Food Japan has the longest life expectancy in the world, and Okinawans are especially famous for living to a ripe old age. People say this is due to the prefecture's unique diet, which balances protein sources like pork and tofu with highly nutritious vegetables. There are also a number of Okinawa delicacies that are thought to have medicinal properties, such as irabu, a type of sea snake. There used to be two distinct types of traditional cuisine in Okinawa. The first was enjoyed by court aristocrats during the Ryukyu Kingdom, and the second by the common people. Today, the difference has become blurred. Two typical dishes are rafute (boiled pork), and chanpuru (fried tofu and bitter melon).