March 16, 2017 · mccsokinawa.com
Thomas Alan Smilie
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e’ve been runners since we could stand. The activity hasn’t changed much since the days when a loincloth was the most advanced piece of running tech. Although we have high-tech clothing, GPS on our wrists, food gel and motivation from Nike, running can sometimes be monotonous. Travelling along endless stretches of gray pavement or puttering to the droning pace of a treadmill gives running a bad rap from non-enthusiasts. For the naysayers, the 5K Color Me Fun Run hosted by Family Care Branch will add some excitement to a drab workout. Colorful powder blasts runners every kilometer, including a color explosion at the start of the race. Unlike most runs where you
inside
look soggy and defeated afterwards, a color run is the only occasion you will finish a run looking more glamorous than when you started. First time doing a color run? First time running? No problem. This is a fun run, open to anyone regardless of skill or fitness level. Here are some tips on how to prepare and what to expect: Zip it: regular runners consume three times more bugs than the average person. While a midrun bug snack is juicy treat during a run, a mouth full of powder is not. Though the colorful powder is not harmful, it’s uncomfortable to inhale and will stain your teeth (and unlike bugs, powder has no nutritional value).
Nurturing Parenting Class | 3 Spring Swim League | 3 Culture Corner: Pineapples | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5
Add some color to your run on April 1. Eye protection: a pair of shades will go a long way in keeping the rainbow fog out of your eyes. Relax: this is not a race or a competitive event. If anything, the person most colorful at the end should be crowned winner. The Color Me Fun Run begins at the Camp Foster Gunners Fitness Center. Visit mccsokinawa. com/colormefunrun for more information.
Pick of the Week: Ocean Park Opens March 18 | 7 Bowling Parties | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11
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livingatlarge Nurturing Parenting Class
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arenting is no easy task. There are no instruction manuals or fool proofways to raise your child to become a great person. But a parent can at least try. Throughout the years of trying to analyze the reason why our kids are who they are, we’ve developed all sorts of ways to raise a child the most “ideal way.” One way
that we can guide our children to be respectable adults is by nurturing them through empathy, communication and bonding. In the New Parent Support Program Nurturing Parenting class, learn ways to enhance your parenting skills. This class runs from April 12 to May 31 and will meet
each Wednesday in Bldg. 439 from 2 to 4 p.m. During these sessions, classes will focus on empathy, communication between parent and child and parent-to-parent, bonding, discipline without yelling or spanking and more. For more information or to sign up, call 6450396.
Chief Marketing Officer | Jim Kassebaum Managing Editor | Shelbie Thilmony Art Director | Jongeun Spencer Cultural Research Specialist | Ayako Kawamitsu Graphic Arts Manager | Henry Ortega Graphic Designers | Margie Shimabukuro, Lisa Miyagi, Catherine Newquist, Hector Nieves Editor-in-Chief | Mike Daley WRITER/EDITORS | Ryan Anastoplus, Ashley Snipes Digital marketing manager | Thomas Alan Smilie Photographer | Sarah Head Ad/Sponsorship Manager | Roy Forster Ad Sales | Yoshihiro Shinzato, Aya Chilcote, Yoriko Yamashiro, Carina Fils-Julien Distribution | Kelli Kreider Marketing Accounts Manager | Andrew Menges Accounts & Research | Marissa DeSmet, Ashley Herring, Kristen Wong, Katherine Melrose, Allison Dixon Broadcast | Kathlene Millette, Gabriel Archer, Emi Komiya Volunteer | Jessie McKean INTERNS | Chloé Stevens, Valeria Solorzano
Questions? Comments? Please e-mail OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
events&happenings
From top to bottom: www.BillionPhotos.com, pressmaster/bigstock.com
Spring Swim League
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hen it comes to cardio, whether it’s low intensity or high intensity, it’s hard to top swimming. Swimming is a full-body workout and is a great way to increase overall muscular strength and endurance while improving your
cardio level. Making swimming part of your fitness routine will definitely make you a healthier person, and a fun way to do this would be to join the Spring Swim League. If you want to enjoy the full benefits of swimming, you have to swim regularly
To advertise in Okinawa Living Weekly, call 645-2245, fax 645-0975, or email sales@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. MCCS is not responsible for designing and editing outside ads. No Department of Defense, U.S. Marine Corps or Marine Corps Community Services endorsement of commercial advertisers or sponsors implied.
