November 3, 2016 • mccsokinawa.com
Thomas Alan Smilie
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he celebration of the Marine Corps Birthday was formalized throughout the Corps on October 28, 1952 by direction of the 20th Commandant of the Marine Corps Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. The traditions detailed in the Marine Corps Drill Manual approved by General Shepherd are still carried on in Marine Corps Birthday Balls held throughout the United States as well as on Okinawa in MCCS clubs. Since 2003, MCCS clubs have hosted an average of 44 birthday balls and served approximately 16,000 celebrants annually. This year, MCCS stands ready to support 51 balls and serve 17,000
inside
Marines and celebrants during the Marine Corps Birthday Ball Season with delicious meals and dedicated service. Due to this support, several MCCS clubs will be closing during the Marine Corps Birthday Ball season. The Habu Pit on MCAS Futenma will be closed on November 4 and 10, the BeachHead on Camp Schwab will be closed December 2 and the dining room at The Palms on Camp Hansen will be closed for dinner November 3 to 20 and for breakfast/lunch Saturdays and Sundays, November 5 to 20 (Chili’s Express will remain open). The Butler Officers’ Club dining room will be closed through
Make it a Frame | 3 The Dances of Okinawa| 3 Culture Corner: Culture Can Be Tasty | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5
"...the Marine Corps Birthday was formalized throughout the Corps on October 28, 1952." December 1 but will re-open on November 24 for the Thanksgiving buffet.
Pick of the Week: Ryuku eSports Festival| 7 Taiyo Turkey Shoot | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11
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livingatlarge Make it a Frame
F
oster Framing & Fine Arts carries over 300 custom frames and 130 mats, leading to an endless possibility of designs. Customers can arrange their artwork, frame samples and mat samples until it is perfect. Sound great? Get all of this for 20% off from November 8 to 12.
Foster Framing is offering 20% off material costs for custom frames (Marine Corps-related items only). With ball season upon us, this is a great time to transform military uniforms, awards and accomplishments into distinguished displays. Foster Framing & Fine Arts
is located inside the Camp Foster Community Center (Bldg. 5908). The facility is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 645-3674 or visit mccsokinawa. com/framingandfinearts.
events&happenings
From top to bottom: Balqis/bigstock.com, Thomas Alan Smilie
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Chief Marketing Officer | Jim Kassebaum Managing Editor | Ryan Anastoplus Art Director | Hector Nieves Cultural Research Specialist | Ayako Kawamitsu Graphic Arts Manager | Henry Ortega Graphic Designers | Margie Shimabukuro, Lisa Miyagi, Catherine Newquist Editor-in-Chief | Mike Daley Digital marketing manager | Thomas Alan Smilie Ad/Sponsorship Manager | Roy Forster Ad Sales | Yoshihiro Shinzato, Aya Chilcote, Yoriko Yamashiro, Tomoko Taylor, Lisa Hicks, Carina Fils-Julien Distribution | Gideon Juko, Kelli Kreider Marketing Accounts Manager | Andrew Menges Accounts & Research | Marissa DeSmet, Ashley Herring, Kristen Wong, Katherine Melrose, Jenessa Reutov, Allison Dixon Broadcast | Kathlene Millette, Gabriel Archer, Emi Komiya
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.
The Dances of Okinawa
ibrant kimono, carefully painted faces and precise movements—traditional Okinawan dance is an experience that every person should enjoy while living here. Normally you would have to travel off-base and pay to observe these dances traditionally performed for the Ryukyu royalty. But for one night only this entertaining and educational event is FREE. MCCS Marine & Family Programs-Resources presents an afternoon of Okinawan dance and music performances to kick off the holiday season islandstyle on November 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Camp Foster Community Center Auditorium. The event will include karate demonstrations, taiko and eisa performances, and, the crowd favorite, a shishimai performance. Light holiday-themed refreshments will also be served. For more information, visit mccsokinawa.com/mfp-r.
This publication printed with
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japanese phrase
culturecorner
of the week
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Tabeni ikimashou. Let's go eat.
Clockwise from the top left: Maridav/bigstock.com, Thomas Alan Smilie
For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.
Culture Can Be Tasty
n many parts of Asia, noodles aren’t only food staples, they also represent longevity, auspicious luck and are eaten on special occasions. Although no one really knows who takes credit for its creation, it is believed that noodles evolved from another Asian food staple—rice. Between the 14th and 18th centuries, the kingdom of Ryukyu was a vassal of the Chinese Empire. During this period, banquets consisting of cuisine known as sapposhi were developed in the Ryukyu court to serve the visiting Chinese envoys. Not surprisingly, this cuisine featured Chinese food and included a variety of noodle dishes. Even after the mainland Japanese Satsuma clan conquered the Ryukyu Islands, the noodle dishes (which were called uchinâ suba) remained as a dish reserved for the court. It wasn’t until
after World War II that the rest of the populace got their first taste of suba (Okinawa soba was called “suba” by locals until after reversion in 1972). Today, many Okinawans have little difficulty eating Okinawa soba 365 days a year. It is said that the “original” Okinawa soba was topped only with stewed pork and sliced green onions—a style that can still be found in the northern areas of the island. However, if you were to enter any Okinawa soba shop and
ask for “Okinawa soba,” chances are that it will be topped with san-mainiku (“three layered pork”—a cut of stewed pork similar to a thick slice of bacon flavored with a sweet soy sauce glaze), slices of kamaboko (fish cakes), fried egg strips, and thinly sliced green onions. To experience and learn more about this tasty aspect of Okinawan culture, contact MFP-R for their cultural awareness programs (mccsokinawa.com/culturalawareness).
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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American Village
GPS coordinates for American Village: 26.317086, 127.757589 The finals of each tournament will be streamed live at twitch.tv/ryukyu_e_sports_club
Ryukyu eSports Festival
hose who compete are a different breed than the hobbyist. A sport can take over the competitor’s life, making it their sole purpose to be the best in their respective area of competition. Though it’s been debated though the years, the impact that competitive gaming has made on the world and the skill required by the gamer to win championships is unquestionable. By now, gaming is globally recognized as a major competitive sport. Known as eSports, it is one of the most rapidly growing athletic industries today, in respect to both competitors and spectators. Esports events regularly fill basketball arenas and world championship events reach over 32 million views online— double the figures of the MLB World Series or the NBA Finals. Get in on some of the action at the Ryukyu eSports Festival on Sunday, November 13 at American Village from noon to 4 p.m. The tournament
will be inside Game Paradise and players will compete in Super Smash Brothers Melee, Super Smash Brothers WiiU, Street Fighter V, Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator, The King of Fighters XIV and BlazBlue Centralfiction. Registration is onsite from noon to 2 p.m. for ¥1,000. Competitors
must bring their own controller. There is no fee for spectators. For more details, visit http://ryukyuesc. blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-45.html (Japanese website). Questions may be asked at twitter.com/Ryukyu_e_ Sports (English ok).
From top to bottom: Bigstock.com/Yastremska, Mike Daley
photooftheweek
Want to get a view of the fish but stay comfortably dry? Check out the Busena Underwater Observatory. To get there, head north on Hwy. 58 until you pass through Nago. Take a left at the traffic light after the sign for Busena Resort. For more information visit busena-marinepark.com. Google map link: http://goo.gl/7jXaYP
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Gross&Net Payouts
spotlight
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urbanbuzz/bigstock.com
Participants may sign up by November 13 for only $30 at the Taiyo Pro Shop.
Taiyo Turkey Shoot
eed a good excuse to play golf? How about an excuse to win a turkey and some cash for Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving dinner just wouldn’t be the same without the big bird. For Okinawa’s golf enthusiasts, Taiyo Golf Club is hosting its annual Turkey Shoot on Saturday, November 12. Imagine getting to play golf on an award-winning course with the added bonus of not having to wrestle with crowds to get a turkey for this year’s Thanksgiving feast. Shoot for turkey like no pilgrim could ever imagine in this teetime, individual-stroke play, 100 percent handicap event. Gift certificates and turkeys will be awarded to the top twelve winners. Payouts run from $40 to $200 plus a turkey, with the top ten all receiving a turkey along with cash. The 2016 Taiyo Golf Club Turkey
Shoot is open to all DoD ID card holders and their sponsored guests. This Thanksgiving, hit the green and come back with a turkey.
For more information, call 6222004/2006 or visit mccsokinawa. com/golf.
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tours+
adventure begins here Tea Ceremony with Kimono Dressing* November 4, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $48, Children (3–11) $38 Take part in a traditional tea ceremony and discover the history behind kimono and dress in a yukata, the traditional summer kimono. A complimentary photo will be provided by the Tea House. Afterwards, we travel to Naha Main Place for lunch and shopping.
Okinawa West Coast Tour* November 5, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults $43, Children (6–12) $26, (3–5) $11, (under 3) FREE Visit Cape Manzamo, one of the most beautiful and scenic spots on Okinawa. Afterwards, have lunch at Okinawa Marriott Resort. Last stop will be at the Okinawa Sweets Factory for dessert.
Battle Sites* November 5, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $28, Children (3–11) $18, (under 3) FREE Explore the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters and end the day at Peace Memorial Park.
Yanbaru Kayaking November 6, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Adults $58, Children (6–12) $36 Get your muscles moving while kayaking between the roots of mangrove trees.
*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
Koza Motor Sport Festival 2016 November 5–6, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Okinawa Comprehensive Park Okinawa City FREE
Proud sponsor of MCCS Youth Sports
Athletics/Adult Sports
From top to bottom: 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
B League Basketball Tournament Ryukyu Golden Kings vs. Osaka Evessa November 5, 7 p.m. November 6, 1 p.m. Ginowan City Gym, Ginowan City Call Tours+ at 646-3502 for tickets.
Tsuboya Yachimun (Okinawan Pottery) Festival November 5–6, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Tsuboya Yachimun Street Naha City FREE
upcoming semperfitevents Open Ultimate Frisbee November 11–13 Camp Hansen House of Pain Fitness Center Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by 1 p.m on November 7 for $90. Tournament brackets and rules will be emailed to each participant. This event is open to participants island-wide. Awards will be given to the top three teams. Details: 623-5569.
Southern Commander’s Cup Softball Tournament November 18–20 Camp Foster Gunners Fitness Center Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by 1 p.m on November 14. This FREE event is open to eligible units on Camps Foster, MCAS Futenma and Camp Kinser. Tournament bracket and rules will be emailed to each participant. Awards will be given to top two teams. Details: 645-3003.
classof theweek Turbo Kickboxing Kick-start your day with this high intensity, invigorating class. This class provides toning and cardio while utilizing punches, kicks and other techniques used when training to box. Camp Courtney 9–10 a.m. For more information and a full schedule, visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness.