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January 8, 2015 • mccsokinawa.com
okinawalivingweekly New Year’s in Japan
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his past New Year's, you may have noticed flocks of people (and traffic jams) surrounding your neighborhood shrine. For many, New Year's in Japan is marked by Hatsumode—the first visit of the year to a Shinto shrine. Most people make their trip to the shrine between January 1 and 3. Some shrines see millions of people visit each year. On the visit, you can buy new omamori (which are like a good luck charm) and return the ones from the previous year. Another custom is to buy a written oracle called omikuji. The omikuji details how your year will be in different areas of your life such as business, love, health and so on. Any bad oracle can be tied to a tree in hopes that it will not come true. At midnight, Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times to symbolize the 108 sins in Buddhism and the 108 worldly desires in each person. After the bells are rung, soba noodles are eaten for good luck and longevity.
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Among other things eaten during New Year's are mochi—rice dumplings made from sticky rice. Other traditional New Year foods include daidai (Japanese bitter orange), kamaboko (steamed fish cake), kazunoko (herring roe) and more. These dishes date back to the Heian Period and are served in special boxes called jûbako. Shrines aren’t the only busy places during the New Year. Post offices might have them beat. The post office guarantees January 1st delivery of New Year’s postcards (nengajo). These postcards are similar to the Western tradition of Christmas cards. To keep up with the demand, students are hired part-time. Although the New Year comes the same time of year in Japan as it does in America, it is celebrated quite differently. Some differences you may have noticed already, and others you will come to see as the days (and years) pass. Happy New Year!
Living at Large: January Art Connections | 3 Culture Corner: Hanami | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5 Off Base Events | 7
oving overseas can be confusing. Besides settling into a new home, learning a foreign language and adjusting to a different culture, there’s that college degree that you would like to earn. There are many different degrees and programs offered in the classroom and online that are tailored to fit the needs of military members and their dependents. Whether you are starting or finishing your degree, the MCCS Education Centers can help find the right courses for you. Registration for the spring session is happening now through January 16. You can sign up and start working on your degree. Spring session 1 college courses run from January 19 to March 8. Military members can even use tuition assistance to help pay for their courses. All Marines new to Okinawa must attend a College 101/ Tuition Assistance brief prior to receiving tuition assistance for the first time. For more information, contact your local MCCS Education Center or visit mccsokinawa.com/educationandcareerservices.
Photo of the Week | 7 Spotlight: Taiyo Golf Boot Camp | 9 Movie Schedule | 11 Health Tip of the Week | 11
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livingatlarge
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January Art Connections
his month, the Camp Foster Library will be hosting the imaginative works of illustrator and graphic artist Lisa Miyagi. Miyagi was born and raised on Okinawa and has a passion for everything visual, from illustrations and digital arts to typography and more. After high school, Miyagi moved to Hawaii to study graphic design and returned to Okinawa to work as a graphic artist for MCCS. Her captivating artwork is inspired by the allure of Okinawa’s beauty and culture. “Okinawa inspires me a lot because a lot of my artwork is based on nature elements like waves, flowers and birds,” says Miyagi. “Color is important. I use a lot of bright colors that capture the feel of island life.”
Her artwork is composed of a mixture of mediums, including some digitally created works as well as a mix of marker and acrylic
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER | Jim Kassebaum MANAGING EDITOR | Ryan Anastoplus ART DIRECTORS | Hector Nieves, Karie Morton GRAPHIC ARTS MANAGER | Henry Ortega GRAPHIC DESIGNERS | Margie Shimabukuro, Lisa Miyagi, Kelli Davis, Corrinne McKenna EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Mike Daley EDITOR | Courtney Rick PHOTOGRAPHER | Thomas Alan Smilie AD/SPONSORSHIP MANAGER | Roy Forster AD SALES | Aya Chilcote, Yoshihiro Shinzato, Yoriko Yamashiro, Lola Cardenas, Carina Fils-Julien DISTRIBUTION | Gideon Juko MARKETING ACCOUNTS MANAGER | Andrew Menges ACCOUNTS & RESEARCH | Amy Schultz, Kelly Longo, Phylicia Callahan, Lindsay Roegge, Katherine Melrose CULTURAL RESEARCH SPECIALISTS | Ayako Kawamitsu
paints. They will be on display until the end of January. For more information, call 645-7178 or visit mccsokinawa.com/libraries.
mccsevents&happenings Shrine Visit January 9, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. MFP-R, Camp Foster 645-2104 FREE Federal Government Resume Writing Workshop January 12, 8:30–11:30 a.m. MFP-R, Camp Courtney 645-2104 FREE Thrift Savings Plan Workshop January 12, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. MFP-R, Camp Hansen 623-4522 FREE
Japanese Language Class January 12, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Education Center, MCAS Futenma 645-2104 FREE Resume Writing Workshop January 13, 8:30–11:30 a.m. MFP-R, Camp Schwab 645-2104 FREE Saving and Investing Workshop January 14, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. MFP-R, Camp Schwab 623-2622 FREE
EFMP Washi Craft for Parents January 15, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Bldg. 495, Camp Foster 645-9237 FREE Coupon 101 Workshop January 15, 10 a.m.–noon MFP-R, Camp Foster 645-2104 FREE Military Couples Class January 15, 6–8 p.m. Bldg. 5677, Camp Foster 645-3689 FREE
Camp Courtney
Camp Foster
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.
We Make Okinawa Home
Other FREE Media:
Channel 15 & 118
This publication printed with
Flea Market
National Hat Day Parade
January 10 & 11, 7–10 a.m. Turn unwanted items into ca$h. For a full schedule, visit mccsokinawa.com/fleamarket. Special Events 645-5829
January 15 Ashibina Center Celebrate the day by wearing your favorite hat while parents watch as the kids show them off. Ashibina Center 645-5072
Camp Foster
Camp Foster
January 30, 5:30–7:30 p.m., MCFTB For children ages 5 to 12, this workshop is designed to promote deployment success for kids with fun activities sponsored by MCFTB, FOCUS and Health Promotion. mccsokinawa.com/mcftb
January 15, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Bldg. 495, Room 3 Enjoy an afternoon of fun and crafts for moms and parents. Open to DoD ID card holders with priority given to EFMP members. EFMP 645-9237
Kids & Deployment
Winter Series: Obi for Mommies
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japanese phrase
culturecorner
of the week
Hanami
C Akemashite Omedetōgozaimasu
Happy New Year For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs–Resources at 645-2104/2106.
herry blossoms, or sakura, are the unofficial national symbol of Japan. Since they bloom here earlier than other areas of Japan, Okinawa attracts many visitors wishing to catch an early glimpse of the buds. Thousands of tourists visit the lantern and bloom laden grounds of Nakijin Castle in Motobu and Mount Yaedake each year for the festival, two of the island’s most famous sakura sites. Part of the hanami experience is finding your own special grove of cherry blossoms that is hidden far away from the throngs of viewers.
Cherry blossoms are revered as an omen of good fortune, a symbol of love and a metaphor for the transient cycle of life and mortality. Part of the enduring beauty of sakura is its impermanence—they bloom for only two weeks. The human condition is epitomized through the cherry blossom, showing that life is too short to waste. Cherry blossom season coincides with the start of spring, which marks the arrival of fresh beginnings, such as the first day of school or starting a new job. A day at a cherry blossom festival is a wonderful way to experience an es-
sential part of the local culture. If you are feeling adventurous, you can drive to the northern portion of the island and explore one of the many cherry blossom festivals that are going on including the Nago Sakura Matsuri and the Motobu Yaedake Sakura Matsuri. You can also join MCCS Tours+ for a day trip to attend the Nago Cherry Blossom Festival on January 31. However you decide to experience hanami, make sure you bring a camera—the cherry blossoms can make for some of the most stunning photos you’ll capture on-island.
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off-base events get out and explore.
Southeast Botanical Gardens Night Decorations January 8–February 15 5–10 p.m. Southeast Botanical Gardens, Okinawa City Children (under 6) FREE (7–15) ¥500, (16–18) ¥1,000 Adults ¥1,800 Kanucha Resort Stardust Fantasia January 8–February 28 7–11 p.m. Kanucha Resort Hotel Nago City Tickets: ¥3,000 per car Zakimi Castle Illumination January 8–29, 6–9 p.m. Zakimi Castle Ruins Yomitan Village FREE
tours+
adventure begins here. Ice Skating January 16, 4– 8:30 p.m. Adults $25, Children (13–17) $23, (7–12) $21, (3–6) $20, (under 3) FREE Southern Hill offers batting cages, a bowling alley, video games and more. Okinawa West Coast January 17, 10 a.m.–3 pm Adults $44, Children (6‐12) $26, (3‐5) $11, (under 3) FREE Visit Cape Manzamo—one of the most beautiful and scenic spots on Okinawa. Then, visit Okinawa Marriott Resort for a lunch buffet. Last stop will be at the Okinawa Sweets Factory for dessert while overlooking the East China Sea.*
Mikan Picking Tour January 17, 9:30 a.m –3:30 p.m. Adults $32; Children (6‐11) $20, (4‐5) $11; (under 4) FREE Visit Izumi Mikan Farm to pick delicious Okinawan tangerines.*
Forest Adventure January 18, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Adult $50, Children (7–17) $34 Test your courage on the Zip Slide, the Amazon Rope Bridge, the Tibetan Bridge or other exciting courses.
Battle Sites Tour January 18, 9 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Adults $28; Children (3‐11) $18; (under 3) FREE Relieve the Battle of Okinawa with a history lesson. Visit the Battle of Okinawa Historical Society’s museum, explore the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters and end the day at Peace Prayer Park.*
Japanese Tea Ceremony January 23, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Adult $35, Children (3–11) $28, (under 3) FREE Learn the steps to making tea and to eat Japanese sweets. After tea, have lunch and shop at Kokusai Street.
*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 Temporarily Closed | U.S. Naval Hospital 646-7013 Camp Foster Tours+ has moved. We are now located in bldg. 1010 with Tsunami SCUBA.
photooftheweek Thomas Alan Smilie
Toshikoshi soba, or the year-crossing noodle, is traditionally eaten in Japan on New Year’s Eve. This seasonal soba noodle symbolizes letting go of hardship, longevity, strength and resiliency.
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9 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | January 8, 2015
spotlight Taiyo Golf Boot Camp
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hough golf is a friendly game, you still don’t want to embarrass yourself or slow the course down by not knowing the basic elements of the sport. Taiyo Golf Club offers Golf Boot Camp, a fast-track program that teaches the basics of golf in just two weekends. The program is geared toward new golfers and those that have thought of giving the sport a try but never had the time. Golf Boot Camp is targeted towards adults, and is a great opportunity for friends and couples to learn the game together.
The boot camp costs just $99 per person and consists of four sessions, each lasting two hours (3–5 p.m.), over two consecutive weekends. Boot camps start at the beginning of each quarter, with the first one running over the weekends of April 5 and 6 and April 12 and 13. Between the four sessions, you will receive an introduction to golf, including rules and etiquette, the fundamentals of putting, the full swing, pitching and chipping. For session times and more details, please call 622-2013 or 098-954-2013.
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upcoming semperfitevents movieschedule Proud sponsor of MCCS Youth Sports Athletics/Adult Sports 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
Wrestling Tournament January 10 MCAS Futenma Semper Fit Gym Register by 1 p.m. on January at any MCCS fitness center for $10 or on-site for $15. This event is open to participants island-wide. Awards will be given to first, second and third place teams. Mandatory participants brief will be at 9:45 on the day of the event. Details: 636-2672. 6 vs. 6 Soccer Tournament January 16–18 Camp Schwab Athletics Field 2 Register by 1 p.m. on January 12 at any MCCS fitness center for $80 per team. This event is open to participants island-wide. Team and individual swards will be given to first, second and third place finishers. Tournament brackets and bylaws will be e-mailed to each coach. Details: 625-2654. Softball Tournament January 23–25 Camp Kinser BK Field & Field 4 Register by 1 p.m. at any MCCS fitness center on January 20 for $95 per team ($120 for female teams). This event is open to participants island-wide. Awards will be given to first, second and third place teams. Tournament brackets and bylaws will be e-mailed to each coach. Details: 637-1869. Bench Press Tournament January 25 Hansen House of Pain Register by 1 p.m. at any MCCS fitness center on January 19 for $10 or on-site by 9 a.m. for $15. This event is open to participants island-wide. Awards will be given to first, second and third place finishers in each weight class. Details: 623-5558/5569. *Attendance is required for participation.
CAMP KINSER | 637-2177
CAMP COURTNEY | 622-6101
Thursday, January 8 The Gambler (R) 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 8 CLOSED
Friday, January 9 Taken 3 (PG 13) 6:30 p.m.
Friday, January 9 Selma (PG 13) 6 p.m. Selma (PG 13) 9 p.m.
Saturday, January 10 Selma (PG 13) 3 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 6:30 p.m. Sunday, January 11 Annie (PG) 1 p.m. Selma (PG 13) 3:30 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 11 Selma (PG 13) 3 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 6 p.m.
Monday, January 12 CLOSED
Monday, January 12 Interstellar (R) 7 p.m.
Tuesday, January 13 CLOSED
Tuesday, January 13 CLOSED
Wednesday, January 14 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (PG 13) 3D 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 14 Beyond the Lights (PG 13) 7 p.m.
MCAS FUTENMA | 636-3890
CAMP HANSEN | 623-4564
Thursday, January 8 CLOSED
Thursday, January 8 The Gambler (R) 7 p.m.
Friday, January 9 Taken 3 (PG 13) 6:30 p.m.
Friday, January 9 Taken 3 (PG 13) 6:30 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 10 p.m.
Saturday, January 10 Selma (PG 13) 4 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 7 p.m. Sunday, January 11 Selma (PG 13) 4 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 7 p.m. Monday, January 12 Selma (PG 13) 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 13 CLOSED Wednesday, January 14 CLOSED
classoftheweek
Saturday, January 10 Dumb and Dumber To (PG 13) 3 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 6 p.m.
Saturday, January 10 Taken 3 (PG 13) 6 p.m. The Gambler (R) 9:30 p.m. Sunday, January 11 Selma (PG 13) 3:30 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 7 p.m. Monday, January 12 Unbroken (PG 13) 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 13 Selma (PG 13) 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 14 The Gambler (PG 13) 7 p.m.
CAMP FOSTER | 645-3465
CAMP SCHWAB | 625-2338
Cycle Express
Thursday, January 8 Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (PG 13) 7 p.m.
Thursday, January 8 CLOSED
This 45-minute indoor cycling ride is a great way to start the day. Build your endurance and strength.
Friday, January 9 Selma (PG 13) 6 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 9 p.m.
For a full class schedule, visit schedule mccsokinawa.com/wellness.
Saturday, January 10 Into the Woods (PG) Noon Selma (PG 13) 3 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 6 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 9 p.m.
weeklyhealthtip The idea of “detoxing” or a “cleansing” diet and the industry surrounding it has continually been proven ineffective. No amount of supplements or green smoothies can undo a bad diet. Besides, your body has a built-in defense system against toxic or poisonous substances you ingest—your liver, kidneys, lungs and skin are constantly working to irrigate your body of that second helping of cheese fries.
Sunday, January 11 Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (PG 13) 1 p.m. Selma (PG 13) 4 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 7 p.m. Monday, January 12 Taken 3 (PG 13) 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 13 Selma (PG 13) 7 p.m.
Friday, January 9 Taken 3 (PG 13) 6 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 9 p.m. Saturday, January 10 Selma (PG 13) 6 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 9 p.m. Sunday, January 11 Taken 3 (PG 13) 4 p.m. Taken 3 (PG 13) 7 p.m. Monday, January 12 Selma (PG 13) 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 13 Taken 3 (PG 13) 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 14 CLOSED
Wednesday, January 14 Selma (PG 13) 7 p.m.
Movie schedule is subject to change. For the latest updates visit shopmyexchange.com/reeltimetheatres/reeltime-landing.htm.