January 19, 2017
Aya Chilcote
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kinawa hosts the earliest hanami, or flower viewing, in all of Japan. The hanami signifies the conclusion of winter and the dawn of spring. Cherry blossoms, or sakura, are symbolic themselves; their ephemeral beauty is characteristic of the concept of mono no aware (the pathos of things), a Japanese phrase describing the transient nature of beauty and the bittersweet sadness of their passing. This deep reflection of mortality has made cherry blossoms a common figure in Japanese art. Sakura are also revered as an indication of good fortune and love—fitting for the transition into a new season. The tradition of hanami in Japan is centuriesold. Its origin lies in the Nara Period (710–794), where people gathered for the viewing of ume
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(plum) blossoms. By the Heian Period (794– 1185), sakura began to attract more attention and the term hanami became colloquially synonymous with festivals exclusive to the celebration of cherry blossoms. Today, thousands of people flock to the flowering trees to enjoy cheerful companionship and watch eisa dancers and taiko drummers march through the dreamy scenery. MCCS Tours+ is offering tours to the Nago Cherry Blossom Festival on January 28 and 29. Enjoy an eisa performance, cultural dances, folk music and hanami set against a picturesque view of the East China Sea. The tour will run from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for the tour are $23 for adults, $16 for children aged 3 through 11; children 2 and under
Big Game, Big Breakfast | 3 Valentine's Day at the Clubs | 3 Culture Corner: Visit Kokusai Dori | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5
"The Nago Cherry Blossom Festival may provide some of the best photos you’ll take on-island." are FREE. Please bring yen for additional spending at the many unique food booths at the Festival. Oh, and don’t forget your camera! The Nago Cherry Blossom Festival may provide some of the best photos you’ll take on-island.
Pick of the Week: Mikan Picking | 7 Healthy Heart Spinathon | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11
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Big Game, Big Breakfast
nag your seat for the Super Bowl on February 6 at your local MCCS Clubs and Restaurants. For only $12, pile your plate high at 7 a.m. at the Big Game, Big Breakfast Buffet, then kick back for kickoff. There will also be complimentary snacks served throughout the game, and lots of FREE giveaways and prizes. The BeachHead at Camp Schwab and The Palms Enlisted Lounge on Camp Hansen has the northern end zone of the island covered on game day. Hashmarks SNCO Club and Legends Officers’ Club on Camp Courtney have space in their huddle for you to cheer on your favorite team. Butler Officers’ Club and the Globe & Anchor at the Ocean Breeze on
Camp Foster are also eligible receivers, and the Habu Pit on MCAS Futenma has the “D” to your fence! Those opting for a quarterback sneak can find fast casual dining options at the Bayview Enlisted Club
on Camp Courtney, Thirsty’s Enlisted Club on MCAS Futenma and at the Kinser Surfside. For more information, contact a participating club, or go to mccsokinawa.com/clubs.
events&happenings
From top to bottom: GeneL/bigstock.com, diego cervo/bigstock.com
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Valentine’s Day at the Clubs
ove is in the air at your local MCCS Clubs and Restaurants. Instead of waiting until the last minute for the perfect gift for your valentine to magically drop into your lap, let MCCS help you woo your sweetheart. Butler Officers’ Club in Plaza Housing is offering a seven-course dinner on February 10 starting with cocktails at 6 p.m. For $50 per person, begin your experience with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and champagne during cocktail hour. Book you babysitter soon, as this dinner is for adults only. Reservations are required, so do not delay, call 645-7530 today. Taiyo Steakhouse at Taiyo Golf Club is offering ladies complimentary flowers and a beverage for the weekend before Valentine’s Day (February 10-12) and on February 14. Reservations can be made by calling 622-2020 Dine out with your darling at the Habu Pit’s Evening of Romance in the Teppanyaki Room. Head over to MCAS Futenma on February 14
for their specialty four-course menu, where chefs cook your entrée right in front of you. Adults are $45 each, or $80 for a couple. Tell the children you’ll bring them some leftovers. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 636-3081. Show your family they are the dearest ones in your life at The Veranda in Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster. Featuring a chocolate foun-
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Questions? Comments? Please e-mail OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. To advertise in Okinawa Living Weekly, 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.
tain and special gifts for mom and the kids, the Valentine’s Day Family Dinner Buffet starts at 5 p.m. on February 14. Adults are $14.95, Children five to eleven are $7.95 and under five are FREE. Reservations are highly recommended for this family fest and can be made at 645-3666. For more information go to mccsokinawa.com/clubs. This publication printed with
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japanese phrase
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Inshu unten wo shite wa ikemasen. Don't drink and drive.
Dennis Cox/bigstock.com, simarts/bigstock.com
For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.
Visit Kokusai Dori
e muse enough about Okinawa’s beaches and grand scenic locales, but what about its manmade monuments? As much as Okinawa is a haven for the most breezy and carefree to spend lounging on beaches, there are some great structures for shopping and commercial indulgence as well— namely Kokusai Dori. The dori, or street, spills over with restaurants, shops and cafes, all of which might take at least a few days to explore. On Kokusai Street, you will find Heiwa Dori—one of the few remaining shopping arcades on island. Here you can find many Okinawan goods, from habu sake to tropical shirts. In Makishi Market, get your fresh fish and meat. Either take it home or have it prepared on the spot. The Tsuboya District is known for its pottery—browse through anything from dishes and bowls to Shîsâ dogs. There are a number of tours via MCCS Tours+ that visit Kokusai Dori. For details on these tours, visit mccsokinawa.com/tours. However, if you’d like to take a trip on your own, head south on Hwy. 58 and continue straight. Turn left onto Route 29 and take another left onto Route 39. On Sundays, the
main road is only open to pedestrian traffic. GPS coordinates: 6°12'54.8"N 127°41'06.9"E
If you have any burning questions about Japanese culture, please send them to OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
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mikan picking tour
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January 21, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Book with MCCS Tours+, depart from Camp Foster. Please arrive at 9:15 for an on-time departure. Adults, $39 Children (7 to 12), $26 Children (4 to 6), $23 Children (under 4), FREE
Mikan Picking
s you pick your activities for the weekend, make sure you include the Mikan Picking Tour from MCCS Tours+. On Saturday, January 21, venture from Camp Foster to Izumi Mikan Farm, where you will be handed a bag and turned loose in the grove to pick these sweet and juicy mandarins. The best part is you do not have to wait until you are finished to sample your haul: you can eat all you want as you are picking! Mikan are similar to mandarins in size, and are easily peeled, thus making them a perfect snack on the go (or as you are picking more). Moreover, like many other citrus fruits, mikan are full of vitamins and nutrients. Instead of grabbing a pill, grab a mikan for a great source of beta-carotene, B-Complex vitamins, Vitamin C and potassium. Once you’ve picked your heart’s desire of fruit, you are welcome to take however much home for ¥250 per kilo. Then, enjoy a buf-
fet lunch at Yanbaru Ikoi no Mori on your way back to Camp Foster. The tour price includes admission to the farm and lunch. Make sure to bring yen for extra purchases. Space is limited to 30 people, and
From top to bottom: Altinosmanaj/bigstock.com, Nataliia Tarasenko/bigstock.com, Thomas Alan Smilie
photooftheweek
Enjoy this sweet, golden fruit in its seemingly infinite variations at the Nago Pineapple Park.
the bus picks up and drops off from the Foster Bowling Center, by the ATM, inside Gate 5 (the commissary gate.) Visit mccsokinawa. com/tours.
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spotlight
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Clockwise: luckybusiness/bigstock.com, Langstrup Photography/bigstock.com
Space is limited; call 645-3910 to reserve your spot. Visit mccsokinawa.com/healthpromotion for details.
Healthy Heart Spinathon
ardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Current data shows one in every three deaths in the United States is from heart disease, which amounts to about 2,200 deaths per day. Researchers from the American Heart and Lung Association state that smoking, lack of physical activity, poor diet, high body weight, high cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar can contribute to the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. The American Heart Association and the American Counsel of Sports Medicine recommend a minimum of 30 to 60 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on most days of the week to help prevent a heart attack. To commemorate heart month, MCCS Health Promotion is having a Healthy Heart Spinathon on Saturday, February 11 at the Camp Foster Gunners Fitness Center. The spi-
nathon is broken up into three sessions: 8 to 8:50 a.m., 9 to 9:50 a.m. and 10 to 10:50 a.m. Whether you’re fresh on your trail to a healthier lifestyle, or you
were planning on a spin session that day anyway, this is an event guaranteed to get your heart pumping. This FREE event is open to everyone island wide.
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tours+
adventure begins here Tea Ceremony and Kimono Dressing* January 20, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $48, Children (3–11) $38 Take part in a traditional tea ceremony and learn the history of kimono. Afterwards wear traditional Japanese kimono. A complimentary photo will be provided by the tea house. Afterwards, travel to Naha Main Place for lunch and shopping. Ice Skating Tour January 22, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults $35, Children (13–17) $32, (7–12) $26 (3–6) $22, (under 3) FREE More than just an ice skating rink, Southern Hill offers batting cages, a bowling alley, video games and more. Gloves are required for skating.
Valley of Gangala Tour* January 21, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Adults $46, Children (5–12) $19 Children (3–4) $11 Hike through the Valley of Gangala and enjoy the beautiful scenery and spectacular caves. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at Okinawa World while watching eisâ dancing. Battle Sites Tour* January 22, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $28, Children (3–11) $18 (under 3) FREE Visit Kakazu Ridge, Hacksaw Ridge, the Battle of Okinawa Historical Society’s Museum, 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
Kadena Town Industry Festival January 21–22, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Kadena Michino Eki Kadena Town FREE
Proud sponsor of MCCS Youth Sports
Athletics/Adult Sports
Thomas Alan Smilie, DJM4/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
Tomigusuku Industry Festival January 21–22, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Toyosaki Michino Eki Tomigusuku City FREE
Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival January 21–February 5 Mt. Yae, Motobu Town FREE
upcoming semperfitevents Open 6-on-6 soccer January 22 MCAS Futenma Semper Fit Fitness Center Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by January 23 at 1 p.m. for $90. This event is open to participants island-wide. The top three teams will receive awards. Details: 636-2672.
Open Power Lifting Competition January 28 Camp Schwab Power Dome Fitness Center Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by January 23 at 1 p.m. for $10 or onsite for $15. This event is open to participants island-wide. The top three winners in each weight class will receive awards. Details: 625-2654.
classof theweek Zumba® Toning Zumba® Toning is a fusion class that blends Zumba® and body sculpting. By utilizing light dumbbells to add strength exercise components into Zumba®, you can dance your way to strong muscles. Camps Courtney and Foster For more information and a full schedule, visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness