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【HAMAORE (Beach Party) and Hunting For Shellfish 】 March 3 of the lunar calendar is said to be the day when the oean tide recedes
to its lowest level of the year. Amami people used to make rice cakes called
"futsumuchi" from mugwort, glutinous rice and brown sugar for this day. Then
they went out to their favorite beach with futsumuchi and stacked boxes
of homemade dishes. After enjoying gathering shellfish or trying to catch
octopus on the reef they had a small party with their family members on the
beach, sometimes joined by relatives and close friends. Perhaps this custom once
meant a refreshing break from daily labor and praying for the health of everyone
in the family by being exposed to the sea breeze.
Beach parties aren't seen very often
today, yet many people still enjoy hunting for shellfish. April 19 fell on March
3 of the lunar calendar this year. The weather turned
out very fine that day and quite a few
people visited their destinations. I went to
Tsuchibama Beach, Kasari-town, where I used to go fishing many years ago.
There I found ten times as many people as usual, who were fishing or looking
for shellfish.
A turban shell called "katannya" is the
most popular shellfish in Amami. But it isn't easy to find one, because it
usually sticks to the wall or ceiling of a small labyrinthine hole of the reef.
It is amazing to see people who caught ten or even twenty of them. You can not
pick up this shellfish. If you try, it will attach itself to the inside wall of
the hole so tightly that a special hook is needed to remove it.
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