Old man mumble

Njana, also known as Njjana, has the Japanese name Hosoba Wadan (narrow-leaved wadan) and the alternative name Nigana. It is a perennial plant in the Asteraceae family. It grows wild near the coast in central and southern Japan, which is said to be why it was given the name Wadan, meaning “sea” (wadatsumi). It was named for its narrower leaves compared to its close relative, Wadan. It belongs to a different genus within the same family as the Japanese native plant Nigana.

In Okinawan dialect, Hosobawadan is called Njanaba and is consumed as food. It has a distinctive bitterness but is said to be highly nutritious. Mixing it with oil reduces the bitterness, and it is well-known when dressed with tofu in a white sauce. When suffering from a fever due to a cold, it is simmered together with Taiyu (crucian carp) to make Taiyu Shinji, which is eaten as a decoction.
　It is also used medicinally. The leaves are boiled and taken as a decoction for fever reduction, diarrhea relief, high blood pressure, and cooling the body.　　Translated with DeepL.com (free version)