We are like one big family.
That's the charm of Iheya.



For Naha-born Rumiko Omija, who moved to Maedomari Hamlet 20 years ago after getting married, the island never lost its attractiveness. 

"I've been here forever, but its beauty still wows me, you know? The sky is different everyday, so is the color of the ocean!" Her eyes catch Iheya's ever-changing sceneries.

"The landscape is amazing. I can feel the seasons more vividly here than in Okinawa mainland, and hear the sound of wind and rainfall clearer. Birds' twittering and cicadas' buzzing give signs of the coming season.. Every year, the seasons feel the same, but actually they aren't. "says Omija with a smile full of local pride.

The early years of her Iheya life was a series of surprises." In mountains, locals pointed to wild plants and told me which were edible or not. They were very familiar with plants. They told me it was because there wasn't enough food, which surprised me. When I climbed Mt. Gayo(*1), I picked wild shikwasa(*2) to quench my thirst." The mountains of Iheya are full of nature's bounty too.

When asked why many locals go home for lunch, Omija says with a grin, "it's nice to have time for family meals," adding that sharing mealtimes with neighbors is also common.

"It feels like everyone belongs to one big family. That's what makes Iheya great. Any kid can get a scolding from any adult when they do bad or dangerous things. It's natural for adults to look after other children. It's like bringing up all the local kids with the whole community." She sees the merit for child-rearing in the island.

As a huge fan of Iheya, Omija's favorite season is winter because Izari(*3) fishing gets her very excited. Her passion for Iheya's nature and its blessings will never fade.

*1 Iheya's highest mountain sitting between Gakiya and Shimajiri hamlet. 294m in height.
*2 a citrus fruit called hirami lemon in Japanese. Okinawans use its juice for drinks and cooking.
*3 a winter night fishing technique using fishing-spears in the shallow coral reef, or ino.


Iheya brings me back to my roots.

Rumiko Omija
Born in Naha city. She has lived in Iheya for over 20 years. Learned Iheya's history, culture and nature from the islanders. She now is an expert who share her knowledge with newcomers.



A get-together after a hamlet event. The community-bond is strengthened.

Youth groups go to each hamlet of the island, performing Eisa folk dance during Bon season. This is known as "branch circulating".
To prepare, the people pick shikwasa from mountain and squeeze juice from it. On the day of event, they add water and shikwasa juice to Terushima, a local liquor then serve it for the community.
*Terushima Local Awamori liquor of Iheya.


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