It might sound a bit rhetorical, but after your holidays in Okinawa, the best souvenirs you bring back home will definitely be the memories and the experiences you had. However, if you come back empty handed, your friends and family might not accept this explanation so easily. No worries, here is a list of 5 great souvenir ideas for this kind of occasion. Whether they are for your loved ones of just for yourself, these 5 items surely will bring a lot of memories of Okinawa every time you see them! 1. The perfect shirt. On a hot summer day, there is nothing better than a Kariyushi Shirt to feel both fresh and colorful. This particular shirt is very similar to aloha shirt, with short sleeves and collar. It is very light, colorful, often with flower and ocean-related patterns. Kariyushi Shirt was introduced in 1970 to promote tourism, but quickly became a symbol of Okinawa identity. It is so much a part of the life in the island, that in summer the dress code of some companies and supermarkets/shops is made entirely by Kariyushi Shirts. In 2000, when the 26th G8 summit was held in Okinawa, even world leaders all wore it! In the local dialect, the word Kariyushi is made of Kari (lucky) and yushi (near). Wearing a Kariyushi Shirt will not only make the owner look extremely cool, but also bring good luck! There are Kariyushi Shirts for both men and women and for all ages, making it a perfect souvenir for anyone. Just make sure you pick the right size! 2. A bottle... with a snake? If you are buying a souvenir for somebody who likes to drink, a bottle of Awamori will be the perfect gift from them. Awamori is the name of the traditional sake of Okinawa. With a story of more than 600 years, this spirit is the most loved by locals and is so typical that it is also called Shima-zake, which literally means "Island sake". Awamori is a product of distillation, made from long grain rice. It typically goes from 30 to 40 degrees, making it a quite strong alcoholic drink. There are two ways to drink awamori: pure or mixed with water. It all comes from your personal taste, but what usually cannot miss in a glass of Awamori are some nice ice cubes. There is also a special version of Awamori called Habushu. It comes with a real Habu snake inside! Definitely not for the faint-hearted. Awamori brings together Okinawa people since centuries. It can be a great souvenir to do the same with your family too! 3. The best cup for a thirsty person. What's better than drinking some nice Awamori brought back from your trip to Okinawa? Well, of course drinking it in a handmade Ryukyu Glass! The glass production in Okinawa dates back to the post WWII period, when empty Coca-Cola and beer bottles used by the U.S. bases were picked up by local craftsmen and melted into colorful new items. That gave origin to a unique style that quickly became considered as art. Ryukyu Glass is colorful, comes in shapes that are not always perfect (that's were its beauty lies) and often has bubbles inside, to recall the ocean. A glass, a candle or a frame made of Ryukyu Glass can be the perfect decoration for your house and is something that can make the memory of your Okinawa holiday for a long time. 4. The guardians for your loved ones. Around the island of Okinawa, whether is a road, a house, a bridge or a factory, there will always be two statues in front of it. They are called Shisa, and they are a traditional Ryukyu artifact representing a half dog half lion mythological animal. These statues always come in pair. The left one always come with its mouth closed (Ungyo) and the right one has it open (Agyo). An open mouth scares off demons, while a closed mouth will keep the good spirits in. Shisa statues come in many shape and dimensions. Some of them are small enough to become a souvenir! There are really countless types of Shisa, some are colorful and some are just monocolor, some are scary and some are cute! Whatever the shape is, these unique statues will represent a great souvenir to show somebody that you care. Just explain them the meaning of Shisa and watch them being protected by these special animals! 5. The right treat for every palate Whatever is the taste of the person you are buying the souvenir for, in Okinawa you will find the perfect treat for them. Among the sweets, we have the famous Beniimo tart, a colorful purple dessert made of sweet potato paste. Good looking and also delicious! There is also the Chinsuko, a traditional sweet made of lard and flour, and the famous Pineapple Cake, made with fresh pineapples grown in the northern part of the island. The cute shape and the sweet flavour of these desserts will definitely make them successful gifts. For a more simple but practical present, there are many kinds of packs of Okinawan instant noodles! By just adding some boiling water and stirring properly, the smell and the flavour of a Okinawan ramen shop will suddenly appear in your house. If you know somebody who has the passion for cooking, they might appreciate as a gift some sea salt from the beautiful waters of Okinawa! Yukishio, literally snow salt, is a famous local ingredient for any cuisine. Finally, for your coffee lovers friends, a bag of 35COFFEE will make them experience the unique taste of Okinawan beans. We hope that these 5 present ideas were of some help to you! And remember, whenever you can, to try to support the local business during your travel! You might also be interested in:
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