Arisa and I go up to Yanbaru for another Okinawa Rail spotting adventure. Before setting off into the raucous night of the sub tropical forest, we have a truly outstanding meal.

I have to underline that we are totally in the boondocks. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ada,+Kunigami,+Kunigami+District,+Okinawa+905-1503/@26.7557938,128.2617698,19090m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x34e46a9e2f6483c9:0xbd3c293dc0e9f349!8m2!3d26.7505893!4d128.2849463

We are in Ichiro san ‘s house in Ada.

Tomomi san has prepared her own version of Civet de Chevreuil; venison, prunes, onion, red wine and the ingredients that I have forgotten, cooked all day. It is a masterpiece!

To go along with, this she produces a Gratin de Marrons au Canard et Oignons; again her own recipe.

We start by drinking sake that Arisa has brought from her hometown of Imari, a haut lieu for sake. Look it up on Google maps.

Ichiro san has just got back from counting Hawk Eagles in Kumamoto. He brings back bags of chestnuts and amazing pods that grow on vines deep in the forest. They are called Akebi. These he stuffs with minced pork and mushrooms. Unique dish!

Desert is marrons glaces, again handmade by Tomomi san.

We finish with beautiful grapes from Arisa’s hometown – Imari. They are called Shine Muscat. Her Mum sent them across. Japanese eat fruit differently from we Westerners. The way it looks is probably equally important as they way it tastes, er, I think.

I am old but this was one of the finest meals ever! The pleasure was heightened by the uniqueness of the setting.

Thank you Ichiro san, Tomomi san and Arisa san!

We then wildly launch ourselves into the night to see what we can see.