Itoman public market bustles for Lunar New Year amid pandemic
Shoppers pick up fresh flowers for the Lunar New Year celebration on February 11, at the Itomaru public market located in Itoman City.
February 12, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
This year, the first day of the Lunar Calendar falls on February 12. The day before, on tushinuyuru (Lunar New Year’s Eve), the Itomaru public market in Itoman City was bustling with customers purchasing pork, fish cakes, and cut flowers for the celebration.
The market was renovated last year, and this is the first Lunar New Year for Itomaru.
Kazuko Oshiro, 71, the second-generation owner of the butcher shop Oshiro Seinikuten said, “I expected fewer customers because of COVID-19, but there’s been a steady stream of people for several days, and we’ve been busy. We even ran out of pork tripe. I’m glad it’s so lively.”
An 85-year-old woman at a rest area located inside the market said, “I’m going to cook sekihan (red rice) to offer [the ancestors] at the family altar.” She smiled and said, “Preparing for it is a lot of work, but New Year’s Eve is fun.”
(English translation by T&CT and Monica Shingaki)
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