In my neighborhood, there used to be several good shops related to Okinawa, so I had relatively many opportunities to taste Okinawan ingredients. However, all of them are now gone. On this day, I happened to find this shop in the Tenjinbashi-Suji Shopping Street and immediately went in. Since I didn't have much time, I just bought my favorite Orion beer and went home. Looking at the production method, it falls into the category of happoshu (low-malt beer), but it doesn't make me feel sick and it's delicious. I wonder what makes it different.

"Gee Mammy Tofu Ice Cream Ishigaki Island Ramen Oil"

On March 25, 2018, I drove to Kawachinagano City with a friend and on the way back, we had lunch in Sakai City Minami-ku with "dried fish ramen". We also bought a "strawberry daifuku" and a "cake". We returned to Osaka using the Hanwa Expressway and Hanshin Expressway, arriving back around 12:30 pm. After walking the dogs, I cycled 1.5km north to "Plara Temma" to decide on Sunday's dinner. I ended up buying frozen lamb meat and Genghis Khan sauce at a butcher shop to make Genghis Khan hot pot. I also got kimchi at a Korean grocery store and used various leftover vegetables from the fridge. And of course, beer goes well with Genghis Khan! So, we stopped by "Washita Shop Osaka Tenjinbashi Store" in the Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street 4-chome arcade on the way back. I bought Orion Ichiban Sakura Nama Beer, smoked pig face skin (Chiraga Smoke), and Ryukyu Bakudan. The atmosphere was lively with tourists and I got the seasonal limited edition Orion Ichiban Sakura Nama Beer to match the cherry blossoms in Osaka. The smoked pig face skin was a perfect side dish for the beer. We enjoyed the beer and Chiraga, and had a delicious dinner of lamb meat and vegetable Genghis Khan hot pot. Overall, it was a great dining experience at Kinako Shokudo today.

I just got back from Ishigaki Island and couldn't resist checking out a shop, and of course ended up going in. I ended up buying my favorite Jimaami tofu. The refrigerated Jimaami tofu was a better deal and looked delicious, but I opted for the room temperature version since I have dinner soon and am wandering around. I also bought a single serving of purple sweet potato tart for myself because I love purple sweet potato tart. I also picked up a Okinawa limited edition pineapple cororo for a snack on the long bus ride I have coming up. Lastly, I got a spiral roll bread. It has a simple feel but seems high in calories and is a bit firm rather than fluffy. It's a way to feel like you've been to Okinawa without actually going.

On the way back after drinking, I stumbled upon an Okinawan shop while walking through the shopping street. They were selling various items like chinquapin cookies, Orion beer, and Okinawa soba. I realized that even if I forgot to buy souvenirs in Okinawa, I could find them here (lol). Among them, what caught my eye was the spiral bread. I remember this bread has an incredibly high calorie content (lol). When I actually tried it, the sugar in the cream filling had a crunchy texture, which they call "jari." This is definitely high in calories!! Perfect for bulking up!! The taste was average. Thank you for the meal.

In September 2017, I visited "Washita Shop" in the Tenjinbashi-suji shopping street in the Tenroku area. I purchased Orion Southern Star 350ml and barley zenzai. I enjoyed the zenzai, which was sweet and nostalgic, especially when served cold. The Orion Southern Star was refreshing and easy to drink. Overall, it was a satisfying meal.

There is a shop near the Senba-cho Station in the Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street. I had planned to secretly come here to buy souvenirs if I ran out before my trip to Okinawa. So, I only bought a small amount of souvenirs, but ended up relying on this shop quickly. They had Chinjao cookies, Shikuwasa juice, Awamori, Orion beer, and other common items. I thought they would have all the essentials, but I was surprised to find Pinyon-san's chili oil and Kuusu miso that I had bought in Ishigaki being sold here. It was a mix of happiness and disappointment because I had carried them all the way back, but it's convenient to be able to buy them here without going back to Ishigaki. The shop has a good selection of products, and the prices are reasonable, so I would like to use it frequently in the future.

