Sabani carpenter Tomoatsu Yoshida
Yoshida Tomohiro makes Sabani, a traditional Okinawan wooden boat. In 2015, he established a shipyard in Kuura, in the northern part of Ishigaki Island, and now makes all of his Sabani boats by hand. He told us about his favorite places in the nature-rich northern part where he lives with his family.
"The coral in the sea just in front of the village is incredibly beautiful. Even when coral bleaching was severe in the Yaeyama waters about five years ago, the coral reefs around here remained healthy." There is no current and it is an easy spot to swim, and apparently this is also the place where snorkeling is done on the Sabani boat tours that we take.
Approximately 3 minutes by car
A place with a pleasant view along Route 206. You can see the remote islands, and in the foreground, cows are grazing leisurely. "You can see all the way to Iriomote, it's a great view, and it's easy to check the sea conditions," said a comment typical of someone who lives by the sea. Parking space is available, and it's close to the Ainama Stone.
Approximately 3 minutes by car
"It's a bay so it's calm all year round. There's not much debris washed ashore by the wind, so the beach is always clean." He says he often visited when his two children were little, and it's a place that holds many family memories.
Approximately 7 minutes by car
This northernmost school on the island has a tranquil atmosphere with a magnificent mountain as a backdrop. Due to a decrease in the number of children in the area, the school will be closed from April 2021. "I was the PTA president for five years, so it's a fond memory for me. It's a shame that the school is closing," he said with emotion. Although you can't enter the school, take a look at the laid-back atmosphere.
Taking a break, on an early summer evening...
The Sagaribana flowers bloom every year around June or July. "I make sure to go see them every year. I also have a tree that I planted to commemorate my daughter's graduation from elementary school, so I look forward to watching it grow." The Sagaribana flowers are mysterious flowers that only bloom for one night; they begin to bloom in the evening, reach full bloom midnight, and then fall off at dawn.
