August 4, 2016 • mccsokinawa.com
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T
hough summer break for American students is nearing an end, the Japanese school year— which starts in April and ends in March—is in full swing. In Japan, students must pass an entrance exam before getting accepted into high school (high school is not mandatory in Japan, but about 90 percent of children attend). This usually translates into students enrolling in cram schools (juku). Juku is school after school. A 12-hour day of schooling isn’t uncommon in Japan. For a student to get into a good college, he or she needs to
inside
get into a good high school. So, the education and decisions of a junior high schooler have a significant impact on their future. High school introduces vocational studies such as agriculture, art and engineering. High schools in Japan are ranked, much like American universities are, for their strengths in certain programs. Students often aim to be accepted into a school that ranks high in the area they want to pursue. Sound stressful? In addition to all of this, Japanese summer vacation is a mere four to five weeks and comes with homework.
EFMP's Lumpia Making Class | 3 Education Centers' Open Houses | 3 Culture Corner: Japanese Backpacks | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5
"If you’re looking to get back into school, check out page 3..."
If you’re looking to get back into school, check out page 3 for details on MCCS Education Centers' Open Houses, or visit mccsokinawa.com/ educationandcareerservices.
Pick of the Week: Hotel Moon Beach | 7 EFMP Play and Learn | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11
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livingatlarge
EFMP’s Lumpia Making Class
E
verybody loves lumpia. Most people could eat lumpia every day. Why don’t they? Unfortunately, it’s not the most easily accessible food out there. You can’t simply walk into any convenience store and pick up a pile of piping-hot and crispy lumpia for lunch. And thus, we have
our dilemma: we want more lumpia, but we can’t always have more. But there is a way to have a seemingly unlimited amount of lumpia—make it yourself! If you know how to make your own lumpia, well, that’s sort of like printing your own money. Join the
Exceptional Family Member Program’s (EFMP) Lumpia Making Class on August 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Register by August 17 to claim your spot. For details or to register call 645-9237.
Questions? Comments? Please e-mail OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
events&happenings
Top: Paul_Brighton/bigstock.com, bottom: ismagilov/bigstock.com
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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, 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 | Kathlene Millette, Gabriel Archer, Emi Komiya MARKETING INTERN | A'Lexus Johnson
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.
Education Centers’ Open Houses
f you’re considering starting or going back to college but aren’t sure where to begin, there are plenty of resources for you to find out everything you need to know about going back to school. The MCCS Education Centers provide current and prospective students with all the tools they need for success. To see what is available on the island, visit one of the Education Centers’ Open Houses on Camps Foster and Hansen. Camp Hansen’s event will be on August 16, and Camp Foster’s will be on August 18. Both are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. At the open house, you will meet representatives from local colleges and universities like University of Maryland University College (UMUC), Central Texas College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautic University, Troy and more. Learn about the resources that the educa-
tion centers have to offer including guidance counseling, career and education planning, GI Bill information, military tuition assistance and more.
For more information, call your nearest participating education center or visit mccsokinawa.com/ educationandcareerservices. This publication printed with
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japanese phrase
culturecorner
of the week
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Yachatta. Oops, I did it again.
Clockwise from the top left: Starfrenzy/bigstock.com, whitefeather/bigstock.com
For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.
Japanese Backpacks
ou’ve seen them while driving home from work—the adorable Japanese kids dressed in their uniforms racing home from school. Or maybe you’ve seen them in the mornings, begrudgingly headed to school, but somehow looking so polished. How is it that everything matches so well? Even their backpacks—usually the bane of school outfits—are tidy and fashionable. These modern-yettraditional backpacks that match everything are called randoseru. Randoseru are backpacks used by Japanese elementary school children. They first appeared in Japan as a backpack for commissioned officers in the Imperial Army at the end of the Meiji Period. It’s now part of the children’s school uniforms. It’s a gift often given by grandparents, as these backpacks are not
cheap—running anywhere from $250 to $600! However, they’re usually made of sturdy leather, and one randoseru is expected to last a child from their first year of elementary school through sixth grade. Traditionally, boys carried black and girls used red, but the backpacks
are now available in a variety of colors. The popularity of randoseru is growing. Tourists often buy one when visiting Japan, and they are even available for purchase online. In Okinawa, you can find randoseru at Japanese department stores like San A and Aeon.
If you have any burning questions about Japanese culture, please send them to OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
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getting there
pickoftheweek
H
Hotel Moon Beach Drive north on Hwy. 58 into Onna Village. You will see signs for the hotel and beach on your left. GPS coordinates: 26.495211, 127.794658
Hotel Moon Beach
ow is it already August? The days of staying up late, sleeping in and family beach days any day are ending. You know what that means. Summer is coming to a close, and in a few weeks, you will commence waking up at 6 a.m. (or earlier—yikes!) to get the kids ready for school and spend your afternoons involved in afterschool activities, homework and studying. But don’t think about school starting just yet. You do have a few more weeks, so why not enjoy one last mini “staycation,” and we have just the place: Hotel Moon Beach located in Onna Village. Hotel Moon Beach is a beautiful resort surrounding a crescentshaped beach. Book a room of your choice—Western, Japanese or Residential Club, and enjoy views of either the beach or the surrounding Onna Village. Enjoy Japanese food from a café, terrace or restaurant from one of their
restaurants: Corallo, Yuragi-Zuki, Lanai or Voile. This resort offers a variety of water activities and facilities such as a heated swimming pool, Japanese bath house and a fitness center. If you have finished your plans at the hotel, arrange an adventure to nearby sightseeing spots such as castles, capes and vil-
lages such as Manzamo, Churaumi Aquarium or Cape Maeda. Pack your bags and book a room, or just go for an afternoon of relaxation at Hotel Moon Beach for a final staycation before the school year begins. —A’Lexus Johnson, Marketing Intern
Photos courtesy of Hotel Moon Beach.
photooftheweek
Hotel Moon Beach is one of the longest-standing resorts on island for good reason. From the pristine beach and classy facilities, Moon Beach leaves nothing to be desired.
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more details
spotlight EFMP Play and Learn &
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Are you transitioning to a new duty station with a family member with special needs? EFMP is hosting an “Exceptionally Smooth Move Workshop” on August 12 at the Camp Foster Education Center. Contact EFMP at 645-9237 for more details.
F
or young children, play accomplishes many things. It’s how they learn. It’s how they bond. It’s how they interact with the world. For these reasons, incorporating play into your child’s life is an important factor in his or her growth. Seems like a charmed life, when your main priority is playing. But that’s one of the benefits of being a
parent—playing becomes your priority, too, because who else is your little baby going to play with? Babies have no friends. At the Exceptional Family Member Program Play and Learn event, parents and their children under 4 will spend quality play time with each other and other children. Maybe babies can make friends after
all. EFMP Play and Learn is held every first and third Wednesday at the Camp Foster Library and every second Wednesday at the Camp Kinser Marine and Family Programs building. All Play and Learn events are from 10–11 a.m. Call EFMP at 645-9237 or visit mccsokinawa.com/efmp for details.
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tours+
adventure begins here Yanbaru Mangrove Kayaking August 7, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Adults $55, Children (6–12) $33 Get your muscles moving while kayaking between the roots of mangrove trees for approximately two-and-a-half hours Farm & Fish Market* August 13, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Adults $20, Children (3–11) $13 (under 3) FREE The best food is what’s grown closest to you! Shop the freshest foods available on Okinawa at the JA Farmers’ Market, Vege Vege Store and Mini Zoo. The last stop is the Payao Fish Market to explore or buy a variety of fresh seafood and enjoy a delicious lunch.
Tea Ceremony with Kimono Dressing* August 12, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $48, Children (3–11) $38 Take part in a traditional tea ceremony that includes the preparation and presentation of matcha, the customary powdered green tea served around Japan.Afterwards, travel to Naha Main Place for lunch and shopping. Battle Sites Tour* August 13, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $28, Children (3–11) $18 (under 3) FREE Visit Kakazu Ridge, explore the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters and end the day at Peace Memorial Park.
*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
Super Planetarium Mega Stars August 4–28, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Urasoe Museum, Urasoe City Tickets: FREE (under 6), ¥800 (7–15), ¥1,200 (over 15)
Proud sponsor of MCCS Youth Sports
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
Ginowan Hagoromo Festival August 6–7, 3–9 p.m. (Fireworks start at 8:50 p.m.) Ginowan Kaihin Park, Ginowan City
10,000 Eisa Festival August 7, 1–6 p.m. Kokusai Street, Naha City
upcoming semperfitevents Southern Commanders’ Cup Flag Football Tournament August 12–14 Camp Kinser’s DoDDS Soccer Field & Field #4 Register for FREE at any MCCS Fitness Center on Camps Foster, Kinser or MCAS Futenma by 1 p.m. on August 8. Tournament schedule and rules will be emailed to each participant. This event is open to eligible units on Camps Foster, Kinser and MCAS Futenma. Awards will be given to top two teams. Details: 637-1869.
Open 6-on-6 Soccer Tournament August 19–21 Camp Kinser’s DoDDS Soccer Field & Field #4 Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by 1 p.m. on August 15 for $90. Tournament schedule and rules will be emailed to each participant. This event is open to participants island-wide. Awards will be given to top three teams. Details: 637-1869.
classof theweek Yoga Yoga features a series of balance, strength and flexibility poses and movements that will connect your body, mind and spirit. Build physical and mental muscle! Camps Kinser, Foster, Courtney and Hansen Visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness for a full schedule.