and you have to swim well. The Spring Swim League will be held April 3 to 7 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m at the Camp Foster 25M Pool. Register now at mccsokinawa.com/ learntoswim for $75. This publication printed with
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japanese phrase
culturecorner Pineapples
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Painappuru tsuika Extra pineapple For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.
ative to South America, pineapples were introduced to the eastern world after Christopher Columbus’ “New World” voyage. The first pineapples were brought to the Ryukyu Islands in 1866 courtesy of a wrecked Dutch trading ship. By the mid-1920s, smooth cayenne pineapples were being planted in Motobu Town on the northern part of Okinawa. Thus began a bustling pineapple industry throughout the Okinawan prefecture; Ishigaki Island became a hub for smooth cayenne pineapple production. Pineapple production on Okinawa has decreased since its peak in the 1960s, but that hasn’t slowed down tourist attractions such as Pineapple Park in Nago. This park is a must-visit destination for fun and fruit with friends and family. You’ll see more fruit than all commissaries
combined—from different varieties of pineapples to fruits you didn’t even know existed. The park also has every imaginable interpretation of pineapple snacks, treats and beverages available for sampling. Contrary to popular belief, pineapples are actually a type of berry. They’re rich in manganese, citric acid, vitamin C, and an enzyme called bromelain. Bromelain is commonly used as a meat tenderizing product due to its ability to soften
meat proteins. That’s why your mouth tingles if you eat too much pineapple. You can ride a pineapple cart and consume all the pineapple goodies you’d like at Pineapple Park after feeding birds, monkeys and llamas at Neo Park. MCCS Tours+ regularly offers an excursion to the parks, providing transportation and entrance fees. For tour dates and times, visit mccsokinawa.com/tours.
Clockwise from left: mikeledray/bigstock.com, Thomas Alan Smilie
If you have any burning questions about Japanese culture, please send them to OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
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getting there
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ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort Follow signs on Hwy 58 northbound for Onna. Once in the village, follow signs for Manza Beach. Parking for the beach is on the lefthand side after you pass a small guard house. GPS coordinates: 26.508368, 127.858100
Ocean Park Opens March 18
ummer may not officially start until June 21, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait three months for warm weather and sunshine. Soon enough, you’ll be blasting your air conditioning and beaching it up for a break from the heat and humidity. Get a jump start on all that summer fun at the earliest opening beach on Okinawa. Check out ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort’s spectacular views of the East China Sea while channeling your inner American Ninja Warrior on their new Ocean Park inflatable waterpark. Bounce around on inflatable obstacles and swim in the beautiful turquoise waters. Ocean Park is open to the public from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is FREE all day on March 18. Can’t swim? No problem! Life vests are available for use, and there’s plenty of fun to be had above the water. In addition to Ocean Park, you can take a ride on the Submarine Jr
II. Pack your camera and take a ride on the glass-bottomed boat that allows you to see the wonders of the ocean from above the surface. Reap all the benefits of snorkeling without actually having to swim, close encounters with critters, or deal with saltwater seeping up into your nose. The boat cruises start at 1 p.m. Celebrate this fun introduction
Clockwise from left: ANA Intercontinental, Sarah Head
photooftheweek
A butcher awaits customers on Kokusai DŌri. MCCS Tours+ offers many tours here—visit mccsokinawa.com.
to summer with sand, sunshine, and delicious food—hot dogs, steak, pizza and more! For more information, call ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort at 098-966-2212 or visit anaintercontinental-manza.jp. If you miss out on this day of free fun, visit your local Tours+ for discounted tickets to ANA InterContinental Ocean Park.
