November 24, 2016 • mccsokinawa.com
Caylee Reid
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utumn brings refreshing breezes and wel come relief from summer humidity—it’s the perfect time to go hiking! Motobu Fuji, also known as cone karst, is a large hill (or small mountain) that offers one of the best hikes on the island. It’s nestled between several hills, so the beginning is difficult to find. Park your car in the small lot, and make your way up the road to the post that says “Motobu Fuji.” The trail starts easy—a dirt path lined with shiikwasa trees. The trailhead to climb the mountain is on the right at the bottom of a set of wide stairs, then look for the small, wooden sign roped to a tree. This is where the fun begins. You’ll pull yourself up through the steeper parts by ropes and chains. The majority of the trail is covered in jagged moon-like rocks known
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as karst. As you scale higher, beware—there are many thorny vines that snag anything crossing the trail. At the summit, the 360˚ view includes folds of neighboring mountains cracking through the landscape, coral shelves stroking the ocean, Ie Island on the horizon and the unending blue of the sky and sea. Before embarking on your adventure, make sure you have sunscreen, plenty of water, bug spray, a camera with an extra battery, a first-aid kit, a high-energy snack and friends to share the fun. If possible, wear a light, long-sleeve shirt and pants to avoid scratches, and pick up a stick on the trail to clear spider webs. A word of caution: do not go if it is raining. The rocks will be very slick, making the hike dangerous. This hike is moderate to difficult, and is not recom-
Celebrate Thanksgiving | 3 Holiday Lights | 3 Culture Corner: Chopsticks 101 | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5
"The majority of the trail is covered in jagged moon-like rocks known as karst." mended for children under 10. The GPS coordinates are 26.674658, 127.912170 (parking lot) and N 26° 40.542˚ E 127° 54.3782 for the trailhead.
Pick of the Week: Hayatemaru Ramen | 7 A Taste of Home | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11
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livingatlarge
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Celebrate Thanksgiving
his year, celebrate Thanksgiving in maximum style with minimum toil; your greatest challenge of the morning, afternoon or evening (depending on when you wish to dine) is what outfit to wear. At Camp Schwab’s BeachHead enjoy a glorious spread from 4 to 8 p.m. Inside the ballroom in The Palms on Camp Hansen a Thanksgiving buffet will be served from noon to 4 p.m. Thanksgiving meals at the BeachHead and The Palms are $17.95 for adults, $8.95 for children 5–11 and FREE for kids under the age of five. On Camp Courtney, gobble-gobble-gobble up a sumptuous Thanksgiving buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tengan Castle. The award-winning Butler Officers’ Club will also be serving a Thanksgiving buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Camp Kinser’s Surfside will be offering a Thanksgiving buffet from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reservations are recommended for these buffets. All are $19.95 for adults, $9.95 for children 5–11 and FREE for kids under the age of five.
The Veranda inside Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster and the Habu Pit (reservations recommended) located onboard MCAS Futenma will both be serving a Thanksgiving dinner buffet from 5 to 9 p.m. Both dinners are $19.95 for adults, $9.95 for children 5–11 and FREE for kids under the age of five. Finally, those wishing to accentu-
ate their holiday with a few rounds of golf at Taiyo Golf Club can enjoy an a la carte brunch at Taiyo Steakhouse from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. For more details on offerings or to make reservations for a Thanksgiving meal, contact a participating facility. Visit MCCS Club and Restaurants online at mccsokinawa.com/clubs.
events&happenings
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 WRITER/EDITOR | Ashley Snipes Digital marketing manager | Thomas Alan Smilie Ad/Sponsorship Manager | Roy Forster Ad Sales | Yoshihiro Shinzato, Aya Chilcote, Yoriko Yamashiro, Tomoko Taylor, Carina Fils-Julien Distribution | Kelli Kreider Marketing Accounts Manager | Andrew Menges Accounts & Research | Marissa DeSmet, Ashley Herring, Kristen Wong, Katherine Melrose, Allison Dixon Broadcast | Kathlene Millette, Gabriel Archer, Emi Komiya Volunteer | Jessie McKean INTERNS | Chloé Stevens, Valeria Solorzano 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.
From top to bottom: evgenyb/bigstock.com, Mike Daley
Holiday Lights
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he winter holiday season in Japan wouldn’t be complete without getting your fill of Christmas lights, or “illuminations” as they are known here. Mark your calendars— Tours+ will be offering trips to many different places to see holiday illuminations, including one of the largest display. Peaceful illumination in Itoman
City, just south of Naha, is a timeless and spectacular event meant to send prayers of peace to the whole world from Okinawa. There will be a variety of different programs such as concerts, fireworks and laser shows. The venue will be lit by approximately 1.4 million lights, representing each citizen of Okinawa.
Spend a magical evening with MCCS Tours+ at this beautiful location on December 22 from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Prices for adults are $23, children 12 to 14 are $18, children 3 to 11 are $11 and children under 3 are FREE. For more information, call 646-3502.
This publication printed with
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5 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | November 24, 2016
japanese phrase
culturecorner
of the week
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Tabete kudasai. Please eat.
Clockwise from the top left: lizzylou/bigstock.com, Sira Anamwong/bigstock.com
For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.
Chopsticks 101
hopsticks were invented in China, sometime during the Shang Dynasty (1766–1122 BC) and brought from China to Japan during the Yayoi Era (300 BC–300 AD). Believe it or not, before this handy tool was introduced, the Chinese used forks, but once they saw how practical chopsticks were they never looked back. In the beginning, they were simpler, cruder instruments, made of a single piece of bamboo that was bent in the middle (similar to tongs or tweezers). Sometime in the eighth century, the two-piece bamboo chopsticks we are familiar with were brought to Japan from China and the ornamentation and etiquette of chopsticks proliferated. In Japanese society, chopstick manners are very important. One of the first things many learn upon arrival in Japan is how one should never stick chopsticks vertically in a bowl, as
it relates to a funeral ritual. However, the rules go far beyond this. There are several chopstick fauxpas that will earn you looks of disdain and at the very best disbelief: Never pass food chopstick-to-chopstick— this is also related to the funeral tradition of passing the bones of a cremated family member into a funeral urn. Never take food from a communal plate with the business end of your sticks—instead, flip them over
and use the back ends that don’t touch your mouth. Don’t puncture your food with your chopsticks or pick at food stuck to the chopsticks with your mouth, and certainly do not ever lick them. Lastly you should never use your chopsticks to point at someone or to bring a dish closer. It may all sound like too much to remember, but stick with it and you’ll be eating like a local in no time.
If you have any burning questions about Japanese culture, please send them to OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
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7 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | November 24, 2016
getting there
pickoftheweek
Hayatemaru Ramen
Hayatemaru Ramen How to get there: Exit Camp Foster Commissary Gate and take a right. Continue straight until you reach an intersection with Starbucks on your left and Camp Lester on your right. Turn left. Continue straight until you reach the end of the road and turn right when you reach the parking lot. Hayatemaru is located next to Sega Arcade and underneath the bowling alley. GPS coordinates: 26.316637, 127.755737 Open daily 11:30 a.m.–midnight (last order 11:45 p.m.) Yen and dollars accepted
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bowl of ramen is music. Every element and flavor—an instrument, sound and texture to the melody floating across your taste buds. Each bowl—a different song in a different genre. When you eat ramen at Hayatemaru, the music you’ll hear isn’t just the sounds of slurping, but the symphony of broth that took six hours to compose. The spicy ramen at Hayatemaru is full of different elements and ingre-
dients but the flavors come together harmoniously, each one subtle and careful not to overpower the other. The base line of spice carries the soft, sweet and briny flavor of the broth. The ground beef and sliced cucumber provide a counter melody to the bouncing noodles. It’s an ambient, yet biting tune. The red miso ramen fills your mouth with its strong, complex flavor. The broth is slightly tangy yet
smooth, a bellow from a bassoon full of umami. Unlike the subtle charm of the spicy ramen, the red miso is assertive and brazen, like a hungry jazz ensemble. Music can move us, and the right bowl of ramen can do the same thing, beat by beat, riff for riff, slurp for slurp. Just like a memorable hook, you won’t be able to forget the flavors of Hayatemaru’s ramen any time soon.
Thomas Alan Smilie
photooftheweek
You can find oden at nearly any convenience store, as it's great for chilly days. Add items such as boiled eggs, daikon, fishcakes or tofu to the light, soy broth for a warm treat.
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spotlight
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information
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Clockwise: Thomas Alan Smilie
For a complete menu and hours of operation call 637-3137 or visit Red Barn Country Kitchen at mccsokinawa.com/redbarn.
A Taste of Home
njoy comfort food at its best at Red Barn Country Kitchen! Located inside the Kinser Surfside, Red Barn features fried chicken, wings and chicken tenders with a variety of flavors, dips and ‘fixins, such as creamy coleslaw, mac & cheese, biscuits & honey, crispy curly fries and more. Start off with a Red Barn Country Chicken Tender Garden Salad Combo—either the Garden Salad ($4) or the Caesar Salad ($5)— both come with the option of adding Chicken Tenderloins. Next, grab a Chicken Combo (which includes one regular side, a biscuit and a drink). A 2-piece set goes for $7 and the 3-piece set is only $9 (chicken only also available). Want wings instead? Flavors such as The Barn’s on Fire, Red Barn Extreme, BBQ Mango Habanero and more are sure to delight. Pair them with wing dips such as Bacon Chive, Chipotle Pesto, Bleu Cheese, BBQ Honey
Mustard or Garden Ranch for an added flavor-punch. Wing Combos are available in 5-Wing ($9.50), 10Wing ($16.50) and 15-Wing ($23.50) sizes and include crispy curly fries, dip(s) and a drink. Wings-only pack-
ages are also available. Feeding a family? Red Barn also offers Family Meals with 8 ($24), 12 ($36) and 16 ($49) pieces of fried chicken either as a combo or chicken-only.
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tours+
adventure begins here Urashima Dinner Theater* November 25, 5:30–9:30 p.m. Adults $73 with half lobster $58 without lobster, Children (6–12) $39, (3–5) $34, (under 3) FREE* *No meal Savor the varied flavors of Okinawan cuisine while being entertained by traditional music and dancers. Choose from the Okinawan or American menu when you purchase your tickets. Farm & Fish Market November 26, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Adults $20, Children (3–11) $13, (under 3) FREE Explore and shop the freshest foods available on Okinawa at the JA Farmers’ Market and the Vege Vege store. Visit the Mini Zoo for fresh from the hen eggs. The last stop will be the Payao Fish Market, where you can buy a variety of fresh seafood and enjoy a delicious lunch.
Ice Skating Tour* November 26, 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. Bios on the Hill November 27, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Adults $32, Children (4–12) $20, (under 4) FREE Spend a day relaxing in a tropical forest park. Enjoy a boat ride while viewing the flowers, plants, and wildlife native to Okinawa (included in tour price). See the majestic water buffalo up close and personal, and even take a ride in a water buffalo cart. Bring a picnic lunch or order from the local café.
*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
All Okinawan Islands’ Fair 2016 November 25–27, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Onoyama Park, Naha City FREE
Proud sponsor of MCCS Youth Sports
Athletics/Adult Sports
Thomas Alan Smilie, yootin/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
Ginowan Industrial Festival November 26–27, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Ginowan City Square, Ginowan City FREE
Okinawa International Carnival November 26–27, 1–9 p.m. Kadena Gate 2 Street, Okinawa City FREE
upcoming semperfitevents Open 6 vs 6 Soccer Tournament December 2-4 Camp Schwab Power Dome Gym Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by 1 p.m. on November 28 for $90. This event is open to participants islandwide. Tournament b\racket and rules will be emailed to participants. Awards given to top three teams. Details: 625-2654
Open Basketball Tournament December 9-11 Camp Foster Gunners Fitness Center Field House Basketball Courts Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by 1 p.m. on December 5 for $100 per team. This event is open to participants island-wide. Tournament bracket and rules will be emailed to participants. Awards given to top three teams. Details: 645-3003/4866
classof theweek Cycle This indoor cycling class is sure to challenge everyone. You choose your own resistance, making the class as difficult as you want. All camps For more information and a full schedule, visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness.