October 4, 2018 · mccsokinawa.com
Kinser Festival
2018 Roderica Mathis
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kinawa’s largest comic convention is back. On Sunday, October 14, join MCCS in an epic celebration of all things comics, anime, gaming, sci-fi, cosplay and more. See your favorite characters come to life and meet the talented comic book artists, writers, actors and voice actors behind some of the best-loved series in the industry. Discussion panels with notable guest talents, meet & greets, live art, contests, tournaments, vendors selling collectibles and handcrafts, food, musical entertainment and more… there’s tons for the whole family. Enjoy delicious food courtesy of MCCS Okinawa or take the family to the MariCAR Okinawa go-kart track and MCCS Fun Land. Show off your creativity and craftsmanship in our cosplay and art contests. Or, have a friendly throw down and sign up for one of our gaming tournaments.
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Card tournaments to take place this year are Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! In the gaming arena, stations will be set up for Street Fighter, Super Smash Bros and Vainglory tournaments with free play sessions in between. You can download the full contest/tournament rules and regulations at comicconokinawa.com. Join us for the island’s biggest celebration of all things super! This year’s Comic Con will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Camp Foster Fieldhouse, Community Center Auditorium and Ocean Breeze. (For details on who will be appearing or a schedule of events, visit comicconokinawa.com.) You can also stay tuned to the latest by visiting facebook.com/ comicconokinawa. Comic Con Okinawa is an opengate event, which welcomes all SOFA personnel, and U.S. and Japanese citizens.
Kinser Festival | 1 & 3 Pet Plunge Pool Party | 3 Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea | 5 Comic Con: Nozawa & Copon | 7
inser Festival, going down Saturday, October 27 from 1 to 11 p.m. and Sunday, October 28 from 1 to 9 p.m., welcomes all service members, their families and our Japanese and Okinawan hosts to partake in a weekend of festival fun on Camp Kinser. Food to satisfy the heartiest appetites will be available, including delicious local cuisine and delectable offerings from MCCS. Hungry festivalgoing revelers can enjoy USA staples such as Bulldogs Burgers, succulent BBQ beef brisket and juicy chicken from Hickory House All-American BBQ, sizzling pizza, 305 Latin Bistro and, for patrons 20 years of age and older, refreshing adult beverages from Kanpai Lounge. There will be festival attractions for all ages, including Fun Land rides and bouncers, as well as game booths. (cont. on page 3)
Typhoon Motors Columbus Day Sale | 9 MCCS Tours+ | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11
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livingatlarge Kinser Festival
(cont. from page 1)
A great entertainment lineup will be on tap, including post-grunge super band Bush and blues guitarist and singer Joanne Shaw Taylor performing live. Bush is scheduled to perform on Saturday at 9 p.m., and you can catch Taylor on Sunday at 7 p.m. Admission to the Kinser Festival
is FREE and open to all SOFA personnel and U.S. and Japanese citizens island-wide. No one will be admitted with pets, outside alcohol, bottles, coolers or backpacks. Free shuttle buses will provide transportation to and from designated parking lots on base. As always, MCCS encourages
everyone to drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive. Daiko and taxi services will be available. For more information, call 098-970-5828 or visit mccsokinawa.com/festivals or facebook.com/mccsokinawa. diningandentertainment.
events&happenings
Roderica Mathis, Tropical studio/bigstock.com
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CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER | Jim Kassebaum MANAGING EDITOR | Ashley Sablan ART DIRECTOR | Catherine Newquist CULTURAL RESEARCH SPECIALIST | Ayako Kawamitsu GRAPHIC ARTS MANAGER | Henry Ortega GRAPHIC DESIGNERS | Margie Shimabukuro, Jongeun Spencer, Emeline Toole WRITERS/EDITORS | Amanda Carrasquillo, Mike Daley DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER | Thomas Alan Smilie DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA | Kathlene Millette, Emi Hays AD/SPONSORSHIP MANAGER | Roy Forster AD SALES | Yoshihiro Shinzato, Hiromitsu Horikawa, Athena Garcia, Kathrine Rebecca Cemino-Stalcup DISTRIBUTION | Desiree Adams, Joan Webb MARKETING ACCOUNTS MANAGER | Andrew Menges ACCOUNTS & RESEARCH | Kristen Wong, Secoya Holmes, Kim Guillermo, Ashley Snipes
To advertise in Okinawa Spotlight, 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.
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Pet Plunge Pool Party
ttention dog owners: You and your fur babies are cordially invited to the annual MCCS Aquatics Pet Plunge on Saturday, October 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Camp McTureous Aquatics Center. Witness your #puppers and others have the time of their lives as they splash around, do the doggie paddle, make new friends and sunbathe on the deck. (Swimsuits are optional.) Unfortunately, no hoomans will be allowed in the pool. But there will be fur-friendly games, like quickest fetch and farthest jump, and prizes and giveaways at noon. Registration for the games will take place on-site from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., so be sure to get there early. Fall is upon us and winter will soon be knocking. What better way to lead into the cold weather months than one last pool party with your very best friend? For more information, visit mccsokinawa.com/aquatics.
This publication printed with
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japanese phrase
islandadventure
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Konnichiwa Mickey! Hi, Mickey!
ninescene/bigstock.com, Bin_nasser/bigstock.com
For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.
Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea
as your child (or the child within you) been very, very good and in need of a reward? Well, MCCS Tours+ has the ultimate answer! How about an excursion to visit the world’s most famous mouse and all of his friends at Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea in Chiba? What could be better? Visit Captain Jack Sparrow on Pirates of the Caribbean, cower before Lord Vader at Star Wars: The Adventure Continues and sing and dance along with the adorable alien Stich at Aloha E komo Mai! at Disneyland. Then, at Disney Sea, hop into the amazing shrinking SeaRider submersible and explore the wonders of the sea with Nemo and Dori, visit the Neverland Mermaid Lagoon and enjoy the “Under the Sea” musical show with Ariel and her friends. It’s an adventurous vacation that you
and the family will remember forever. The Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea tour runs November 22–26 and the tour price includes airfare, a bilingual (English/ Japanese) tour leader, admission to Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea
and hotel stays. The sign-up deadline is October 31. For more information on this tour, including pricing and a full itinerary, visit Tours+ online at mccsokinawa.com/tours.
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didyou know?
American voice actor Sean Shemmel once passed out while voicing Goku’s powerful transformation to Super Saiyan 4 in the English-dubbed Dragon Ball GT.
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Comic Con: Nozawa & Copon
his year’s Comic Con Okinawa will feature guest appearances by voice actor Masako Nozawa and actor Michael Copon. Tokyo-born Masako “Mako” Nozawa is a renowned voice actor best known for her work on the immensely popular anime/manga Dragon Ball. In 1986, she landed the part of Son Gokû on the iconic anime series, which ran for five seasons and spawned a number of films as well as the spin-off Dragon Ball Z. This action-packed spin-off proved even more popular than the original series and ran for a whopping eight seasons. Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball Z Kai followed, as did roles in a number of other shows, including a part on the pirate adventure One Piece. Actor and director/producer Michael Copon broke into Hollywood as the Blue Ranger on Power Rangers Time Force. He was also the main lead actor in
Universal's Scorpion King 2 and Bring It On: In It to Win It, and held recurring roles on the hit TV shows One Tree Hill and Disney's That’s So Raven. In addition, Copon has guest starred on CSI Miami, Hawaii 5-0,
Reno 911, Scrubs and many others. To see who else will be there and to stay up-to-date on everything Comic Con, visit facebook.com/comicconokinawa or comicconokinawa.com.
Rabel Matos/Brands of the World, Photo courtesy of Masako Nozawa, photo courtesy of Michael Copon, Roderica Mathis
photooftheweek
Comic Con isn't just for kids! This FREE fan convention has something for everybody. Check it out Sunday, October 14 at the Camp Foster Fieldhouse, Community Center Auditorium and Ocean Breeze.
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didyou know?
HappyAlex/bigstock.com, GlynnisJones/bigstock.com
Native Americans comprise some 31,000 active duty U.S. service members and more than 140,000 U.S. veterans. (Source: Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian)
indepth Typhoon Motors Columbus Day Sale
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elebrated as Columbus Day, Discoverer’s Day (in Hawaii), Indigenous Peoples’ Day (in Vermont, Oregon and several other states ) and Native American Day (in South Dakota), this holiday honors culture and the spirit of discovery. Regardless of the name, there’s no better time to “discover” some upgrades for your ride. Take your Niña, Pinta or Santa Maria (of the four-wheeled kind) to your nearest Typhoon Motors from October 8 to 13 during their Columbus Day Sale and save on selected items including car audio/video systems, racing motor oils and more. For more information on the Columbus Day Sale, contact your local Typhoon Motors center. Typhoon Motors is located on Camp Foster in Bldg. 5971 (645-7169), Camp Kinser in Bldg.
611 (637-2191), Camp Courtney in Bldg. 4151 (622-9546) and Camp Hansen in Bldg. 2715 (623-7743). Kinser, Courtney and Hansen locations are closed on Sundays,
Mondays and holidays. For more information visit Typhoon Motors online at mccsokinawa.com/ typhoonmotors.
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tours+
adventure begins here Okinawa West Coast Tour October 6, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults $43; Children (6–12) $26, (3–5) $11, (0–2) FREE Visit Cape Manzamo, one of the most scenic spots on Okinawa. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious buffet at the Okinawa Marriott Resort. The last stop will be at Okinawa Sweets Factory where you can taste locally made sweets while overlooking the beautiful East China Sea. Bring yen for additional spending. Naha Great Tug of War October 7, Noon–8 p.m. Adults $21; Children (3–11) $14, (0–2) FREE Join in on the largest tug-of-war competition in the world. You can also watch the dress parade, eisa dancers and other festivities. Bring yen for additional spending.
Bios on the Hill October 13, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Adults $36; Children (4–12) $23, (0–3) FREE Spend a day relaxing in a tropical forest park. Enjoy a boat ride while viewing the flora and fauna native to Okinawa. See majestic water buffalo up close and even take a ride in a water buffalo cart. Admission and boat ride included in the tour price. Bring yen for lunch and additional activities and spending. Okinawa Handcrafts Tour October 14, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Adults $61; Children (2–12) $42 Visit a bingata factory and learn about this vibrant traditional textile. Then, stroll through Tsuboya where the royal pottery for Shuri Castle was made. Afterwards, explore Kokusai Street for shopping and lunch. Our final stop will be the Okinawa Lacquerware Factory to learn about the different types of lacquer made on Okinawa. Bring yen for lunch and additional spending.
*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
upcoming semperfitevents
Mike Daley, AntonioDiaz/bigstock.com
Futenma Triathlon October 7, 8:05 a.m. MCAS Futenma Aquatic Center Register by October 1 (1 p.m.) at any staffed MCCS athletic facility or mccsokinawa.com/adultsports for $30. Late registration will be taken until October 3 (1 p.m.) at the MCAS Futenma Semper Fit Fitness Center. This event is open to participants island-wide. Awards will be given to first, second and third place finishers in all age divisions, and overall male and female awards will be given for road bike and mountain bike. Check-in is from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. on the day of the event followed by a mandatory brief at 7:45 a.m. For more information, call 636-2672 or email adultsports@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. Open Flag Football Tournament October 12, 6 p.m. October 13 & 14, 9 a.m. Camp Kinser Field 4 Register by October 8 (1 p.m.) at any staffed MCCS athletic facility for $120 per team. This event is open to all participants island-wide. Awards will be given to first, second and third place teams and individuals. By-laws and the tournament bracket will be emailed October 9. For more information, call 637-1869 or email adultsports@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
Open Wrestling Tournament October 27 & 28, 10 a.m. Camp Schwab Power Dome Fitness Center Register by October 22 (1 p.m.) at any staffed MCCS athletic facility for $20 or at the event site on the day of for $25. This event is open to participants island-wide. Individual awards will be given to the top three finishers in each weight class. By-laws will be provided upon request. Weigh-ins will take place between 7:30 and 9 a.m. on October 27 followed by a mandatory brief at 9:30 a.m.. For more information, call 623-5558 or email adultsports@ okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. Open Tennis Tournament November 2–4, 6 p.m. MCAS Futenma McCutcheon Gym Tennis Court Register by October 29 (1 p.m.) at any staffed MCCS athletic facility for $120. This event is open to participants island-wide. Awards will be given to first, second and third place winners in each division. By-laws and a tournament bracket will be emailed October 29. For more information, call 636-2672 or email adultsports@ okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
classof theweek
Muscle Madness A group resistance exercise class that uses a light-to-moderate weighted barbell and lots of repetitions for a total-body workout.
For a full group fitness schedule, visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness.