Did you know?: Goats are valued as livestock in Okinawa

(Illustration by Yukiyo Oda/Stripes Okinawa)

Heejaa (or Hiijaa) goats are valued as livestock in Okinawa. Locals commonly cook soup with heejaa bones and meat or eat it raw as (sashimi) as it is thought that the rich nutrition is an energy boost. Some eateries even serve up heejaa burger or goat pizza, making the healthy treat easy to get your hands on.

Eki (liquid in Japanese kanji character)

Eki (liquid) (Illustration by Stripes Okinawa)

Okinawan

Shoji Kudaka

Shoji Kudaka is a writer based in Okinawa. Kudaka covers travel, food and culture for Stars and Stripes Okinawa. When he is not exploring the stunning local beaches or going on treks through jungles and caves, you can find him trying out new recipes he shares online and in the paper.