We can’t thank the people of Iheya enough.

Mr. and Mrs. Yamashiro moved to Noho nine years ago. Katsuhide, the husband, was born in Nago City, and the wife Yuko is from Kanagawa Prefecture. Katsuhide spent his working life in a big city away from Okinawa. After retirement, he dreamed of living in a home with a bright ocean view.

"I’ve seen lots of islands, and Noho's ocean is the best. It’s just so beautiful that I almost cry when I look at it…" reflects Katsuhide.

However, what really swayed him to live in Noho was the warmth of its people. "I got to know a local when I was pre-checking places for our move. He’s still really good to us. He takes us to the shore to gather shellfish or mozuku seaweed and invites us to dinner..." Katsuhide previously knew nothing about the sea, but has now learned from his mentor how to enjoy its bounties. He happily reports on his catches of shigai (*1), spiny lobster and teraja (*2) .

Katsuhide was anxious for his city-bred wife to get used to island life after they first moved here. "She enjoys it even more than I do now," he smiles, and Yuko chuckles back.

Since moving to Noho, they have enjoyed its harvest festivals and formed close bonds with local residents, providing their home-grown watermelons to the elementary school in the community. They say they are very grateful to the people of Iheya for their kindness. When they reflect on their life since retirement, the couple are pleased to give back to their island friends.

"I'm not sure if it’s as good as food cooked by locals," says Yuko. She cooked all the dishes laid out on the table using their home-grown shibui (*3) and hand-picked shigai. They are manifestations of Yuko's genuine modesty and warm hospitality.

*1 Long-armed octopus
*2 Strawberry conch
*3 Winter melon


We decided to live here for the warmth of Iheya's people.
I’ve become able to run a marathon since moving to the island.

Mr. Katsuhide and Mrs. Yuko Yamashiro
The couple moved to Noho in 2007 after Katsuhide retired from his job in Tokyo.

Ocean views from the balcony of the Yamashiros’ house. The couple says the color of Noho’s sea changes day by day.

　　
Catching fish and cooking, just like Iheya locals


Enjoying vegetable farming in the home garden, which commands views of the ocean. The couple show their gratitude to the local community by providing home-grown watermelons to local schoolchildren and planting flowers in a roadside garden .

　
Watermelon harvested from Yamashiro's garden


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