EE FR
April 2, 2015 • mccsokinawa.com
okinawalivingweekly Mushiatsui desu ne!
Child Abuse Prevention Month
Clockwise from the top right: soupstock/bigstock.com, Thomas Alan Smilie
S
T
ummer days on Okinawa are usually as hot as they are humid. And this unpleasant state can be summed up with a single Japanese word—mushiatsui. Mold flourishes, delicate flowers wilt and clothes stick to the wrong places. The hot and steamy weather can cause summer fatigue, or natsubate, making you feel sick, sleep deprived or just plain cranky. Fortunately, the Japanese have been cleverly combating the heat for centuries and have a few lessons to share. The use of food to ease the effects of natsubate dates back to the 8th century when the poet Ôtomo-no Yakamochi recommended his sun-beaten friend eat eel to regain his strength. Over the years, people in different areas of Japan have developed their own edible remedies to calm the heat. Many summer vegetables like tomato, eggplant and cucumber contain antioxidants that protect against ultraviolet radiation, while summer fruits like watermelon, pear and tangerine are rich in minerals that are lost in perspiration. Foods rich in vitamin B like pork, soybeans and milk also help restore the energy in your body that the sun steals.
inside
In many parts of Japan, a refreshing cold soba served with dipping sauce and chopped green onions is a trusted summer remedy. In other areas, a bowl of hiyajiru, or cold miso soup over chilled rice, does the trick. On Okinawa, gôyâ champurû, or stir-fried bitter melon, egg, tofu and pork can help you stay cool. When all else fails, there is always the uchiwa, or fan. Originally made by tying thin strips of Japanese cypress together with thread, sensu now come in a variety of designs and are a practical way to create your own breeze. Uchiwa, or flat, un-foldable fans, are also popular during the summer months. Once made of bamboo and handmade paper, you are now more likely to see them made out of plastic and handed out on street corners with advertisements plastered on the front. Don’t let the heat stop you from enjoying your summer on Okinawa. Just pack your bento with cold soba, watermelon and cucumbers, grab a fan or two and you’ll be set. Of course, when all else fails, a quick dip in an MCCS pool near you will solve all your problems too. Visit mccsokinawa.com/aquatics for details.
Living at Large: Camp Foster Festival | 3 Culture Corner: The Japanese Bento Box| 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5 Sumo Tour | 9
his April, take time to learn about child abuse prevention. Everyone can play a part by learning the risk factors, protecting children in danger and supporting families who need assistance. Child Abuse Prevention Month will begin with an official proclamation signing by Commanding General Hudson. In honor of this very important month, the Behavioral Health Family Advocacy Program will host the Positive Parenting Program and Movie on the Lawn. Together these programs will help parents discover methods of raising your child in a positive and healthy environment through each stage of their development. Please do your part in supporting our efforts to keep our children safe. For more information on Child Abuse Prevention Month events call 645-2915 or visit Family Advocacy online.
Photo of the Week | 11 Spotlight: Instructors Wanted | 13 Movie Schedule | 15 Health Tip of the Week: Cravings | 15