The short-winged rice grasshopper (Oxya yezoensis) is native to Japan. Referred to in Japanese as kobane-inago, it is a popular edible insect, commonly simmered with soy sauce, sugar, and sweet rice wine (mirin) to create a traditional delicacy. Yet, while appreciated on the dinner plate, it is heavily disliked in the fields as a major agricultural pest. As its name suggests, it has limited flight capabilities due to its shorter wings. I crossed paths with this fascinating grasshopper while exploring Okinawa, a beautiful island stepped between the main Japanese archipelago and Taiwan.