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did
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Bowling Parties
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Clockwise: gstockstudio/bigstock.com,Thomas Alan Smilie
The largest bowling center in the world is the Inazawa Grand Bowl in Japan, featuring 116 consecutive lanes.
nstead of cramming 25 friends or coworkers into your apartment, host your next party or team-building event at an MCCS Bowling Center. Celebrate birthdays, promotions or gather your friends and challenge each other in a private tournament. Your local MCCS Bowling Center is available to help you set ‘em up and knock ‘em down.
In addition to a state-of-the-art scoring system, MCCS Bowling Centers offer four dedicated birthday themed environments and games designed to make the celebration come to life. You are more than welcome to bring a cake or cookies, but why not check with the facility for catering options so you don’t have to stress about anything for the big day?
Lane rentals are $8 per hour during the day, and $10 per hour after 5 p.m. Rent a pair of snazzy bowling shoes for $1 for adults and $.75 for children. Contact your local MCCS Bowling Center for more information, or check them out on the web at mccsokinawa. com/bowling.
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tours+
adventure begins here Japanese Tea Ceremony* March 17, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $35, Children (3–11) $28 Children (under 3) FREE Experience a Japanese Tea Ceremony. Learn the steps to making tea and eating Japanese sweets in a traditional manner. After tea, enjoy lunch and shopping on Kokusai Street.
Neo Park and Pineapple Park* March 18, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults $26; Children (3–11) $16 (under 3) FREE Visit Neo Park and feed birds, monkeys and llamas and enjoy the chrysanthemum doll exhibition. After lunch, enjoy the rest of your tour at Pineapple Park.
Whale Watching Tour* March 18, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults $51; Children (4–11) $35 Watch these mammoth-sized creatures surface around the Kerama Islands as you enjoy the beautiful scenery and ocean breeze. After a morning on the seas, we’ll head to Kokusai Street for lunch and shopping.
Daisekirinzan Park, Hedo Point and Okuma* March 25, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $31, Children (4-15) $21 (under 3) FREE Enjoy hiking Daisekirinzan Park and visit Hedo Point. Afterwards, enjoy a late lunch at Okuma.
*Bring yen for additional food, drinks and/or purchases. For more information, contact MCCS Tours+: Camp Foster 646-3502 | Camp Hansen 623-6344 | Camp Kinser 637-2744
off-baseevents get out and explore
Moon Beach All-Okinawa Yachimun (pottery) Market March 18–20, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Hotel Moon Beach, Onna Village FREE
Athletics/Adult Sports
Thomas Alan Smilie/bigstock.com, pixy_nook/bigstock.com
645-3521/3522
Aquatics 645-3180 Courtney Ironworks 622-9261/7297 Futenma Semper Fit 636-2672 Gunners Fitness Center 645-3985/2235 Hansen House of Pain 623-5558/4831 Health Promotion 645-3484/3910 Kinser Fitness Center 637-1869/1114 Schwab Power Dome 625-2654/2442 Taiyo Golf Club 622-2004 Tsunami SCUBA 645-9500 Youth Sports 645-3533/3534
B League Basketball Tournament Ryukyu Golden Kings vs. SAN-EN Neophoenix March 18, 7 p.m. & March 19, 6 p.m. Okinawa City Gym, Okinawa City Call Tours+ at 646-3502 for tickets.
Azalea Festival March 16–20, 9a.m.–6p.m. Azalea Park, Higashi Village Adults (15 and older) ¥300, Children FREE
upcoming semperfitevents Lord of the Tengan 5K and 10K Run March 19 Camp Courtney Athletics Open to participants island-wide. Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by 1 p.m. on March 13 for SOFA or March 9 for non-SOFA for $30, or same day for $35. The top three finishers in each category will receive awards. Details: 622-7297.
Open 6 on 6 Soccer Tournament March 24–26 Camp Kinser Athletics This event is open to participants islandwide. Registration is available for $100 by March 20 at 1 p.m. Each participant will receive tournament schedule and rules via email. The top three team finishers will receive awards. Details: 637-1869.
classof theweek Pilates This class is great for conditioning, toning and strengthening your entire body. Camp Foster & MCAS Futenma For a full group fitness schedule, visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness.