Daily Life in Minato-gawa, Urasoe, Okinawa: This Morning’s Scene | Cloudy Skies and Today’s Routine

This morning in Urasoe, Okinawa, the sky was cloudy with lingering muggy heat. Enveloped in humid air from the moment we woke up, the day began at a leisurely pace. In Okinawa after the rainy season ends, the morning humidity tends to disrupt our daily rhythm, so small adjustments are essential as we go about our days providing care. Today, I’ll share what this morning was like in Minato-gawa and record some events from the long weekend.

🍳 A Leisurely Start to the Morning and Ways to Make Meals Easier for My Mother

This morning, with the TV on, I cooked an omelet and bacon in response to my mother’s comment, “I’d like a Japanese-style breakfast this morning.” I’m glad that rice prices have stabilized recently, giving us more options.

However, my mother has increasingly found it hard to swallow without something to drink, so I’ve had to get creative with her meals. As a step before moving on to rice porridge, I was looking for something to add to her rice to make it easier to eat. While shopping, I spotted “mekabu” and decided to give it a try.

“She polished off a whole bowl in no time.”

Mekabu, which is high in moisture and goes down easily, is a great fit for summer care meals and looks like it will be another option to help my mother eat more comfortably.

🚗 A Drive to the North and Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables

The other day, my mother said, “I want to send some mangoes to a friend,” so the three of us—my brother and I—headed to the farmers’ market in the northern region, “Hai-na! Yanbaru Market.”

Mangoes are just starting to come out and were a bit pricey. Pineapples are at their peak right now, and the market was bustling with tourists and locals buying them by the box. Summer vegetables typical of the northern region—bitter melon, nabeera, and moii—were piled high, making me feel the changing of the seasons.

For lunch, we checked out a few restaurants in Nago, but many were closed for the long weekend, so we ended up at “Gabe Soga Soba.” Inside, children were running around, and when their mother scolded them, “Don’t run! Don’t make a fuss!” the other customers couldn’t help but smile.

My mother polished off a small bowl of Soki Soba and a Juicy. Knowing she has a healthy appetite is the greatest source of peace of mind for me as her caregiver.

🍩 A Break on the Way Home and a Slightly Scary Incident

We stopped at Aeon for a restroom break, then took a breather at Mister Donut while sipping iced lemon tea and coffee. On the way back, we drove slowly along the coastal road and stopped again at San-A in Ishikawa.

That’s where a slightly scary incident occurred. When my mother went into the restroom, she fell the moment I let go of her hand and cut herself slightly just beside her eye. Someone nearby came to her aid and offered to take her to the hospital if she felt any changes in her condition.

Fortunately, my mother felt no pain and was so energetic by the next day that she had already forgotten about it—it didn’t turn into anything serious. A memory of when my father fell and hit his head flashed through my mind for a moment, and my heart sank, but I’m truly relieved that she’s safe this time.

Summer is a season when physical strength tends to decline and it becomes harder to lift one’s legs. It made me realize once again that extra caution is needed when caring for someone.

🌿 Practical Tips for Daily Life in Okinawa’s Urasoe During the Seasons

In the height of summer in Okinawa, humidity is high from the morning onward, increasing the risk of heatstroke. For families providing care, the following tips can be helpful.

Replenish fluids and salt regularly

Focus meals on foods with high water content (such as mekabu seaweed, dashi-flavored rice with broth, miso soup, and egg-drop soup)

Go out during the cooler morning hours

Indoors, use a combination of a fan and air conditioning to prevent physical exhaustion

It’s important to adjust your daily routine to the changing seasons without overdoing it.

🌺 Summary

Despite everything that happened during the long weekend, I was able to spend some peaceful time with my mother. She has day care this afternoon. With some exercise and conversation—things she hasn’t had in a while—it should be a nice change of pace for her.

Under the summer sky of Urasoe, Okinawa, our caregiving life continues, but let’s take it easy and do our best again today.