On September 16, 2022, NHK's morning drama "Chimudondon," set in Okinawa, will air its final episode at the end of this month. Feeling like having Okinawan cuisine, I rode my bicycle for a few minutes to "Washita Shop Osaka Tenjinbashi Store" in the Tenjinbashi-Suji Shopping Street 4th Avenue Arcade. The storefront was decorated with red, yellow, and blue banners, and a sign saying "Mēnsōrē" with a Shisa (Okinawan lion) on top, creating a lively Okinawan atmosphere. I purchased: Orion The Draft 350ml cans x2 with Chimudondon Curry design, Mix-in juice seasoning powder, Flavored Mimigar (pig ears), Shikwasa (Okinawan citrus) x2, Okinawa soba boiled noodles x2, Okinawa soba broth (bonito flavor) x2, Rafute (Okinawan-style braised pork belly with burdock) with 2 servings. I used all these ingredients to prepare an Okinawan meal for dinner that day. To accompany the meal, my friend and I enjoyed a toast with Orion Beer, a classic Okinawan beer. The Chimudondon Curry design can featured an illustration of Eisa, capturing the lively moment of Chimudondon in Okinawa. Initially, I thought it was curry-flavored, but "Curry" actually refers to the Okinawan toast, "Kari," which was depicted on the can. "Juushii" is Okinawan mixed rice, simply mixed into hot cooked rice, making it a convenient and delicious dish. Mimigar, thinly sliced and seasoned pig ears, was mixed with finely sliced cucumber and served with Shikwasa for a refreshing and crunchy appetizer. Okinawa soba was prepared using fresh noodles boiled for just 10 seconds in hot water, then served in a bowl with the bonito-flavored broth, Rafute, and garnished with chopped green onions and red pickled ginger. Alongside, I served homemade green papaya pickles and yellow chili coriander sauce, completing the successful Okinawan meal in the spirit of "Chimudondon." Delicious! (●^o^●)

I forgot to buy souvenirs from Okinawa. I remembered that there is a shop selling Okinawan goods in the shopping street. I found it! It was a bit pricey at 188 yen. I asked the staff what kind of people usually come here, and they said that most are those who forgot to buy souvenirs. I thought I didn't need to buy any, but now I'm glad I did. Some people realize they should have bought souvenirs after they return home. It's understandable. It seems that more people who simply want to buy Okinawan goods come here. I'm glad I found this shop.

I visited the 8th Okinawa Product Exhibition at Seibu Takatsuki from September 21st to 27th. There were quite a few interesting shops, and I purchased the Ryukyu Karaage from Cafe34. Of course, Karaage goes best with beer, so I also bought craft beer from Helios Brewery. And because Karaage alone wasn't enough, I bought some Okinawan souvenirs from Washita Shop. - Delicious Okinawa Goya Curry: ¥315 - Sand Liver Jerky, Pepper Flavor: ¥145 - Okikoramen, Mild Chicken Flavor (4 pieces): ¥221 - Meisei Limited Edition Okinawa Soba: ¥242 For more details and photos, please check out my blog: [link to blog post]

On Sunday, September 12th, two friends invited me to lunch at the nearby Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street, but I had to decline as I had to work. They visited a shop called "Washita Shop Osaka Tenjinbashisuji Store" in the Tenjinbashisuji area and brought me some souvenirs later. The items I received were all tax-inclusive: - Okinawa Limited Bon Curry Chuukara 180g for 180 yen - Orion Draft Beer 350mL can for 238 yen - Orion Shikuwasa White Ale 350mL can for 360 yen - Oki Cola Ramen 4-pack for 226 yen I was surprised to see "Bon Curry" as an Okinawan product, but when I looked at the back of the box, I saw a photo of a coral reef and Shuri Castle, with "Okinawa Limited" written on it. Bon Curry is a popular retort curry from Otsuka Foods, first sold in 1968 in Japan. It has been loved in Okinawa for a long time, and the "First Generation Bon Curry" is mainly sold in Okinawa Prefecture due to consumer preferences there. I prepared the First Generation Bon Curry by heating the retort pouch in boiling water for 3 minutes, and topped it with Fukujinzuke, cabbage pickles, and cilantro. It brought back memories of the taste I used to enjoy during my low-paying job days. When it comes to Okinawa, you can't miss Orion Beer. I tried the draft beer, which had a mild and refreshing taste. The Shikuwasa White Ale was made with wheat malt and Okinawan Shikuwasa, giving it a refreshing flavor. The Oki Cola Ramen was like Baby Star Ramen, an instant food from Okinawa's Oki Co., Ltd. I used two packs to make a more authentic ramen dish by adding boiled egg, seaweed, and cilantro as toppings. This return gift is for my upcoming exploration trip to the Yaeyama Islands at the end of November. I will buy lots of souvenirs to bring back. Thank you for the meal!