Okinawa Living Weekly

April 13, 2017 · mccsokinawa.com

Image courtesy of client

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n April 22 and 23 from 1 to 9 p.m., gather at the Camp Foster flea market area to partake in a weekend of attractions for all ages, including Fun Land’s rides and bouncers, game booths and delicious cultural foods from Okinawa, as well as delectable offerings from MCCS. Hungry revelers can gather to enjoy USA staples such as sizzling Bulldogs, succulent BBQ beef brisket and juicy chicken from Hickory House All-American BBQ, pizza and wings and more. For patrons 20 years of age and older, refreshing adult beverages are available from Kanpai Lounge.

A great entertainment lineup is on tap, including a FREE performance by Grammy-winning alternative rock band Switchfoot on Saturday

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night. Best known for the 2003 album “The Beautiful Letdown,” which sold over 2.7 million copies in the US and certified double platinum, Switchfoot released their tenth studio album “Where the Light Shines Through” in 2016.

Admission to the Foster Festival is FREE and open to all SOFA status and Japanese citizens island wide. No one will be admitted with pets, outside alcohol, glass bottles, coolers or backpacks. Free shuttle buses will provide transportation to and from designated parking lots on the base. As always, MCCS encourages everyone to drink responsibly. Daiko and taxi services will be available.

For more information about the Camp Foster

Kinser Open Triathlon | 3 Run, Bike & Swim | 3 Culture Corner: Ie Island Getaway | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5

Come see Switchfoot live on April 22.

Festival, call 098-970-5828, visit mccsokinawa. com/festivals or visit MCCS Entertainment on Facebook at facebook.com/mccsokinawa. specialevents.

Pick of the Week: Triathlon Prep | 7 Sunset Yoga at the Habu Pit | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11

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livingatlarge Kinser Open Triathlon

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e should start by saying: this is not a “fun run.”

This is a grueling, make-yourheart-pound, nails-for-breakfast triathlon. If you think your mind and body can handle the grind, sign up for the Camp Kinser Open Triathlon. Condition your body to make the transitions from running to biking to swimming so smooth

that they rival the Grecian gods.

This sprint triathlon consists of a 5K run, a 15K bike ride and finishes with a 400M swim.

This event starts at the Camp Kinser Fitness Center at 8:05 a.m. on May 21. Participants must register by 1 p.m. on May 15 at any MCCS Fitness Center for $30. This event is open to participants island-

wide. Trophies will be given to first, second and third place winners in each division, as well as overall male and female winners. There will be mountain and road bike divisions. For more information, contact the Kinser Fitness Center at 637-1869 or visit mccsokinawa. com/semperfit.

Chief Marketing Officer | Jim Kassebaum Managing Editor | Ryan Anastoplus Art Director | Catherine Newquist Cultural Research Specialist | Ayako Kawamitsu Graphic Arts Manager | Henry Ortega Graphic Designers | Margie Shimabukuro, Lisa Miyagi, Hector Nieves, Jongeun Spencer Editor-in-Chief | Mike Daley WRITER/EDITORS | Ashley Snipes, Shelbie Thilmony 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 INTERNS | Chloé Stevens, Valeria Solorzano

Questions? Comments? Please e-mail OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.

events&happenings

From top to bottom: Hans_Chr/bigstock.com, alistaircotton/bigstock.com

Run, Bike & Swim

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unning, biking and swimming are the holy trinity of athleticism. While competing in these activities individually requires stamina, there is no better way to test an athlete’s endurance than doing all three back-to-back. Regardless of whether they are experienced triathletes or are training for the first one, the TriKids, MiniKids and

Women’s Only Triathlon is sure to be a fun and challenging extravaganza of athleticism.

The Camp Foster TriKids, MiniKids and Women’s Only Triathlon will take place on April 22 on Camp Courtney, May 27 on Camp Kinser and June 24 on Camp Foster. The women’s category is for females over the age of 13. The

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.

Trikids category is for children ages 7 to 14. The Minikids race is for mini-athletes under the age of 10.

Participants can register online at mccsokinawa.com/aquatics no later than four days before the respective race. For more information, visit mccsokinawa.com/aquatics.

This publication printed with

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japanese phrase

culturecorner

of the week

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Ii nioi desu ne.

It smells good.

B-D-S/bigstock.com, tuelekza/bigstock.com

For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.

Ie Island Getaway

ometimes it can be difficult to plan a vacation. Airports are a hassle, and getting the family ready for a long trip is no easy feat either.

Luckily, living on Okinawa offers the advantage of being a short ferry ride away from the perfect vacation location. Travel with Tours+ to Ie Island for the YYY Lily Festival Getaway from April 22 to 23. You will be able to view the spectacular beauty of over a million lilies in bloom at this annual event, and then spend a relaxing evening at the world-class YYY Ie Club Resort. While you’re there, you can also enjoy the hotel’s beach, pool, sauna, jacuzzi and miniature golf course. For an additional charge, you can try your hand at windsurfing, ocean kayaking, snorkeling, water skiing and more. For a little romance and adventure, you can even partake in a charming sun-

set cruise in the beautiful blue ocean.

Your package can be tailored to suit your needs, whether you’re traveling as a couple or with the entire family. The getaway includes breakfast and dinner, and round-trip transportation to and from Camp Foster and Motobu Port, as well as the ferry ride and trip to the resort

and back. The Ie Island Lily Festival only happens for a few weeks each year, and is a stunning event not to be missed. Take this opportunity to experience the splendor of nature and treat yourself to a memorable weekend at the same time.

For details, see page 11, call Tours+ or visit mccsokinawa.com/tours.

If you have any burning questions about Japanese culture, please send them to OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.

