May 12, 2016 • mccsokinawa.com
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ccording to legend, Naha Port (then called Madanbashi) was once the site of numerous sea dragon attacks. One morning, the small fishing village was devastated by a sea dragon. Despite the villagers’ best efforts, Madanbashi was flattened and a number of its citizens were consumed by the sea beast. The king visited the village when he heard of these attacks. During his visit, the sea dragon returned. As the villagers scattered to salvage what remained of their homes, a local noro (priestess) recalled a dream she had— the king was to stand in front of the beast and raise his ceramic shîsâ (lion-dog) necklace towards the dragon. The noro passed these
inside
instructions on to a boy named Chiga who informed the king of what he had to do. As the king faced the monster with the small talisman, a gift from a Chinese emissary, the figurine cracked open and a real lion-dog of epic proportions sprang forth with a tremendous roar that shook the sands and seas for many miles around. Some legends state that the shîsâ battled with the serpent. Others insist that it was the initial roar of the shîsâ, which caused a boulder to fall onto the dragon, killing it. But all assert that the island still located in Naha Bay today—Ganna-mui—is all that remains of the evil sea creature. As the legend of the shîsâ spread throughout the kingdom, other villages made cari-
An Arabian Night | 3 Trikids, Minikids & Women’s Triathlons | 3 Culture Corner: Sayonara | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5
“Naha Port...was once the site of numerous sea dragon attacks.” catures of the charm and placed them at the entrances of their dwellings for protection. Since that fateful day Okinawans make effigies of the fierce lion-dogs in pairs and place them on or near their homes for protection from evil spirits.
Pick of the Week: Shîsâ Dog Park | 7 Save a Life While Reading a Book | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11
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livingatlarge
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An Arabian Night
xperience an Arabian Night here on Okinawa as Tengan Castle on Camp Courtney serves Middle Eastern dishes and live entertainment. Whether you have a deep love for Middle Eastern fare, have never had the opportunity to taste this rich and savory cuisine or just want to watch a live belly dancing show, Arabian Night will fulfill your wishes. This event will be held on Camp Courtney at Tengan Castle on Saturday, May 28 from 6 to 10 p.m. Tengan Castle offers the opportunity to satisfy your appetite with classic Middle Eastern dishes. Start off the evening with rishta addis (lentil soup) and an array of delicious foods such as tabouleh (bulgar wheat salad with herbs). Along with these appetizers there will be a carving station featuring a whole roasted lamb, with several types of grilled shish kebabs, chicken, beef and shrimp. The entrees include kofta (beef meatballs with herbs), tajine (swordfish with lemon preserve and olives), kouski bil
djaj (couscous with chicken and vegetables) and more. A feast would not be complete without the perfect dessert. You can have your pick of basbousa (semolina cake soaked with rose-scented syrup), osmaliyeh (Lebanese bread pudding with apricots, dates and pistachios) and baklava (sweet flaky pastry made
with phyllo dough, chopped nuts and sweetened syrup). Tickets are on sale now at Tengan Castle and Ocean Breeze for $35. This is an adults-only event. Enjoy a night of food and dance unlike any other on Okinawa. For more information, call Tengan Castle at 622-9413 or visit mccsokinawa.com/tengancastle.
events&happenings
Top: Alan and Vicena Poulson/bigstock.com, bottom: valdore/bigstock.com
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Trikids, Minikids & Women’s Triathlons
unning and biking and swimming—the holy trinity of athleticism. While practicing these activities individually requires stamina, there is no better way to test your endurance than doing all three back-toback. Regardless of whether you’re an experienced triathlete or are training for your first one, come out for this fun event for kids and women. The age brackets for each group are: Trikids, 7 to 14 years old; Minikids, under 11 years old; Women, 13 years and older. On June 18, a trikids and minikids triathlon will be held on Camp Kinser. Participants must register by June 15. On July 23, a trikids, minikids and women’s only triathlon will be held on Camp Foster. Participants must register by July 20. All races are from 6 to 9 a.m. Race distances for trikids are 50 to 200 meter swim, 2 to 4 kilometer bike and 1
to 2 kilometer run. The distances for the minikids are 25 meter swim, 200 to 300 meter bike and 50 to 100 meter run. Women’s race distances are 200 meter swim, 2 to 4 kilometer bike and 1 to 2 kilometer run.
Chief Marketing Officer | Jim Kassebaum Managing Editor | Caylee Reid Art Director | Catherine Newquist Cultural Research Specialist | Ayako Kawamitsu Graphic Arts Manager | Henry Ortega Graphic Designers | Margie Shimabukuro, Lisa Miyagi, Kelli Davis, Hector Nieves 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 | Jennifer Dowd, Marissa DeSmet, Ashley Herring, Katherine Melrose, Jenessa Reutov 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.
Registration for each race opens two weeks prior to the event at mccsokinawa.com/aquatics or facebook. com/mccsokinawa.trikids. This publication printed with
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japanese phrase
culturecorner
of the week
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Mou nenasai Go to sleep already For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.
Sayonara
t’s almost Permanent Change of Station (PCS) season. A few friends have probably already trickled off the island and others are gearing up—if you’re not leaving yourself. Before you come out here, people tell you how Okinawa is one of those special duty stations. You become family with the other people out here, your own little raft boat in the Pacific. But then, the military happens, as it always does—and they leave. Or you leave. Sigh. Such is life. However, amid this season of moves, the Japanese have the perfect word that encapsulates this feeling of loss and sadness—basically the equivalent of “parting is such sweet sorrow!” In Japanese, you don’t say “goodbye” unless you’re leaving for a long time. When you are simply leaving the house for the day, off for work or play, you say to anyone in the house, “Itte kimasu” (ee-tay kee-mahs). It means,
roughly, “I’ll be back” or “I am going and coming.” The reply to this phrase is “Itte irasshai” (ee-tay ee-rah-shy) literally meaning, “Please go and come.” There are a whole slew of different phrases for different good-byes: mata ne (mah-tah nay) or jaa ne (jah nay) meaning “see you later,” ki wo tsukete meaning “take care,” or mata ashita meaning “see you tomorrow.” And this is by no means an exhaustive list.
But when someone is leaving for a very long time, maybe so long that you will never see them again, the Japanese have the perfect word: Sayonara. This means more than goodbye. This word, literally translated, means: “If it must be so.” If you're leaving this summer, sayonara from all of us at Okinawa Living Weekly— even when we would much rather it be “mata ne.”
Clockwise from the top left: ProVectors/bigstock.com, wrangel/bigstock.com
If you have any burning questions about Japanese culture, please send them to OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
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getting there
Ginowan
Coordinates: 26°16'45.7"N 127°44'18.6"E
pickoftheweek
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Shîsâ Dog Park
hîsâ dogs are prominent symbols here in Okinawa. Their purpose is to keep the bad spirits out and the good ones in. There are numerous legends about how Shîsâ dogs gained their fame (see page 1 of this issue for more), but one thing is for sure, they are everywhere on Okinawa. These lion-dog statues are seen throughout the island and come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They are mostly found standing guard on roofs or at the entrances to homes and shops, but why not turn one into a giant playground where kids can play? The Shîsâ Dog Park, located in Ginowan, is there for that. This park is the perfect playground for kids. The shîsâ’s body is designed for endless fun and jungle-gym type activities. One front leg has a ladder to climb into the body, where you can run around inside the mouth. There’s a bridge from its mouth throughout the body also. One of its front legs and back legs each have a
slide. Although this giant lion-dog statue may be irresistible, it’s difficult for adults to play around in it, due to short roofs and small entrances. If playing around on the Shîsâ dog gets old, there is an open grassy field around it, where you can play catch, tag, or any other fun playground
games. There are also restrooms in the park. The Shîsâ Dog Park is a great way to spend a day with your family, let your kids run crazy, and experience rich, Okinawan culture at the same time. —Skylor Stevens
Thomas Alan Smilie
photooftheweek
These underground corridors and shrapnel-scarred rooms served as the Japanese Naval headquarters during WWII. See this thought-provoking site on the Battle Sites Tour with Tours+ on May 14 (more info on page 11).
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more details
Clockwise from the left: argus456/bigstock.com, dolgachov/bigstock.com
To learn more information about the blood donation drive, please call 645-6453 or visit mccsokinawa.com/libraries.
spotlight
Save a Life While Reading a Book
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o you want to help someone this year, maybe even save a life? Now is your chance to give back by becoming a blood donor. Blood banks require a constant supply of donated blood every day in order to maintain the amount needed to give blood transfusions to patients due to severe illness or injury. It is a simple, easy process to donate and just one
pint of blood could save up to three lives. A blood drive will be held at three different MCCS libraries: the Camp Schwab Library on May 18, the Camp Foster Library on May 19 and the Camp Hansen Library on May 20. All blood drives run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is open to all SOFA status personnel over 18 who are eligible to donate blood.
If you choose to donate blood, make sure that you are well hydrated and have eaten a properly balanced meal so that your iron levels are not too low. Some people may be ineligible to donate blood due to a recent deployment, having lived in certain countries or having received a blood transfusion.
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tours+
adventure begins here Battle Sites Tour May 14, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $28, Children (3–11) $18 (under 3) FREE Visit the Battle of Okinawa Historical Society Museum, explore the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters and end the day at Peace Prayer Park. Shuri Castle & Naha May 15, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $23, Children (3–11) $16 (under 3) FREE Tour the ancient 15th century castle, once home of the Ryukyu kings. Shuri is the only standing castle remaining on Okinawa. Spend the rest of the afternoon at the beautiful Fukushu Garden and Naminoue Shinto Shrine.
Pizza in the Sky & Nakijin Castle May 15, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $23, Children (3–11) $16 (under 3) FREE Visit the famous “Pizza in the Sky” café located in the hilly area of Motobu Village. Overlook the beautiful ocean view as you enjoy a delicious meal of pizza and salad. Afterwards, stop by the Nakijin Castle Ruins to learn the history of the Ryukyu Islands. Kerama Snorkeling May 21, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $73, Children (4–11) $41 Grab your fins and get ready for some fun! The tour includes a boat ride to two snorkeling spots in the breathtaking Kerama Islands.
*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
Naminoue Shrine Festival May 14, 1–5 p.m. May 15, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Naminoue Shrine Naha City FREE
Proud sponsor of MCCS Youth Sports
Athletics/Adult Sports
Clockwise from left: Talenkasm/bigstock.com, mikeledray/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
Night Insect Observation Tour May 12–June 24, 6:30–9 p.m. (Saturdays and Sundays only) Bios on the Hill, Uruma City By reservation only, call 098-965-3400 Tickets: Adults ¥1,500 Children (4–11) ¥1,000
Motobu Handmade Crafts Market May 15, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Motobu Town Market Motobu Town FREE
upcoming semperfitevents Open 6 vs. 6 Soccer Tournament May 20–22 Gunners Fitness Center Athletic Fields #1 & #6 Register at any MCCS fitness center by 1 p.m. on May 16 for $90 per team. The tournament rules and schedule will be emailed to each participant. This event is open to participants island-wide. Awards will be given to top three teams and individuals. Details: 645-3003.
Open Memorial Day Weekend Basketball May 27–29 Camp Hansen House of Pain Fitness Center Register at any MCCS fitness center by 1 p.m. on May 23 for $100 per team. The tournament rules and schedule will be emailed to each participant. This event is open to participants island-wide. Awards will be given to top three individuals and teams. Details: 623-5569/5558.
classof theweek Insanity® Insanity is maximumintensity interval exercise. The class incorporates explosive movements which will help become a faster and quicker athlete. Camp Kinser Fitness Center For a full class schedule and times, visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness.