August 11, 2016 • mccsokinawa.com
Thomas Alan Smilie
H
ear that? It's the booming sounds of drums and the pleasant twang of the sanshin (a threestringed banjo), accompanied by strident voices of young Okinawan dancers warming up for their eisa performances—it's time for Obon on Okinawa. Eisa, the dance traditionally performed during Obon, has been a summertime mainstay on the island for hundreds of years. Obon is one of the more important holidays to the people of Japan and Okinawa—many here believe that deceased ancestors are allowed to visit the homes of their families during the three-day “festival of the dead.” Eisa is performed during Obon to honor and welcome returning ancestral spirits and send them back to their resting places with the thunderous sounds of taiko drums. Preparations for Obon are quite extensive. The butsudan (the family altar) and the home must be cleared and cleaned to welcome both living and deceased relatives, food is prepared and gifts purchased. During these three days,
inside
the living enjoy time with their ancestors’ spirits. The first day is Unke, or the “welcoming day.” On Unke, the doors of the home containing the butsudan (prepared with offerings of food and drink) are opened to welcome the spirits. Lanterns are lit to help spirits find their way, and family members stand at the door to welcome spirits when darkness falls. Nakanohi, or the “middle day,” is spent visiting the family butsudan, bringing gifts called ochûgen (usually daily staples such as rice, katsuobushi, or tea) and seeing more distant relatives’ butsudan, too. Ûkui, or the “escorting day,” is the final day of Obon. Lavish farewell dinners are prepared and placed in special boxes called jyûbako. Living family members light incense, pray for protection from bad luck and often beg forgiveness for not visiting more often. With burning incense in the butsudan, the final feast commences. Meals of scraps and weeds are prepared for the departing spirits. These meals, along with offerings
"HITT" the Water with AMP-IT! | 3 Body by You Boot Camp | 3 Culture Corner: Mountain Day | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5
"Obon is one of the more important holidays to the people of Japan and Okinawa..." including “spirit money,” are gifted to ancestral spirits during ceremonies held late at night to send them back to their resting places—accompanied by the spirited sounds of eisa dancing. This year Obon is August 15 through 17. A brand-new Japanese holiday is also celebrated this week, Mountain Day. For more information, read “Culture Corner” and our “Pick of the Week” on pages 5 and 7.
Pick of the Week: Okinawa's "Fuji" | 7 Dare to Test Your Limits | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11
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livingatlarge
“HITT” the Water with AMP-IT!
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MP-IT (Aquatic Maximum Power Intensity Training) is the water version of the Marine Corps’ popular HITT (HighIntensity Tactical Training) program. This isn’t just another water aerobics class. Classes last about an hour and are held in the deep end of the pool, requiring participants to tread water continuously (participants are assisted by suspension belts). Sound harsh? Well, it’s much tougher than it sounds. The AMP-IT workout encompasses a variety of high-intensity activities designed to increase strength and cardiovascular endurance which will help to improve PFT scores, reduce the risk of injury and facilitate recovery. Since it is a non-weight bearing program, AMP-IT reduces stress on joints and bones, making it accessible to injured Marines. To get this training directly to the troops, specially trained Sem-
per Fit instructors will teach Marines how to incorporate AMPIT into their unit PT through an AMP-IT Train the Trainer Course. During this training, they will learn how to facilitate this aquatics workout into combat-specific strength
training and conditioning curriculum for their units. AMP-IT is currently offered at the Camp Hansen pool Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:15–6:15 a.m. For more information on AMP-IT, call 645-3180.
events&happenings
Top: Lance Cpl. Alejandro Bedoya, bottom: dolgachov/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, Kirsten Wong, Katherine Melrose, Jenessa Reutov Broadcast | Kathlene Millette, Gabriel Archer, Emi Komiya MARKETING INTERN | A'Lexus Johnson
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.
Body by You Boot Camp
f you’re having a hard time kickstarting your workout regimen but want to start burning some serious calories, Body By You Boot Camp may be the right place to start. Working out in a group can help you stick with a routine and form supportive friendships to keep you on target. It also adds a new level of challenge and interest. This boot camp can lead to stronger muscles, increased endurance and reaching your fitness goals sooner. With hard work and a dedicated mindset you can lose inches, gain muscle and feel great about your positive lifestyle change. With this class under your belt, it will be easy to get rid of unhealthy habits and those extra inches. Classes will be held at Gunners Fitness Center on Camp Foster, Ironworks Fitness Center on Camp Courtney and the Camp Kinser Fitness Center from September 12 to
November 4. Register by September 2 at the fitness center where you would like to attend. For times and cost, call MCCS Health Promotion
at 645-3910 or stop by your nearest participating fitness center. Visit mccsokinawa.com/wellness for additional details.
This publication printed with
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japanese phrase
culturecorner
of the week
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Obake nanka kowakunai I ain’t ‘fraid of no ghost.
Clockwise from the top left: SkillsUp/bigstock.com, Nicholas Han/bigstock.com
For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.
Mountain Day
apan has 16 national holidays, the most among the eight major powers in the world, and they've just added another one to the list: Yama no Hi, or Mountain Day—which is an annual holiday, starting this year, on August 11. In 2014, Japan’s authorities approved the proposal of Mountain Day as a new public holiday. The purpose of Mountain Day is to give workers a much-deserved break from work to spend time with their family and friends and appreciate the mountains. Japanese workers have the longest work weeks compared to any other industrial nation and have very few vacation days. According to Public Holidays Global, Mountain Day is also used as a way to release stress because poor health and suicide rates are high among the Japanese workforce.
