Dr.Teruo Higa’s
Living A Dream

Also as I touched on in the previous article, this was an opportunity to prove the potential of the dwarfing technique, and we are testing topping, pruning various parts of the trees (Photo 4).

Near the Old City Hall in Ishigaki City

Okinawa Times, Sunday, September 24, 2023

The Ho-ou-bok tree, Royal Poinciana, near the old city hall in Misaki-cho, Ishigaki City is now in full bloom. As the demolition of the government building progresses, the remaining tree has been blooming. The tree is about 5 meters tall with a trunk diameter of about 60 cm, and blooms mainly May to July every year. This year, it has been blooming again and again even since September, and its red flowers stand out against the backdrop of the old city hall.

Some residents and tourists have stopped to look up and enjoy the tree, and a man resident in the city commented that, “It looks even more beautiful in harmony with the old government building. I heard that a 13-story concept building will be built on the site of the old government building, so this is a farewell to flower viewing with the old government building as backdrop,” he said.

The Ho-ou-bok tree is a deciduous tree of the Fabaceae family native to the island of Madagascar (Southeast Maritime Africa). It is a representative tropical flowering tree, and usually blooms in early summer with flowers about 10 cm I diameter on the crown of the tree. (Reported by Shigeru Ota)

September 12, 2023

On the 11th, a summery day in many parts of Okinawa Prefecture, the Cassia Fistula, also known as Golden Shower (Japanese name: Nanbansaikachi) in front of Urashiro Elementary School in Iso, Urasoe City is at its peak. The tree is 4 to 6 meters tall, and its bright yellow flowers are in full bloom, as if watching over the children. Hiroaki Taira, 72, who came to pick up his grandson, said, with a smile, “It started blooming around July. The flowers have been blooming beautifully for the past few days, and it really cheers me up."

Photo: Golden showers in full bloom, as if watching over children going to and from school, on the 11th at Urashiro Elementaly school in Iso, Urasoe City. (Photo by Tomoyuki Takeo)

First observation in Miyakojima City?

October 3, 2023

On September 20th, there was a confirmed sighting of a bronze crested ibis that had flown to Irabu Island in Miyakojima City. Sightings of this bird are rare in Japan. It has been observed in the northern part of Okinawa Island, Ishigaki Island, and the Kerama Islands, but this is the first time it has been sighted on Miyakojima. Kunihiro Nakaji, chairman of the Miyako Wild Bird Society, took photos of the bird pecking for food at a reservoir. The Bronze Ibis is a migratory bird about 60 centimeters in length and is found in a wide range of regions, including Africa, southern Europe, south Asia, Central America, and Australia. They do not normally fly to Japan. (Manabu Tomiyama, Miyakojima Bureau)

Mr. Higa of Ota-ku, Uruma City takes care of it every day

Loofahs in the garden of Isamu Higa, 64, of Ota-ku, Uruma City, are a hot topic of neighborhood conversation. The longest one is 78 centimeters long and has a girth of 23 centimeters. Salad loofahs and long loofahs are growing together. Mr. Higa planted them in March of this year and has already harvested about 50 of them and has given some to friends and relatives. “I fertilize them with cow manure, " he commented. "In the morning I pollinate the male flowers with the female flowers. I am very happy when they bear fruit, so I write down the date and attach it to them.” He smiles broadly as he holds a long loofah. His wife, Tomoko, 64, noted, “We enjoy eating soup made with them, with tofu added.”

(Reported by Tokuzo Yokota)

Peak Harvest Season for the Taste of Autumn Flavor in Yanbaru

Harvesting of the citrus fruit “Kabuchi,” a native Okinawan variety, is now at its peak. On the 3rd, in a field in Izumi, Motobu Town, one of the leading cultivation areas in Okinawa Prefecture, farmers were using scissors to pick the abundant harvest of fruit. Yasuhiko Takehara, 80, head of the Izumi Mandarin Orange Production Association, promoted the product, saying, “I hope many people will enjoy the taste of autumn in Yanbaru.” A mandarin orange picking event will be held on the 14th. (Hiroya Shimoji, Northern News Department)

Producers' promotion of Mandarin Orange Picking in Izumi, Motobu Town, on April 14th

On the 3rd, Katsuyama Shikuwasa (Nago City), a soft drink manufacturer, presented 60 bottles (500 ml each) of 100% Kabuchi juice to the town. This is a collaboration between the company and the town to utilize local produce in school lunches at public schools in the town. Hiromitsu Yasumura, president of the company, said, “People tend to avoid Kabuchi because of its thick skin and many seeds. However, they are less acidic and have the finest aroma of all the native citrus fruits. We hope that children will enjoy both the taste and aroma."

The presentation ceremony was held at the town hall and attended by Deputy Mayor Masashi Uehara and Sueko Kina of the Education Bureau. Deputy Mayor Uehara emphasized, “My hope is that the government, producers, and businesses work together to promote the appeal of Kabuchi.”

Ayano Nakasone, director of the town’s school lunch center, said, “We plan to add fruit juice to the jello to enhance its fresh aroma. We are currently working on a recipe that combines it with finely diced pineapple and peaches." On the 23rd, the center will provide these original recipe sweets to children at school lunches at four kindergartens, four elementary schools, and two junior high schools in the town. Kabuchi is also known as “Sports Day mandarin orange” by people mainly in the northern part of the town.

Izumi boasts the highest production volume in the prefecture, harvesting about 40 tons a year. Since 2010, the Izumi Mandarin Orange Production Association has designated the second Saturday of October every year as “Kabuchi Day” and has held a mandarin orange-picking event to promote consumption.

Photo above: Deputy Mayor Masashi Uehara (front left), President Hiromitsu Yasumura (right), and others attended the presentation ceremony of 100% Kabuchi juice at the Motobu Town Hall on March 3rd.

Photo below: The abundant harvest of “Kabuchi,” Yanbaru’s autumn delicacy, in Izumi, Motobu Town, on October 3rd.