水辺の幸

Mizube no Sachi

Gift of Waterfront
Illustrated Handbook ofEdible Plants and Animals Indigenous to the Mekong River Basin

Nagao Natural Environment Foundation

Authors
Masahide Kubota
Shusei Saito
San’ei Ichikawa
Minemitsu Kaneko
Satoko Fuchigami
Akinobu Imamura
Koji Ishibashi*
Japan Wildlife Research Center (JWRC)
3-3-7 Koto-bashi, Sumida-ku Tokyo Japan, 130-8606*Present address
Tokyo Colledge of Environment (TCE)
3-3-7 Koto-bashi, Sumida-ku Tokyo Japan, 130-0022

Published byNagao Natural Environment Foundation
702 Kotobashi Bldg. 3-3-7 Koto-bashi Sumida-ku Tokyo Japan, 130-002

Copyright © 2015 Nagao Natural Environment Foundation, Tokyo, JapanAll right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system ortransmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording orotherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers and copyright holder, Nagao
Natural Environment Foundation.

Mizube no Sachi

Nature's blessing of food for the living things around riparian areas

Since 2007, our team has done research and technical transfers on conservation of local naturalenvironment in Mekong river basin. Research area is the basin in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia andVietnam. To this day, people in this region depends largely their food source on the riparian lives
in paddy fields, rivers, and lakes. In local markets, one sees abundance of small aquatic creatures
such as freshwater fish and crabs, and both riparian and land insects and plants. They are also
served on daily meals of local people. Such living resource is differentiated from commerciallyharvested sources since they do not require large amount of time, labor, and monetary investment inorder to harvest them. Therefore they may not be categorized as a means of earning a living;
however, they are essential part of people’s daily lives in terms of providing food.
The staple of people along Mekong River is rice, and field of rice paddy is a common landscape inthis area. Many of the non-professionally harvested living sources depend their habitat on paddy
field around villages and nearby water sources. This landscape and concept of coexistence of lives
are familiar with the study team, which is from Japan. Japan is known in ancient time, as “countryof abundant rice crop”. Through the study, we have reconfirmed the uniqueness of rice paddy
from natural the resources point of view. We decided to call the resources “Mizube no Sachi.”Mizube no means riparian origin, and Sachi means blessings in Japanese. In this context, theblessing is food. We wanted to express appreciation for the lives of organisms which exist as food,so we called them not just food but “blessing” from Mother Nature. This appreciation for thenature represents a feeling that something Japanese have ever since our ancestors’ time.
Mizube no Sachi includes not only wild life but also alien species which were brought in by people
and have been utilized in many ways. It also includes plants that are casually cultivated in shortperiod while the river banks are dry during seasonal water level change. As a result, the list of
Mizube no Sachi included large variety of products. This is not a scientifically defined term..
At the end of research, the list contained more than 500 species. From the length of the list, it isclear that people of Mekong River basin utilize 1)many fish, 2)process insect as food, and 3)use
various plants including trees as food. Some kinds of species differ in some areas and countries,
but those three points are common among culture in Mekong River basin in terms of utilizing livingthings.
Mizube no Sachi should play a central role when thinking of conserving local biodiversity in
Mekong River basin. Because in order to sustain biodiversity, it is important to know individualorganism; of its appearance, name and characteristic. This field guide book is a photo album thatrecorded riparian lives as clearly and comprehensively as possible. It made it possible tounderstand an ambiguous concept of biodiversity by showing evidences of just how diverse thelives are in the area.
It is our hope that this would help people to understand the importance of biodiversity, and thatwould lead to thought and activities to conserve local natural resources. It is our heartfelt wish
that rich natural resource and people’s lives along Mekong would be conserved in the future.

26 Nov. 2009

Dong Borng, Vientiane Capital, Laos

Acknowledgement―――――――――――――――――

This guidebook is a summary based on six years of research titled “Research on Mizube no Sachi in
Indo-China Peninsula (2007-2013)”, funded and administered by Nagao Natural Environment
Foundation. This research started as a project to transfer knowledge to local college students,
government officials and teachers in Laos and Cambodia, about methods of conducting study on
environmental conservation and aquatic creatures. As the project progressed, it became foremost
important to think about what kind of activities would contribute to conservation of naturalenvironment in Mekong river basin, since most of natural resource in the area was secondary.
First, we recognized that lives of people in Mekong river basin largely depended on utilizing
resource from waterfront. And we came to think that determining the object to be conserved
should be the priority. This thinking lead to an idea to make an illustrated handbook of all thethings of Mizube no Sachi. In each country of the research area there are products unique to someareas and those found commonly throughout the region, but they are often called in different names
in each region. So the primary purpose of this guide is to share common knowledge of all thecollection of resources in Mekong river basin.
Secondary purpose is to bring awareness of people that Mizube no Sachi tend to be looked as things
granted or too trivial to be noted; however, it cannot exist without healthy natural environment.
Therefore, in order to continue to utilize Mizube no Sachi, we must realize it is very important toconserve one’s surrounding natural environment. These are the goals our mission and thepurposes of this guide book.
We acknowledge that this guide needs more work to achieve the intended purposes. It is oursincere hope that this guide will be a springboard for further advancement of environmentalconservation.
We would like to express appreciation to Prof. Dr. Ryutaro Ohtsuka, president of Nagao Natural
Environment Foundation and Prof. Dr. Yasuhiko Taki, adviser of the foundation; Mr. Yoshihiro
Natori, Dr. Makoto Komoda, Ms. Tomoko Oizumi of members of the Foundation. We thank Dr.
Kenzo Utsugi and Dr. Koichi Shibukawa who accompanied to the field and helped us with fish
research. We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to all the local people who supportedour research.
We had extensive cooperation and advice from local agencies and professional in order to conduct
field research and identification or organisms. We appreciate the following people for theirgenerosity.
*Providing information and help with identification
Mr. Hitoshi Ishikawa(Environmental Assessment Center Co.,Ltd., Japan)

Dr. Mamoru Ohwada(National Museum of Nature and Science, Japan)

Dr. Hirotsugu Ono(National Museum of Nature and Science, Japan)

Dr. Shozo Kawai(Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan)

Dr. Tadashi Kitano(Tokai University, Japan)

Mr. Taiji Kurozumi(Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba, Japan)

Dr. Hiroaki Kojima(Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan)

Mr. Hirokazu Kobayashi(Shoin Junior and High School, Japan)

Dr. Tomoyuki Komai(Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba, Japan)

Mr. Shoichi Sengoku, Deceased(Japan Wildlife Research Center, Japan

Dr. Hiroo Takahashi(Japan Wildlife Research Center, Japan)

Dr. Masanori Takeda(Teikyo Heisei University, Japan)

Dr. Masaaki Tomokuni(National Museum of Nature and Science, Japan)

Dr. Masami Hayashi(Saitama University, Japan)

Dr. Kimio Masumoto(Researcher of beetle, Japan)

Mr. Kazuo Matsuki(Japanese Society for Odonatology, Japan)

Dr. Masafumi Matsui(Kyoto University, Japan)

Dr. Yusuke Minoshima(Hokkaido University, Japan)

Dr. Shinya Miyano(Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba, Japan)

Dr. Hideaki Mori

(Japan Wildlife Research Center, Japan)

Dr. Naoto Yokoi(Fukushima Agricultural Technology Center, Japan)

Dr. Hidenobu Funakoshi(Shinshu Unversity, Japan)

Dr. Bounthob Praxaysombath (National University of Laos, Lao PDR)
Ms. Khamfa Chantavongsa(National University of Laos, Lao PDR)

Ms. Peou Youleang(Loyal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia)

Ms. Seang Hun(Loyal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia)

Mr. Soulivanh Larnorsavanh(National University of Laos, Lao PDR)

Dr. Thongchai Champasri (Khon Kaen University, Thailand)
Dr. Thaya Jenjittikul(Mahidol University, Thailand)

Dr. Vichith Lamxay(National University of Laos, Lao PDR)

Dr. Yupa Hanboonsong(Khon Kaen University, Thailand)*Research support
Mr. Hiromu Ikenoue(Network of Asian Rural Communities, Japan)

Mr. Yasuhiro Kawaguchi (S.Y. Japanese Service Center, Thailand)
Dr. Kosuke Sano

(Fishers & Aquaculture International Co., Ltd., Japan)

Mr. Bae Pheaxay(National University of Laos, Lao PDR)

Ms. Bolichanh Liepvisay (Network of Asian Rural Communities, Lao PDR)
Dr. Chaiwut Grudpan(Ubonratchathani University, Thailand)

Ms. Chin Deth(Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Cambodia)

Ms. Kim Sopheap(Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Cambodia)

Ms. Manichit Lathichak(Namxouang Aquaculture Development Center, Lao PDR)

Mr. Mengthao(Village Aquaculture Prom. Comm. of Phonekeo Village, Lao PDR)

Ms. Nouhak Liepvisay(Namxouang Aquaculture Development Center, Lao PDR)

Mr. Phoukam(Namxouang Aquaculture Development Center, Lao PDR)Ms. Salavong Thammasedy(Namxouang Aquaculture Development Center, Lao PDR)
Mr. Sengvi Layvanh Singthavikhoune(National University of Laos, Lao PDR)

Ms. Sisamout Phengsakoun(Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Lao PDR)

Dr. So Nam(Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Cambodia)

Ms. Soulichan Lamxay(National University of Laos, Lao PDR, [University of Tokyo])

Mr. Stefan Ottomanski(Environmental educator, based in Thailand)

Mr. Thach Phanara(Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Cambodia)

Dr. Hiroyuki Kashiwadani (Photograph : National Museum of Nature and Science, Japan)*Translation
Ms. Noliko Utsuzawa(Natural environment advocate based in USA)

*English proofreading
Mrs. Jo Ann Davis
Ms. Barbara Trebino

Japan Wildlife Research CenterTable of Contents――――――――――――――――――――――

Study Region

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

9

Seasons

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

11

Local Markets

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

12

Traditional Cooking

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

14

Reptiles and Amphibians ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

19

Freshwater Fish・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

51

Insects

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

177

Snails and Bivalves・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

257

Other Invertebrates

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

281

Plants・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

297

Fungus・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

383

Index

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

409

Scientific name・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

411

Laotian・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

419

Khmer

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

425

Thai

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

429

Vietnamese

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

435

Japanese

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

439

24 Jul. 2009

Phonekeo, Vientiane Province, Laos