Mountain Day reflects Japan’s belief in Shintoism. Shintoism is the dominant religion in Japan, and they believe that any object can possess energy or life. Their gods reside in natural objects such as bodies of water, trees and mountains. Over 75% of Okinawa is covered in hills and small
mountains, so there are many from which to pick. Celebrate with Japan on August 11 or use the weekend (since, sadly, we do not rate that holiday). Read our "Pick of the Week" to find a small island mountain to climb in honor of the holiday. —A’Lexus Johnson, Marketing Intern
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
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Mt. Motobu Fuji
GPS coordinates: 26.674658, 127.912170 These coordinates lead to the parking lot for Mt. Motobu Fuji.
Okinawa’s “Fuji”
s a mountainous country and a country that embraces Shinto beliefs, Mountain Day (Yama no Hi—the newest holiday) fits right into Japan. According to the legislation, Mountain Day is a chance for the Japanese public “to get familiar with mountains and appreciate blessings from mountains.” Hiking Mt. Fuji may seem like the perfect way to celebrate, but that is a big time and financial commitment. Not everyone can drop everything and climb the beast, and you'd be fighting crowds. So, let’s cover how to celebrate on Okinawa. Okinawa is no exception to the “mountainous country” thing; as we covered in “Culture Corner,” the majority of Okinawa is hilly. If you just want to drive around and pick a mountain to climb, you probably won’t have to drive too far. However, if your heart was set on Fuji, good news—Okinawa has its own “Fuji.” It’s Motobu Fuji, located in (you guessed it) Motobu.
It’s not the tallest "mountain" on the island, but it does have one of the best view at the top, with a stunning view of Ie Island and sometimes even Hedo. It’s not the real Fuji, but don’t underestimate it. It is still difficult as the trail is covered in those hard moon-like rocks called karst. Make sure you
Photos from top: Dudarev Mikhail/bigstock.com, Thomas Alan Smilie
photooftheweek
Eisa dancers perform throughout Okinawa during Obon to welcome ancestral spirits.
go with at least two friends and watch for Habu, thorny vines and falls—the rocks can be pretty unforgiving. Also, be sure someone knows where you are going and about how long you’ll be gone (the hike itself takes about an hour, maybe a little longer one way). Happy Mountain Day!
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more details
Clockwise from left: .shock/bigstock.com, astropix/bigstock.com
For more information, call 6452211 or visit mccsokinawa.com/ aquatics or facebook.com/mccsokinawa.aquatics.
spotlight Dare to Test Your Limits
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est your swimming skills and sign up your four-person swim team to compete in a daring two-hour relay race at the Distance Dare Relay. Each team will clamber through 400M until the two hours are up. The goal is to cover
the most distance within that twohour time limit—a real test of speed and endurance. This free event will take place at the Camp Foster 50M Pool on August 20 from 7 to 10:30 a.m. To participate, teams must sign up
at the Camp Foster 50M Pool before the day of the event. Participation will be limited to the first 20 teams. The top eight finishing teams within each division and age group earn ribbons.
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tours+
adventure begins here 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. Shuri Castle & Naha August 14, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $20, Children (3–11) $13, (under 3) FREE Tour the 15th century castle, once home of the Ryukyu kings. Spend the rest of the afternoon at the beautiful Fukushuen Garden and Naminoue Shinto Shrine.
Kouri Island Fun at the Beach* August 14, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $23, Children (3–11) $16 (under 3) FREE Join us on an exciting adventure to Kouri Island. We’ll begin by exploring the Kouri Shell Museum with over 10,000 shellfish from around the world. After the museum, we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch and spend the remainder of the day exploring the beach. Manza Submarine & Lunch August 19, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $51, Children (4–12) $30, (3) $23 (under 3) FREE View the spectacular sea life from the comfort of a submarine. Enjoy a buffet at Aquabelle, and take a dip in the ocean or relax on the resort’s beautiful beach.
*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 11–28, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Urasoe Art Museum, Urasoe City Tickets: under 6 FREE, ¥800 (7–15), ¥1.200 (7–15)
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
Ogimi Summer Festival August 13–14, 1–9 p.m. Shioya Fishing Port, Ogimi Village
All Okinawa Bullfighting Summer Tournaments August 14, noon Ishikawa Multi-purpose Dome, Uruma City Tickets: ¥3,000
upcoming semperfitevents Open Triathlon August 21 MCAS Futenma 25M Pool Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by 1 p.m. on August 15 for $20 (limited to 175 participants). Non-SOFA participants must register by August 8. The mandatory participants’ brief will be held onsite at 7:45 a.m. This event is open to participants island-wide. Awards will be given to top three finishers. Details: 636-2672.
Northern Camps Commanders’ Cup Flag Football August 19–21 Camp Hansen House of Pain Parade Deck Register for FREE at any MCCS Fitness Center by 1 p.m. on August 15. Tournament schedule and rules will be emailed to each participant. This event is open to Marine and Navy unit teams at the O-5 level and below from Camps Courtney, Hansen and Schwab. Awards will be given to top two teams. Details: 6235569/5558.
classof theweek Zumba Zumba features aerobic interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body. It targets the glutes, legs, arms and the abdominals. Dancing skills are not necessary. Camps Courtney, Foster, Kinser, Hansen and Schwab Visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness for a full schedule.