Happy Goya Day!



Today, May 8 is Goya Day, my favorite holiday! In Okinawa, May 8 was selected a few years back as "Goya no hi " because 5 (May) can be pronounced "go" and 8 can be pronounced "ya." I sent my usual annual Goya no hi e-cards (pictured above) to Okinawa-related friends, urging them to eat goya today. Ruth made goya champuru (with tofu, egg, and bacon in it) and Chris Nelson reports to have had goya curry! Chris also let me know that March 4 is Sanshin no hi (san + shi = sanshin being the quintessential three-stringed banjo-like Okinawan instrument that Japanese adopted, got rid of the snakeskin cover, and called the shamisen .); June 9 is Rock no hi (roku + ku = "rokku," as in Okinawan rock music, a distinct genre that grew out of the U.S. Occupation of Okinawa in the late 1960s with bands like Condition Green and Murasaki ); and April 9 is "Folk" no hi ("Four" + ku as in 1970s folk music, not traditional Okinawan folk music).
The Washita Shop on International Street in Naha sold goya for 58 yen on Goya Day. If you forgot what'd so special about goya, re-read the inaugural entry of goyablog.

Posted: Sat - May 8, 2004 at 11:56 PM           |

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