In recent years, engagement with nature has gained attention not only for supporting individual physical and mental health, but also for raising awareness about environmental conservation. Urbanization and changing lifestyles have reduced opportunities for direct contact with nature. Against this backdrop, plant foraging—a traditional practice that involves direct, sensory interaction with nature has emerged as a crucial activity for rethinking the relationship between humans and nature.
This study focused on the Kerama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, which are rich in natural resources, as a case study. The aim was to explore the relationship between the motivations and emotions involved in foraging activities and the indigenous knowledge generated and passed down through these practices. I formulated the following research question: What emotions arise during the foraging process, and how do these emotions contribute to the continuation of foraging activities and the transmission of indigenous knowledge? To address this, I conducted interviews and participant observations with residents who continue the practice of plant foraging.
The Kerama Islands are home to wild plants, including yamamomo (Japanese bayberry). Yamamomo is considered the island’s symbolic fruit. Residents harvest yamamomo and steep it in awamori, a traditional Okinawa spirit, to create a liqueur. This drink is cherished by islanders. Furthermore, knowledge about yamamomo foraging and liqueur production is shared among families and local communities, reaffirmed through seasonal foraging experiences. The survey revealed that plant foraging evokes a range of emotions, including enjoyment and excitement in each individual, serving as a motivation to continue the practice. These emotional experiences also play a role in promoting the transmission of locally rooted knowledge. This research aims to demonstrate how emotion and knowledge interact dynamically through foraging to form ‘indigenous knowledge that is dynamically woven,’ offering insights that contribute to rebuilding our relationship with nature in modern society.