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May 14, 2015 • mccsokinawa.com
okinawalivingweekly Ryukyu Glass
Clockwise from the top right: monkeybusinessimages/bigstock.com, Thomas Alan Smilie
Dive in with the Dolphins
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hough Ryukyu glass is a well known Okinawan gem today, it was not always a recognized craft. One of the main raw materials for making glass is silica sand, something that is not naturally found on the island. Okinawa has many beaches, but the tiny grains found on the shore are actually coral, not silica. After WWII, there was an abundance of used glass cola bottles that were brought to the island by the United States military. Artists collected these bottles to use as a raw material in glass blowing, melting them down to make new hand-blown glass items. Ryukyu glass became known for its vibrant bluegreen hue created by the recycled bottles. By using the
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recycled materials, bubbles would form within the glass. Instead of looking at the bubbles as a defect, the craftsmen employed them as a design aesthetic. The unique and one-of-a-kind appeal of the glass made them so popular that many people started asking for custom glass to be made for them. When the artists did not have enough materials on hand, customers would bring them used cola bottles. For a truly original and handmade keepsake, check out Ryukyu glassware. Tourists can visit the Nago Glass Factory as part of the Tours+ Northern Highlights Tour. For details, please see page 7 or visit mccsokinawa.com/tours.
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hen the air feels warmer and wetter, it means only one thing—summer is on the way. What’s the best way to cool off this summer while doing something both exciting and challenging? Join the Okinawa Dolphins Swim Team (ODST)! Spring and summer swim seasons run from May 26 to July 19. Tryouts for the ODST will be held on May 19 and 20 (4–5:30 p.m.), 26 and 27 (2:30–2:55 p.m. & 5:15–5:30 p.m.) and June 15 (7:30–7:55 a.m. & 10:20–10:30 a.m.) at the 50M pool. Tryouts are for new members 7 and older only. To make the team, swimmers must complete a minimum of two 25 meter non-stop swims using front crawl and any of the other three competitive styles (back crawl, breaststroke or butterfly) with no outside assistance. For more information, call 6452787 or visit mccsokinawa.com/ swimteam.
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