April 7, 2016 • mccsokinawa.com
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Image courtesy of Drowning Pool
s Okinawa starts to heat up, so does the MCCS festival season starting with Camp Foster Festival. This year’s festival is scheduled for April 9 and April 10 on Camp Foster. Whether you are new to the island or have experienced more festivals than you can count, there are many reasons to come out and enjoy the annual festival.
Festival goers can be prepared to experience everything that makes a festival an event worth celebrating with free top-notch entertainment, game booths, amusement rides, Fun Land and good eats. There will be local favorites such as funnel cake, yakitori, yakisoba and classic festival fare including cheeseburgers, corn dogs, pizza and hot dogs. Don't miss the debut of Kanpai Lounge and Shisa Pizza Express! At 7 p.m. on April 9, Drowning Pool performs live. Drowning Pool’s latest album, released earlier this
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year, Hellelujah, is not about spewing positivity. It’s about “celebrating bitterness and angst,” lead singer Jason Moreno stated in an interview with Louder Noise. This is Drowning Pool’s sixth album, and they didn’t let up on the throttle—it’s harsh, aggressive and metal head approved. Drowning Pool is still best known for their song “Bodies,” a mosh pit anthem that has been used for WWE, UFC and video games. Camp Foster Festival is the first of many MCCS festivals—each offering something a little different. The Futenma Flightline Fair is known for its military static displays and amusement rides, Schwab Fest is known for always bringing the best bands, Camp Hansen Festival and Camp Kinser Festival have long promoted comraderie between the Japanese and the military, and of course, Courtney Christmas and Holiday Festival has Santa.
USFJ Sets New Alcohol Limits for On-Base Driving | 3 Alcohol Misuse Awareness Month | 3 Why is That: Why Don't Japanese Say No? | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5
"...on April 9, Drowning Pool performs live." All festivals are FREE and open to all DoD ID card holders and Japanese citizens. No one will be admitted with pets, bottles, outside alcohol or coolers. As always, MCCS encourages everyone to drink responsibly. Daiko and taxi services will be available. For more information, call MCCS Special Events at 645-5852 or visit mccsokinawa.com/ festivals. —Ryan Anastoplus and Caylee Reid
Pick of the Week: Babymetal | 7 Leaving the Nest | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11
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livingatlarge
USFJ Sets New Alcohol Limits for On-Base Driving
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ew changes to a U.S. Forces, Japan, regulation will impact how much alcohol drivers on U.S. installations can have in their bloodstreams and still be considered fit to drive. The new policy, which goes into effect Monday, establishes a .03 Blood Alcohol Content standard for all drivers on U.S. installations. This is the same limit set by Japanese law and means that the same standards will apply regardless of location. Operating a motor vehicle with a BAC level of .03 and above constitutes Driving Under the Influence under Japanese law and under this revised USFJ regulation. “This change means the same standards will apply to drivers on or off base,” said Chief Master Sgt. Terrence Greene, USFJ and 5th Air Force command chief. “You can face a suspended license or UCMJ charges, so regardless of where you’re driving in Japan, have a designated driver or a plan to get home safe. And, remember, do the right thing—don’t drink and drive.” The change is simple, according to USFJ leaders. There is now a
minimum disciplinary action of a 60-day license suspension for those caught driving with a BAC level .03 to .079. In addition, commanders have the right to impose additional disciplinary or administrative measures in accordance with the UCMJ and service regulations. Prior to the update, installations throughout Japan had varying policies to enforce on-installation impaired driving issues, including different BAC minimums. USFJ’s change is aimed at implementing a standard policy across all U.S. installations in Japan and is focused on removing any possible confusion between prior pol-
icies. It is also meant to ensure service members are well informed of the expectations of driving on and off installations throughout Japan. According to USFJ representatives, the recent policy change has been under review for several months and is not related to any recent events. For those affected by the policy change on Okinawa, there are Daiko resources available by calling 6375900 via the Defense Switch Network, or 0120-23-5477 from a local cellphone, to assist in obtaining a safe ride home. —Courtesy of MCIPAC Public Affairs
Visit the following link for more information: http://www.okinawa.marines.mil/News/NewsArticleDisplay/tabid/18973/Article/610823/aafes-revamps-daiko-service-keeps-service-members-safe.aspx
Chief Marketing Officer | Jim Kassebaum Managing Editor | Caylee Reid Art Director | Hector Nieves Cultural Research Specialist | Ayako Kawamitsu Graphic Arts Manager | Henry Ortega Graphic Designers | Margie Shimabukuro, Lisa Miyagi, Kelli Davis, Catherine Newquist Editor-in-Chief | Mike Daley Editor | Ryan Anastoplus Photographer | Thomas Alan Smilie Ad/Sponsorship Manager | Roy Forster Ad Sales | Yoshihiro Shinzato, Aya Chilcote, Yoriko Yamashiro, Carina Fils-Julien, Lisa Hicks Distribution | Gideon Juko, Kelli Kreider Marketing Accounts Manager | Andrew Menges Accounts & Research | Amanda Bakun, Katherine Melrose, Kayla Christen, Jenessa Reutov, Jennifer Dowd, Marissa DeSmet Broadcast | Victor Mercado, Kathlene Millette, Gabriel Archer Career practicum intern | Skylor Stevens
Questions? Comments? Please e-mail OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. To advertise in Okinawa LivingWeekly, 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.
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Alcohol Misuse Awareness Month
ach April since 1987, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) sponsors Alcohol Misuse Awareness Month to increase public awareness, reduce stigma and encourage local communities to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues. This month, NCADD and the Substance Abuse Counseling Center (SACC) highlight the important public health issue of alcohol abuse, a problem with devastating individual, family and community consequences. Alcohol abuse is directly associated with traffic fatalities, violence, suicide, educational and career failure, and other problem behaviors. We can use this month to raise awareness
about alcohol misuse and take action to prevent it, both at home and in the community. Encourage friends or family members to make small changes, like keeping track of their drinking and setting drinking limits. If you must drink, vow to do so in a responsible manner. If alcohol is a problem in your life, get help today.
Don’t waste any more precious moments living life under the control of alcohol. For further assistance, contact SACC at 645-3009 or visit mccsokinawa.com/sac for information about sober activities to do on Okinawa, personal risk factors and personalized information to meet the needs of your command or unit.
This publication printed with
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japanese phrase
whyisthat?
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Kento shimasu I'll think about it. For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.
Why don’t Japanese say “No”?
hile living in Japan, there may have been a time or two that you felt you were given mixed signals. You asked a Japanese person what you thought was a simple question, but all you received was a head angled to the side and a pained expression. When they clearly want to say no, why didn’t they just say no? You may find it frustrating when this is butted against American culture—where we are used to saying what we think. But in the Japanese culture, harmony is one of the most important aspects. It may not be indecisiveness you’re seeing; it could be a roundabout show of respect. The need for harmony is woven into the very fabric of the culture and preserving the overall relationship oftentimes is just as important as individuals’ opinions. This is most readily seen in formal business and
political situations. If you hear the phrase kento shimasu, meaning “I'll think about it,” whatever you’re asking about probably won’t happen. There are even Japanese words to describe this reluctance: tatemae refers to a façade, the resistance to express what one truly thinks to preserve harmony, and honne refers to the real
feelings that are slowly exposed. Even though this practice’s purpose it to ease friction or irritation, places with lots of Western influences have become more upfront. Keep in mind, next time you’re told “maybe” or “I’ll think about it,” that the person is respectfully telling you no. —Caylee Reid
Clockwise from the top left: elwynn/bigstock.com, geargodz/bigstock.com
If you have any burning questions about Japanese culture, please send them to OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
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pickoftheweek Babymetal
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Metal Resistance, Babymetal's follow-up to their successful debut is out now.
eavy metal has come a long way and gone in many directions since Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden defined the genre. Metal has been fused with nearly every music genre—celtic, shoegaze, jazz, classical and funeral dirges—and divided into nearly 40 (depending on who you ask) sub divisions—funk and rap metal, avant-garde metal, black metal, death metal, grindcore, metalcore, doom, power, speed, Viking and pirate metal, to name a few. The latest innovation comes from a very un-metal source: Sakura Gakuin, a Japanese idol group. The three former Sakura Gakuin members were recruited to form a new group called Babymetal which
fuses metal and idol/J pop music. The singers, Moametal (16), Yuimetal (16) and Su-metal (18) didn’t know what metal was before joining the group. The pop producer responsible for their creation cites his own personal love for metal as inspiration for creating Babymetal . Idol pop as a genre and image can be traced back to 1963, with the emergence of Johnny and Associates, a talent agency that generates boy bands and dominates the Asian music charts. The successes of these groups come as no mistake—members of Johnny and Associates must go through a sevenyear training program learning how to behave like an idol before they are
assigned to a group. What results is a boy band more idealistic and perfect than 50 Ken dolls combined. Though Babymetal might appear to be the antithesis of this process, simply because they go against the grain of what other groups in their genre do—dark imagery, live musicians, power chords—they are as carefully crafted, blueprinted and targeted to a niche market as any group that Johnny and Associates churns out. The allure of idol groups is the fantasy world created for the consumer of perfect, innocent and beautiful men and women that not only exist but they sing and dance. A similar sentiment can be attached to metal, a genre whose theatrics and lyrical imagery sometimes surpass the music itself. As Babymetal has proven, consumption of idealism via pop culture is not specific to teeny bopper crowd, but anybody who lives in escapism. —Ryan Anastoplus
Clockwise from the top left: Aleksandrs/bigstock.com, Hector Nieves, Mike Daley
photooftheweek
Habu are pit vipers native to Okinawa. These venomous, nocturnal creatures strike with a long and fast reach. They are commonly found in fields, jungles, tombs and rocks and become very active as the weather warms.
