TRADITIONAL DIFFERENTIATION AND APPELLATION OF THE NATIVE ALLIUM VEGETABLES IN AMAMI-OSHIMA ISLAND, KAGOSHIMA PREFECTURE

Abstract

The life styles of the inhabitants of Amami-Oshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, south western part of Japan, have been influenced by those of mainland Kyushu since the Edo era, and have been changing remarkably.
This study was designed to investigate the traditional differentiation and appellation of the native Allium vegetables in this island and how they have changed. Field surveys were carried out several times from 1977 to 1979.
Nira (A. tuberosum Rottl.), Rakkyo (A. bakeri Regel), Ninniku (A. sativum L.: garlic), and Nobiru (A. grayi Regel) have been differentiated from each other, and the representative appellation has been “bira, ” “dakkyo” (or “gakkyo”), “fuiru, ” and “nuibiru, ” respectively. They correspond to CGnira, 99 CGrakkyo99 “hi:, ” and “nobiru, ” respectively, which are appellation for them in the southern part of mainland Kyushu. Recently, “nira, ” “rakkyo, ” and “nobiru” have become known in Amami-Oshima Island. The appellation “ninniku” for garlic has also become known in addition to “fuiru.”
Negi (A. fstulosum L.) and Wakegi (A. Wakegi Araki) have been distinguished from the above four species. Both these two species have not always been distinguished from each other; in the northern part of this island negi has been called “nuifka, ” and wakegi has been called “Gsemmoto” (“kibira” in some parts). On the other hand, in the southern part of the island, winter-grown negi, which was introduced from mainland Kyushu, is distinguished from both wakegi and summer-grown negi which is native to the island of Amami-Oshima. The former has been called “nuifka” and the latter two “kibira” (“semmoto” in some parts).
In the Tatsugo area located in the northern part of the island, which was the base of all interchange between mainland Kyushu and the island, “Gsemmoto” is in use exclusively for wakegi. In the areas surrounding Tatsugo, “Gsemmoto” is in common use and some people know the name “kibira.” In the areas farther away from Tatsugo, both the most northern part and the south-western part of the island, they know the name “Gsemmoto” but “kibira” is in common use.
Thus, the appellation “nuifka” is well used all over the island of Amami-Oshima and “semmoto” in the northern part and “kibira” in the southern part. It is thought recently that the appellation “Gsemmoto” has come into use for wakegi and summer-grown negi both of which have been called “kibira.” The appellation “negi” has come into use recently.
It has given to negi in a narrow sense and to both wakegi and negi in a broad sense.
These facts indicate the following; both negi and wakegi had been called “kibira” without differentiation in Amani-Oshima. After the introduction of the differentiation and appellation system in mainland Kyushu, it was accepted at first in the Tatsugo area in the northern part of the island, which was the base of interchange between mainland Kyushu and the island at that time, and is still now spreading out by degrees.
The appellations “nuifka, ” “semmoto, ” “negi, ” and “nlnniku” were introduced into Amaml Oshima from mainland Kyushu, probably after the Meiji Restoration. Among these appellations, “nuifka” came into use all over the island by the beginning of the Showa era. The others, some of which came into common use in some parts and which were in use in special cases, have come into use after World War II.