Okinawa Spotlight

January 11, 2018 · mccsokinawa.com

Kinser Festival, It's Back!

Bank Account got you like...

MCCS, Ingimage.com

I K

inser Festival is back! The much-anticipated fall festival postponed by a typhoon last October will now be taking place on Saturday and Sunday, January 27–28 from 1 to 9 p.m. both days.

Kinser Festival will be back full-strength as a winter fair with no shortage of food and drinks from local vendors, as well as Bulldogs Burgers, Hickory House BBQ Brisket and Chicken, sizzlin’ pizza and Kanpai Lounge for adult liquid refreshment. As with all MCCS Festivals, there will be Fun Land for the kids, plenty of game booths and amusement for all.

Kinser Festival will also feature FREE live enter-

inside

tainment and prize giveaways courtesy of Okinawa Grand Mer Resort, Kafuu Resort Fuchaku CONDO/ HOTEL and Elements.

Kinser Festival is open to all DoD ID card holders and Japanese. Patrons are asked to please leave their pets at home. Outside alcohol, bottles or coolers are prohibited; those choosing to drink should do so responsibly. Daiko and taxi services will be available for those wishing to enjoy adult beverages. For more information on this year’s Kinser Festival, call MCCS Special Events at 645-5828 or visit mccsokinawa.com/festivals.

Bank Account got you like... | 1 & 3 Cherry Blossom Scramble | 3 Mikan Picking Tour | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5

magine checking your bank account without cringing, getting rid of all your debts, not having to worry about your credit and always being able to choose where your money goes. So much weight would be lifted off your shoulders. Your clouded thoughts—agonized with stress—would clear as relaxation made its entrance with a smile.

Many would agree that this is the ultimate dream, better known as financial freedom.

The thing is, it doesn't have to be a dream. Gaining financial security is actually not that hard. However, most feel overwhelmed or make the mistake of assuming they have time to figure it out later. Yes, fixing your finances is a commitment, but once

Practically Neil Diamond | 7 Go Diving! | 9 MCCS Tours+ | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11

(cont. on page 3)

2 | OKINAWA SPOTLIGHT | January 11, 2018

3 | OKINAWA SPOTLIGHT | January 11, 2018

livingatlarge

Bank Account got you like... (cont. from page 1)

you get the hang of it you’ll quickly see that there’s nothing to be scared of. The only thing you should fear is what happens if you wait too long.

Don’t be the person who realizes the importance of being financially responsible after it’s too late. You’ll definitely regret it. Taking control of your life is your responsibility.

You’re probably tired of hearing it (and we’re tired of saying it), but you need to start planning for your future NOW! If you’re not sure where to begin, the Personal Financial Management (PFM) Program has experts ready to help! Also, PFM offers several workshops that provide the education and training you need to learn how to take control of your finances. For more information, call 645-2104 or visit mccsokinawa.com/mfp-r.

events&happenings

ingimage.com, bigstock.com/satariel

W

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER | Jim Kassebaum MANAGING EDITOR | Mike Daley ART DIRECTOR | Catherine Newquist CULTURAL RESEARCH SPECIALIST | Ayako Kawamitsu GRAPHIC ARTS MANAGER | Henry Ortega GRAPHIC DESIGNERS | Margie Shimabukuro, Lisa Miyagi, Hector Nieves, Jongeun Spencer WRITERS/EDITORS | Amanda Carrasquillo, Ashley Sablan DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER | Thomas Alan Smilie SOCIAL MEDIA | Shelbie Thilmony PHOTOGRAPHER | Roderica Mathis AD/SPONSORSHIP MANAGER | Roy Forster AD SALES | Yoshihiro Shinzato, Yoriko Yamashiro, Angela Neal, Athena Garcia DISTRIBUTION | Kelli Kreider, Desiree Adams MARKETING ACCOUNTS MANAGER | Andrew Menges ACCOUNTS & RESEARCH | Ashley Herring, Kristen Wong, Secoya Holmes, Ashley Snipes BROADCAST | Kathlene Millette, Gabriel Archer, Emi Komiya INTERNS | Koby Karl, Bailey McLauren

To advertise in Okinawa Spotlight, call 645-2245, fax 645-0975 or e-mail 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.

Cherry Blossom Scramble

intertime on Okinawa means crisp, cool and clear air…gentle breezes and low humidity—making it the best time of year for golf! Enjoy the season while getting your golf game on at the Taiyo Cherry Blossom Scramble on January 20. The entry fee is $20 per player, and the registration deadline is January 17. However, registration will close as soon as all slots are filled—so don’t wait until the last minute! As the name states, this will be a scramble event with no handicaps needed. The entry fee includes lunch following play.

The Taiyo Cherry Blossom Scramble will be a shotgun start event beginning at 7 a.m. Green and cart fees are not included in the registration fee. This event is sponsored by Elements. For more information on the scramble, call 622-2004/2006 (098 954-2004/2006 from off-base or a mobile phone). Visit Taiyo Golf Club online at mccsokinawa.com/golf.

This publication printed with

4 | OKINAWA SPOTLIGHT | January 11, 2018

“Please Call 098-932-4035”

5 | OKINAWA SPOTLIGHT | January 11, 2018

japanese phrase of the week

Ringo yori mikan ga suki.

I like mikan more than apples.

ingimage, Nataliia Tarasenko/bigstock.com

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

islandadventure

W

Mikan Picking Tour

hat’s a mikan you ask?

Known as “citrus unshiu” to a botanist and as a tasty, juicy, easy-peeling tangerine to almost everyone in Japan, these fruits are a harbinger of the winter season as trees located throughout northern Okinawa become heavily laden with the smallish spherical morsels of orange goodness as the temperature cools.

On Saturday, January 20, join Tours+ on a tangerine-dream of a tour from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to the Izumi Mikan Farm in northern Okinawa. There, travelers will be handed a bag and turned loose to pick juicy mikan—and eat all they want as they pick!

After everyone has picked to their heart’s content, they can take their spoils home to share with friends for ¥250 a kilogram. The next stop will be a buffet lunch at Yanbaru Ikoino-Mori. Adults can join in on the

mikan-picking adventure for $39.

The tour price for children 7-12 is $26, $23 for children 4-6 and FREE for kids under 4. The tour price includes admission to the farm and

lunch. Travelers should bring yen for extra purchases.

For more information on this tour, call 646-3502 or visit mccsokinawa. com/tours.

6 | OKINAWA SPOTLIGHT | January 11, 2018

7 | OKINAWA SPOTLIGHT | January 11, 2018

pickoftheweek

didyou know?

Jay White’s first passion was to play professional hockey as a goaltender. By the age of 21, he had appeared in a couple of semi-pro games in the IHL. He returned to the ice in his late 30's as a practice goalie for the IHL’s Las Vegas Thunder from 1994 to 1998.

Practically Neil Diamond

O

n January 26, enjoy a delicious four-course dinner and fantastic show that has been praised by Neil Diamond himself. The performance will be a 75-minute tribute by impersonator Jay White, who will leave you wondering how someone can create such a perfect illusion of Diamond's music and persona.

The event will be held at Butler

Officers’ Club. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and dinner (along with a complimentary glass of champagne) will be served at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will consist of a seafood cocktail, house salad, choice between a vegetarian or “surf & turf ” entrée and dessert sampler.

The performance will begin at 8 p.m. and include tableside bever-

age service during the show. Tickets are available at mccsokinawa. com/boc for $39.99 each. Tickets must be purchased before January 19 and are available while supplies last. For more information, call 645-7530 or visit mccsokinawa. com/boc.

ingimage.com, Thomas Alan Smilie

photooftheweek

Winter brings a beloved stew of tofu, boiled eggs, daikon, fish cakes and other ingredients to the shelves of Japanese convenience stores—oden.

8 | OKINAWA SPOTLIGHT | January 11, 2018

9 | OKINAWA SPOTLIGHT | January 11, 2018

indepth

didyou know?

Go Diving!

Y

ingimage.com

“Scuba” is actually an acronym that stands for “self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.”

ou’re living on a tropical treasure where it should be a crime to not explore the gorgeous world beneath the surface of the sea. The island’s crystal-clear waters will not only captivate you, but allow you to truly appreciate the stunning underwater seascapes it has to offer.

There’s plenty of opportunity to dive into. The first step is simple—getting your certification.

Actually, the first step is to head to Tsunami Scuba, where there’s a variety of equipment for every type of diver, and staff members eager to share their knowledge with you.

Also, Tsunami Scuba provides several classes taught by instructors who are fueled by their passion for diving.

In other words, you’ll learn from the best. Need a little more motivation?

Speak with a manager at one of our

Tsunami Scuba locations—any of them would be happy to assist you.

Our experts at Tsunami Scuba are ready to help you make 2018 a fulfilling year of underwater adventures!

For more information on MCCS Tsunami Scuba offerings, visit us online at mccsokinawa.com/scuba.

10 | OKINAWA SPOTLIGHT | January 11, 2018

11 | OKINAWA SPOTLIGHT | January 11, 2018

tours+

adventure begins here Polynesian Dinner Show* January 12, 4:30–8:30 p.m.

Adults $73; Children (6–11) $40, (3–5) $28, (0–2) FREE Enjoy flavorful Pan Pacific foods and the World Dinner Buffet at the opulent Renaissance Okinawa Resort’s Sailfish Café while watching the dancers showcase unique Polynesian cultural dances.

Battle Sites Tour* January 13 & 21, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Adults $28; Children (3–11) $18, (Under 3) FREE Join Tours+ and take a step back in time to WWII. Visit Hacksaw Ridge followed by the Battle of Okinawa Historical Society Museum on Camp Kinser. Then, explore the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters and end the day at Peace Memorial Park. Bring dollars for lunch and yen for admission.

Kinoshita Circus* January 14, 15 & 21 (Times Vary) Adults $45; Children (3–14) $28, (Under 3) FREE (No Seat) Join Tours+ and experience Japan’s oldest and most famous circus! Enjoy and marvel over the “Miracle Wild White Lions,” “Artistic Spectacle of the Double Flying Trapeze,” the “Sliding Tightrope,” the “Russian Aerial Acrobatic Trapeze,” the “Death Defying Motorcycle Globe,” wacky clowns and much, much more.

Tangerine Picking Tour* January 20, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Adults $39; Children (7–12) $26, (4–6) $23, (Under 3) FREE Delight in a day of (all-you-can-eat) tangerine picking at Izumi Mikan farm followed by lunch at Yanbaru Ikoi-no-Mori. Tangerines are sold per kilo at the farm. Lunch and admission are included in the tour price.

*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

Thomas Alan Smilie, ingimage

upcoming semperfitevents 11-on-11 Soccer Tournament January 26, 9 a.m.

January 27–28, 10 a.m.

Camp Foster Athletic Fields Register by January 22 (1 p.m.) at any MCCS athletic facility for $120. This event is open to participants island-wide. Team and individual awards will be given to first, second and third place teams. By-laws and the tournament bracket will be emailed on January 22. For more information, call 645-4866 or email adultsports@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.

Softball Tournament February 2, 6 p.m.

February 3–4, 9 a.m.

Camp Kinser BK Field & Field #4 Register by January 29 (1 p.m.) at any MCCS athletic facility for $120. This event is open to all participants island-wide. Team and individual awards will be given to first, second and third place teams. By-laws and the tournament bracket will be emailed on January 29. For more information, call 637-1869 or email adultsports@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.

Camp Commander’s Cup Northern Bowling February 7, 8 a.m.

Camp Schwab Bowling Center Register by January 31 (1 p.m.) at any MCCS athletic facility for FREE. This event is open to all eligible units and sections stationed on Camps Courtney, Hansen and Schwab. Team awards will be presented to the first and second place teams. By-laws and the tournament bracket will be emailed on January 31. For more information, call 625-2654 or email adultsports@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.

Basketball Tournament February 2, 6 p.m.

February 3–4, 9 a.m.

Camp Hansen House of Pain Fitness Center Register by January 29 (1 p.m.) at any MCCS athletic facility for $120. This event is open to all participants island-wide. Awards will be given to first, second and third place teams. By-laws and the tournament bracket will be emailed on January 29. For more information, call 623-5558/5569 or email adultsports@ okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.

classof theweek

Turbo Kick Turbo Kick LIVE class is packed with real kickboxing moves, calorie-blasting HIIT training and bodyweight exercises. Sculpt your upper and lower body while burning major calories with rhythmic boxing and kickboxing combinations. Bodyweight moves and core work tones lean muscles.

The High Intensity Interval portion of the class spikes your heart rate and scorches fat.

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