #15

by Tamaki Hiroshi　ヽ(・∀・)ノ

As he continues:

“A light up would be beautiful of course…

but keeping it with the original shape,

just the way it is…

can also be appealing I believe!”

ヽ(*^^*)ノ

Totally agree!!

☆

And another journey in Japan with Tamaki Hiroshi comes to an end!

Hope you could enjoy it as much as I did ^^

And here’s Tamaki san’s best shot in Kumejima:

Thank you so much for reading the report until the end!!

As for the next trip,

Tamaki san will be visiting the Kerama islands in Okinawa prefecture!

Many things to look forward to…

 Encounters…

New places to discover…

and…

Diving?!? XD

Wondering in the underwater world with Tamaki Hiroshi!! ヽ(*^^*)ノ

DON’T MISS IT!! XD

See you soon!!

( ´・ω・｀)ﾉ~ﾊﾞｲﾊﾞｲ

(End of part 2)

☆☆☆

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玉木宏の秘境ふれあい紀行

is being aired on BS Asahi,

Every Thursday at 23:00

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