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spotlight
I Leaving the Nest 2016 Schedule of Events: April 5, 5:30PM Goal: Graduate College Debt Free April 12, 5:30PM Finding the Right Fit April 19, 5:30PM Surviving and Thriving the First Year of College
Clockwise from the top left: Andreyuu/bigstock.com, dolgachov/bigstock.com
April 26, 5:30PM GI Bill: Maximize Transferred Benefits
Leaving the Nest Series
n honor of the Month of the Military Child, MCCS Education Centers will be hosting their third annual “Leaving the Nest” series on Tuesday evenings in April at the Camp Foster Education Center. The first presentation, “Goal: Graduate College Debt Free,” covers all the facets of financial aid including grants that do not have to be repaid and the plethora of scholarships available to fund a college education. The second brief of the series, “Finding the Right Fit,” focuses on how to conduct research on schools and how to find the best fit for student needs. This is an excellent brief for sophomores and juniors to help narrow down their top choices of universities. The third installment, “Surviving and Thriving the First Year of College,” discusses tips for thriving academically, socially and emotionally during the first year of college.
This presentation will cover everything that students and their families need to know about surviving the freshman year and maintaining good habits for future successes. The final presentation, “GI Bill: Maximize Transferred Benefits,” is hugely important for students using their parent’s Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. Participants will gain an under-
standing of how to maximize their transferred benefits to the full potential for their housing allowance, book stipend or tutoring funding. Service members, families and students of all ages are welcome to attend any or all presentations. For more information or to reserve a seat, please contact the Camp Foster Education Center at 645-7160.
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tours+
adventure begins here Fireworks Cruise* April 9, 6–10 p.m. Adults $50, Children (4–11) $36 Enjoy a cruise and a dynamic fireworks display accompanied by a fabulous music performance.
Kerama Snorkeling* April 10, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $73, Children (4–11) $41 Take a boat ride to two snorkeling spots in the breathtaking Kerama Islands.
Yanbaru Mangrove Kayaking* April 9, 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Adult $55, Children (6–12) $33 Get your muscles moving while kayaking among the roots of mangrove trees.
Hiji Falls & Okuma* April 10, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $23, Children (3–11) $16 (under 3) FREE Enjoy a hike to Hiji Falls and have 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
bj League Basketball Tournament April 9, 7 p.m. & April 10, 6 p.m. Ryukyu Golden Kings vs. Hiroshima Lightning Okinawa City Gym, Okinawa City Call Tours+ at 646-3502 for tickets.
Proud sponsor of MCCS Youth Sports
Athletics/Adult Sports
Clockwise from the top left: RenataAp/bigstock.com, Thomas Alan Smilie
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
Ryukyu Kaiensai Fireworks Festival 2016 April 9, 7:30 p.m. (doors open 3 p.m.) Tropical Beach, Ginowan City Tickets on sale at noon: Adults ¥3300, Children (6–15) ¥2200
Piece of Peace World Heritage Exhibit built with Lego Bricks March 24–April 10, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Urasoe City Museum, Urasoe City Tickets: Adults ¥800, Children (3–16) ¥600, (under 3) FREE
upcoming semperfitevents Open Bench Press Competition April 9 Camp Schwab Power Dome Register at the Camp Schwab Power Dome by April 9 for $15. This event is open to participants island-wide. Tournament brackets and rules will be emailed to each participant. Awards will be given to the top three finishers in each weight class. Details: 625-2654.
Open Bowling Tournament April 16 Camp Foster Bowling Center Register at any MCCS fitness center by 1 p.m. on April 11 for $20. This event is open to participants island-wide. Awards will be given to the top three finishers in each division. Details: 645-3003.
classof theweek HITT Training Active dynamic warm-up, strength, power, speed and agility, flexibility and core stability are the major components of the HITT training. You will work on all of them in each class. Camps Courtney, Hansen, Kinser, Schwab and MCAS Futenma For a full class schedule and times, visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness.