Drive-thru giveaway: come get a free tadpole or beetle from this local breeder
May 31, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Masayasu Minei
Yaga, Nago City—Nowadays, it is rare to see native species of tadpoles (takamah-mi in the Okinawan language), crucian carp (tah-iyu), stag beetles, and horned beetles; but Makoto Zamami, 70, has bred and propagated generations of these freshwater creatures and insects as a long-time hobby. He breeds aquatic creatures like tadpoles, crucian carps, betta fighting fish (toh-iyu in Okinawan) and Asian swamp eels (toh-nah-ja), weather loaches, and several insect species including the Okinawanus Sakaino beetle and the Yaeyama beetle.
Zamami moved to Nago City from Shuri, Naha City, 40 years ago to breed prawns. He encountered health issues in his fifties, which shifted his perspective on life. He gave up his 28-year-old prawn business and began breeding the insects and freshwater fish he had loved since childhood. These days, Zamami and his breeder friends of the insect club Ichimushi Kai give away mature fish and insects to local children and elementary schools.
Zamami laughed as he said, “It’s tough because I spend my pension on feed and breeding. But I just want the children to nurture a curiosity and interest in small creatures and preserving these species.”
Ichimushi Kai will be giving away free tadpoles and stag beetle larvae at the Makiya Undou Hiroba parking lot in a drive-thru format between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on June 14.
Call Zamami at 090-3793-3896 for more details.
(English translation by T&CT and Monica Shingaki)
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