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more info

Sample workout Monday: Bike Tuesday: Morning run,

lunchtime swim Wednesday: Bike Thursday: Morning run,

lunchtime swim Friday: Morning run Saturday: Swim/bike brick Sun: Off

pickoftheweek

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Triathlon Prep

unners run, cyclists cycle, and swimmers swim, but triathletes do all three! Your first triathlon may seem overwhelming, but if you look at training in little chunks it may be less daunting. Set a weekly goal of doing a couple workouts in each mode: swim, run, and bike.

Start at a pace you are comfortable with, be consistent, and it will soon become a habit that leads to better health and fitness.

For example, you can perform three swims, three runs and three bike rides per week. It may sound like a lot, but it can be perfectly manageable; we’ve provided a sample training plan. A few weeks into training, you should do a combined bike/run, swim/bike or run/bike workout (called a brick) every week or two. By doing bricks, you are training specifically for a triathlon.

This can help your body and mind get used to changing gears during

the race. Be sure to listen to your body and take one or two rest days per week (or as needed).

MCCS also offers plenty of resources for triathletes of all ages to train and learn ways to improve their sport. For children ages 9 to 13, the TriKids TriCamp May 22 to 25

Clockwise: Thomas Alan Smilie, Sarah Head

photooftheweek

On your off day from training, slow down and appreciate the sealife instead of racing through it.

will introduce the basics of triathlon to young athletes. MCCS aquatics offers swim lessons, swim leagues and swim camps for swimmers of all levels. See mccsokinawa.com/ aquatics and mccsokinawa.com/ semperfit for more.

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spotlight

more

information

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Thomas Alan Smilie, Maridav/bigstock.com

Each base offers Yoga at various times throughout the week.

Got to mccsokinawa.com/ groupfitness to see what style of yoga is offered when and where.

Sunset Yoga at the Habu Pit

ne of the many pleasures we get to experience on Okinawa are the beautiful sunsets. As the sun dips below the horizon, a kaleidoscope of colors fade in and fade out of each other, giving viewers a small glimpse of the majesty of nature. Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, sunsets may have psychological benefits as well. Researchers have found viewing a sunset has connections to emotional well-being, concern for others, and satisfaction in life. One theory posited is how gratitude and spiritual outlook may be heightened when someone stops to appreciate a sunset. Simply taking a moment to look at the beauty of nature allows you to pause your thoughts and be present in the moment. Furthermore, mindfulness promotes health throughout our bodies, and people who actively practice gratitude and appreciation have been shown to have longer

telomeres, the protein on the end of chromosomes linked to aging.

The Habu Pit on MCAS Futenma is offering the perfect opportunity to appreciate the end of a day with a sunset as you flow through yoga poses. On April 20, guests are invited to the patio of the Habu Pit at 5:30 p.m. to enjoy a Vinyasa Flow Yoga class while overlooking the East China

Sea. This FREE event is open to all DOD ID cardholders, and light refreshments will be provided after.

Access for the patio is on the side of the building. Restaurant access will not be granted for those in PT gear, so please make sure to use the side entrance. For more information, call 636-3091, or go to mccsokinawa. com/habupit.

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tours+

adventure begins here Japanese Tea Ceremony April 21, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Adults $35, Children (3–11) $28 (under 3) FREE Experience a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. After tea, enjoy lunch and shopping on Kokusai Street.

Okinawa World and Habu Museum April 22, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Adults $36, Children (4–15) $23 (under 4) FREE Tour Gyokusendo Cave, enjoy an eisa drum show, a glass blowing center, a pottery village, awamori shop and the Habu museum.

Lily Festival on Ie Island April 22 & 23, 7 a.m.–5 p.m.

Adults $46, Children (6–11) $35, (3–5) $11 (under 3) FREE Enjoy the spectacular view of over one million lilies. Lily Field Park will host an assortment of fun with a variety local shows and food booths.

Shuri Castle and Naha April 23, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Adults $23, Children (3–11) $16 (under 3) FREE Tour this 15th century castle, once home to Ryukyu Kings. Have lunch and enjoy shopping on Kokusai Street and then spend the rest of the afternoon at Fukushu-en Garden and Naminoue Shinto Shrine.

*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

B League Basketball Tournament Ryukyu Golden Kings vs.

Sea Horse Mikawa April 15, 7 p.m. & April 16, 6 p.m.

Okinawa City Gym, Okinawa City Call Tours+ at 646-3502 for tickets.

Athletics/Adult Sports

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

Motobu Handmade Market April 16, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Motobu Town Market Motobu Town FREE

Japanese Cutting Art (Kirie) Exhibition April 13–16, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Urasoe Art Museum, Urasoe City Adults ¥900, Children (13–18) ¥700, (7–12) ¥500

upcoming semperfitevents Southern Camp Commander’s Cup Softball Tournament April 21–23 MCAS Futenma Softball Field Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by April 17 at 1 p.m. This event is open to teams on Camps Kinser, Foster and MCAS Futenma. By-laws and tournament bracket schedule for this event will be emailed.

Top two teams will receive awards. Details: 636-2672.

Flag Football Softball Tournament April 28–30 Gunners Fitness Center Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by 1 p.m. on April 24 for $120. This event is open to teams island-wide. By-laws and tournament bracket schedule for this event will be emailed. Top three teams will receive awards. Details: 645-4866/3003.

classof theweek Body Blast This class is designed to build strength, increase endurance and burn body fat. Each class will focus on training major muscle groups using a variety of strength training equipment in a fun and motivating atmosphere. Appropriate for ALL fitness levels.

Camp Foster For a full group fitness schedule, visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness.