Kerama Islands, Okinawa (2)

Hello everyone and forgive me for my absence!!

Remember the last spot Tamaki san visited?!?

A nice, relaxing, short stop in an uninhabited island called “Agenashiku island”.

After that, he gets on the boat again and heads toward another island called “Akajima” with the population of 300 people.

And once again, Captain Tamaki is the one riding the boat XD

Miyahira san (The owner of the boat) is looking at his moves carefully and giving him tips all the time…

then he says: “You are doing it with no problem at all!!”

Tamaki san laughs and says: “Really? It’s because the road is wide!!”

hehehehe! They both laugh but Miyahira san says:

“You can become a fisherman in one week!!”

hahaha!! Tamaki san laughs out loud this time!!

I totally agree with Miyahira san on that… XD

Then Tamaki san says that it must be fun having a lifestyle like that…

Then he asks Miyahira san if there are many people coming to live in this area,

with the same idea in their minds…

And Miyahira san says yes!

As they keep moving forward,

the Aka Bridge, which connects the two islands of Akajima and Gerumajima,

appears in front of their eyes!

Tamaki san gets off the boat and starts walking in the silent streets of the island…

Then he enters a small place in which they make handmade Tofu!

He walks toward the building and says hello!

There is a lady inside the building, greeting him from where she is…

then as he gets closer,

Another lady sitting behind another wall (Almost hiding) becomes surprised

and yells: “Tamaki Hiroshi san!”

The lady inside the building also becomes surprised and tries to hide her smile with her hand

She says hello and he greets her back XD

Then Tamaki san tries to read the handwritten sign on the wall…

It’s the price list of the Tofu being sold in the shop…

And the title says “Takeko Dofu”

Tamaki san asks her if this is her name and the lady (Takeko san)

says yes, with a cute, embarrassed expression on her face XD

Tamaki san keeps reading the list:

“Shima doufu and Yushi doufu… “

Then he asks Takeko san about the characteristic of the Shima doufu,

and she says that the texture is harder than the normal Tofu,

and she uses the natural seawater as the nigari in the tofu making process!

Then Tamaki san asks her about the other type in the list, Yushi doufu.

And Takeko san explains that it is the shape of the tofu before it becomes hard.

Then as the two of them are talking about Takeko san’s tofu,

the lady who was sitting behind the wall says that Takeko san’s tofu

is really delicious if it’s eaten with some olive oil and salt and pepper.

hehehehe… she keeps talking about how tasty it is…

and then Tamaki san turns his head toward where Takeko san is

and in a way she can hear his voice, he says: “I would love to try that… “

ahahahaha!! The other lady then continues explaining how

great the taste of the freshly made tofu is…

and Tamaki san’s eyes sparkles even more XD

Then the lady says with a surprised tone in her voice:
“Haven’t you ever tried it?”

Wonder if she means Takeko san’s Shima doufu…

Tamaki san says: “No I haven’t!!”

and then he says in a very cute way: “It’s my first time here…”

Then the lady calls out Takeko san and asks her if she has some freshly made tofu for him…

Tamaki san walks toward the door of her workshop again and you can see that

Takeko san is running around in a nervous way XD

Then Tamaki san asks him if he can get in,

and of course she welcomes him with her smile.

Then she washes a small bowl with water,

fills it with some Yushi doufu,

and hands it to him.

Takeko san’s bright smile is adorable!

Tamaki san takes the bowl and says that he can tell the texture of the tofu

is harder than usual, just by moving them around the bowl with his spoon.

Then he tries some…

He says that he can actually taste the sea water and the salty flavor in the tofu.

His eyebrows are jumping up again and he is enjoying it!

Then Takeko san asks him if he thinks that this tofu is different

compared to the ones he has had before,

After thinking for a few seconds,

he says that the ones he usually eats,

are the type of tofu which will melt in the mouth right after you eat them.

But with Takeko san’s tofu, you actually have to chew it in your mouth,

before swallowing it! XD

Then after eating one more spoon, he says: “Delicious!”

 Next, it’s time to try the shima doufu.

Takeko san asks Tamaki san if he’s alright without a plate,

and Tamaki san replies: “Of course, of course!” XD

So she cuts a slice of tofu and hands it to him.

Eating freshly made tofu with hands!! Couldn’t get any better!!

But holding it for a few seconds in his hands, Tamaki san says:
“It’s hot!!!” hehehe and moves the tofu up and down in his hands!

Takeko san laughs and says that it’s not that hot but Tamaki san insists on his words,

and says that it’s hotter than what he has imagined XD

Acting like a young boy nagging to his mother >__<

Then he goes for a bite!

“hmmm… Delicious!…

it’s different as expected.” he says.

Another bite…

And Takeko san’s super happy expression XD

looking at him eating her tofu with great appetite!

Then she says that her products are as simple as they can see…

But Tamaki san gives her a cute smile and says that it’s great as it is! XD

Then another bite and keeps eating the tofu with joy,

as if he is eating a very delicious hamburger!!

Then they have a little chat about the importance of tofu in Okinawa,

and how it is used in many Okinawan meals.

Then Tamaki san says:
“You never get tired of eating tofu!”

Then while Takeko san is looking at him with a bright smile on her face, he continues:

“I really love it…

So… I’m happy I got to try Takeko san’s Tofu like this…”

Then they both have the nicest smiles and Tamaki san says: “Thank you!”

(≧∇≦*) Takeko san is embarrassed

but very happy I guess!

Takeko san’s tofu is very popular in the island,

she does all the work by herself…

During the summer, she has to wake up at 3 am and start the work!

A tough job and a lovely lady! I really liked her smile ^^

☆

After enjoying the tofu,

Tamaki san gets back on the road and crosses the Geruma bridge.

Walking on the bridge, he finds a school building right next to the shore!

Tamaki san is amazed by the position of this school…

Right next to the blue ocean…

hearing the sounds of waves crashing on the beach while you are at school!

Then he starts walking in a narrow road heading to the school gate,

wondering if this is the road the students have to walk everyday.

As he gets closer,

the sound of the school bell ringing surprises him!

There’s a lady cleaning up with a broom in her hand!

Tamaki san greets her and asks her if they can get inside…

She says that the kids are having their lunch break and

Tamaki san promises not to bother the students and then gets inside.

As he gets in, he notices a series of cute and colorful paintings on the walls…

Wondering if they are painted by the kids, he looks at them all carefully!

YES! They were drawn by the kids…

Then among all the swimming fishes and crabs in the paintings…

somehow he finds a polar bear!!! XD

Wonder what he is doing here in Okinawa…

Tamaki san is interested too… and says that it looks like he doesn’t get along with others.

Another surprising thing is the Kayaks!

Not easy to find something like this in any other school

but the Geruma Elementary and Junior High school!!

Tamaki san walks toward the school’s dining room,

and as he says hello… you can hear the voice of the excited students inside.

(hmmm I think I also heard the screaming sound of one of the female teachers XD )

Tamaki san stands there at the door of the dining room and apologizes

for bothering them during their lunch break!

All the students gather here and eat together.

He keeps standing there and doesn’t get inside until one of the teachers asks him to come in.

He takes off his shoes and gets inside in a full energetic mode!

The kids and the teachers welcome him with an applause and their smiling faces.

Their teacher says: “You all know him, right?”

hehehe wonder if they do XD

Tamaki san is as modest as always an introduces himself with his last name.

Once again they clap hands and welcome him!

Some of the kids are energetic, some are shy and some are naughty XD

Tamaki san asks how many students they have in the school…

and one of the kids answers: “14!”

Then Tamaki san says: “The first graders… “

The same boy answers: “1 person!”

Then Tamaki san continues: “Second graders… “

And the kids answer “1!”

“Third graders… ” he asks, and this time the teacher asks them to raise their hands!

2 on third grade and 2 on 4th!

And when he asks about the 5th grade… 4 kids raise their hands in the air XD

And 6th… the boy who was answering before everyone else, raises his hand…

Tamaki san looks at him and says: “Just one!” and then asks the boy: “Feel lonely?” 

And he simply says: “No!”

hehehehe!! XD Tamaki san and everyone else laugh!

Then he notices that a few number of the students sitting on his right side,

are wearing uniforms!

When he asks, they tell him that they are in Junior high.

The two cute girls giggle… XD

then Tamaki san asks them which year they are,

one is in her third year

and the other one is in her first year!

They also have two students coming here from Tokyo!

As they raise their hands, Tamaki san asks them if their parents are living with them here in the island…

And they say NO!!! They are living here on their own >__<

Tamaki san then asks the boy since when he’s been here,

and he says April 3rd…
Tamaki san says “It’s been a short time then… “

then he continues: “But it looks as if you have been here for a very long time!! You are already familiar with the place, right?… Tough guy!!” says with admire in his voice!

And the boy accepts his compliment while raising his wrists in front of his chest, with a very cute expression!

As they finish eating, the oldest student in the school goes up and they say their thanks for the delicious food.

But the young girl says something Tamaki san cannot understand… he becomes confused,

then asks the girl to let him know what she just said…

And she says that she just said “Thanks for the food!” in Okinawan language.

And then he asks her to repeat the expression for him…

The girl repeats it once and he doesn’t get it,

she repeats one more time while laughing and it becomes even harder for him to catch up!

she repeats it two more times but every time Tamaki san fails to repeat after her…

she keeps laughing in a cute way…

To be honest, I couldn’t catch up either!! XD

Then the boy in the 6th grade, tries to help by repeating for him word by word…

“kuwacchisabitan”

The teacher is laughing behind them while Tamaki san is not giving up until he gets the right word XD

The boy repeats more slowly… as if he is teaching an easy word to a younger kid XD

And finally he can repeat it correctly (^_^;)

The kids start to clean up and one of the boys who seemed to be the shyest among all,

suddenly looks at Tamaki san and says: “Do you want to play soccer?”

And without even thinking… Tamaki san answers: “Let’s do it! Do you have PE class next?”

But the kids say that they don’t and they just want to use the remaining time of their break to play soccer.

OK! Tamaki san tells them that he will be waiting for them outside,

until they can finish the cleaning and join him for a game!

☆

So he leaves the building with the shooting team and walks toward the shore.

As he is walking in the school yard, he notices the sound of one of the kids giggling behind him.

The young boy runs beside him, passes by…

sits on a stone right in front of the camera and poses for us!!

hehehehe XD Tamaki san laughs!

Then while pointing to the road behind the bushes, he asks the boy: “Is it OK to get out from here?”

The boy turns around and says: “It might be… “

hahahaha!!

He becomes his guide and walks toward the road…

Then while putting one of his feet on the brick, he says: “Be careful!” XD

And Tamaki san immediately says: “I’ll be careful… Jump!”

And the young man jumps and walks into the road while Tamaki san follows him!

As the boy crosses the road and stands in front of the short stone wall,

he says: “Beautiful, isn’t it?” while looking at the ocean… XD

Then Tamaki san asks him: “Do you take swimming lessons at school?…”

But the boy looks toward the camera and keeps explaining: “Here’s the sea… beautiful, right?”

Tamaki san keeps talking to him: “Instead of a pool… “

But it seems like the boy cannot hear him and he continues while pointing at something: “And that is… “

“Are you listening to me?!” Tamaki san stops him!!

hahahahaha!! XD

The boy stops talking and turns his head toward him…

Then Tamaki san asks him again if they take swimming lessons in the sea instead of a pool.

The boy says yes and then he starts talking again…

and says that his house is right over there where he is pointing at with his finger.

Tamaki san is surprised and says: “Your house is that close? This way you can’t ditch school, can you?” 

(^_^;) Don’t teach the boy how to ditch school please!!!

Then while they are talking, they hear someone calling the young boy: “COME BACK HERE!”

hehehehe XD The senior students are calling for him!

“Come back here they said!!” Tamaki san says with a funny tone in his voice XD

The boy starts running back toward the school building and the shooting staff laugh XD

Tamaki san climbs up the stairs and stands on top of the stone wall.

He is amazed by the many different shades of the blue he can see in front of himself.

OK!

It’s time to play some soccer!!

Tamaki san gets inside the field to join the kids, and they send the ball for him!

He plays with the ball and then passes to one of the kids!

 XD

As they get serious XD the kids make two teams and start the match!!

The boy from Tokyo is also in Tamaki san’s team.

Tamaki san gets close to him and they have a cute high touch as two Tokyo guys teaming up in Okinawa XD

The match starts but Tamaki san suddenly realizes something and says:
“I can’t tell who’s on which team!!” hehehehe XD

That’s why as soon as he gets the ball, he yells: “Who’s with me? Who’s with me?”

hehehehe!! A pass to the Tokyo boy and a great shoot XD

But he can’t make it to the goal!

They keep running again… Tamaki san has become serious with no doubt XD

And when he’s away from the ball. standing there, watching the kids and laughing out loud ^^

The shy looking boy who invited him to the soccer match is pretty good!

He goes forward perfectly,

a good pass to the Tokyo boy,

and God knows what happens in front of the goal keeper…

but somehow the ball gets inside and they make a score!!

The kids are happy and their adult teammate is clapping for them while raising his hands up in the air XD

Tamaki san says that despite being in different grades, it’s obvious that the kids have a close relationship with each other.

And of course they will grow up like that and they will be connected to each other!

After the match is over, he shakes hands with all the kids

and it’s cute how he pats on the shoulder of the Tokyo boy and wishes him Good Luck ^^

The boy will be a tough man one day XD

☆

Tamaki san gets on the boat again…

His next destination is
“Tokashikijima”

But if you don’t mind… I’m gonna keep that for the 3rd part of the report!

Will be a great adventure under the water,

with Tamaki Hiroshi XD

So please stay tuned!

( ´・ω・｀)ﾉ~ﾊﾞｲﾊﾞｲ

 ☆ ☆ ☆

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End of part 2