December 1, 2016 • mccsokinawa.com
Courtesy of Karmin
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he Courtney Christmas and Holiday Festival is a FREE event for all ages and will provide plenty of merriment December 10 and 11 from 1 to 9 p.m. This year’s event will be held at the Exchange compound (adjacent to the Commissary/Exchange parking lot). Don your Christmas spirit and get ready for a truly spectacular festive celebration. This year, pop duo Karmin will be headlining the festival. After a string of Billboard hits including “Brokenhearted” and “Hello,” Karmin’s latest, astrology-influenced album Leo Rising deviates from synth-heavy pop into a more alternative, even indie direction. Not any less infectious and fun, tracks like “Sugar” and “Blame it on my Heart” from the new album reveal a differ-
inside
ent, perhaps un-prepackaged version of the duo. Catch them at 7 p.m. on December 10. The festival is open to all DoD ID card holders and Japanese. There will be booths featuring cultural foods, games, Fun Land featuring Santa’s House, giveaways, amusement rides and more live entertainment. In the spirit of holiday giving, MCCS will also be giving away toys from Mattel, and overnight stays for two courtesy of ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort, Kafuu Resort Fuchaku Condo Hotel, Sheraton Sunmarina Resort and more. There will be shuttles from designated parking areas around Courtney to the festival. No pets, outside alcohol, bottles, backpacks or coolers allowed. Taxi and daiko services will be available.
Holiday Ham Scramble | 3 Christmas Family Night | 3 Culture Corner: Bônenkai | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5
"Karmin will be headlining the festival... Catch them at 7 p.m. on December 10." For more information, visit mccsokinawa.com/ festivals or call 645-5827.
Pick of the Week: Onsen | 7 MLK Basketball Tournament | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11
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livingatlarge
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Holiday Ham Scramble
t’s that time of year, when the weather cools, holidays creep closer and golf lovers unite for a comfortable, less-sweaty tee time at Taiyo Golf Club’s annual Ham Scramble on December 10. Although the title Ham Scramble sounds chaotic, the tournament itself is a great way to leisurely spend your cool Okinawan winter day and win some enviable prizes. The Ham Scramble is a fourperson scramble with a 10 percent combined handicap. For those without team members, the Taiyo Golf Club Committee will select a team for you. The top four teams with net or gross scores will win Christmas hams, money and other special prizes like an overnight stay for two with breakfast at Moon Ocean Ginowan Hotel and Residence. Sign up by December 7 for $30 at Taiyo Golf Club. This event is open to all DoD ID card holders. For more information, visit mccsokinawa.com/golf.
events&happenings
From top to bottom: satariel/bigstock.com, dolgachov/bigstock.com
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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 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.
Christmas Family Night
ooking for a fun night out for the whole family for the holidays? Look no further than Family Nights at the Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster, the Surfside on Camp Kinser and Tengen Castle on Camp Courtney. There will be plenty of kid-friendly fare even the pickiest eaters will enjoy, and adults will have plenty of dinner buffet items to choose from, too. There will be prize giveaways, games and of course, Santa at all dinners, which run from 5 to 9 p.m. An early bird Santa Night will take place at Tengen Castle December 15, and at the Ocean Breeze, Family Night will be on December 21. On the 22nd, Family Night will be at the Surfside. Prices are only $7.95 for adults, $3.95 for children ages 5 to 11 and FREE for children 4 and under. For more information, visit mccsokinawa.com/clubs.
This publication printed with
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japanese phrase of the week
Tameshite Try this.
Clockwise from the top left: ballykdy/bigstock.com, sidarta/bigstock.com
For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.
culturecorner
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ônenkai are gatherings held to celebrate the end of the year. The word bônen roughly translates to “forgetting the past year’s bad luck.” These parties, which are usually held in late November and throughout the month of December, offer many people in Japan an opportunity to forget the trials and tribulations of the past year, and welcome the coming of the New Year with a clean slate and cheerful countenance. These year-end parties often take the form of dinner and drinking get-togethers among co-workers. However, many different groups of people, including close friends, baseball teams and even families, hold “forget the misfortunes of the past year” bashes as well. The second half of the word bônenkai is enkai, which translates to “a party or banquet.” During ancient times, enkai were ceremonial meals held exclu-
Bônenkai
sively by the royal court during specific times of the year. Eventually, these celebrations were adopted by the general populace to commemorate important occasions, such as New Year’s. The bônenkai meal is usually semiformal, and may begin with speeches and toasts made by upper-echelon staff. This is sometimes followed by recognition of achievements and
rounds of toasts, and in some cases recognition of mistakes and a bit of roasting. The party is often followed by nijikai and sanjikai, or the “second and third parties.” These parties are usually a bit looser and more informal than the initial bônenkai, which is traditionally hosted at a Japanese-style restaurant, and often times party-goers split into groups usually separated by age.
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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Tennen Onsen Aroma How to get there: From the Camp Foster Kitamae (commissary) gate, turn left onto Hwy. 58. At the first traffic light, turn right onto the Ginowan Bypass. Turn right just past the McDonald’s and immediately before the Uniqlo store. Go straight past the Don Quijote and Tennen Onsen Aroma will be on your left. GPS Coordinates: 26˚17'17.98"N 127˚44'45.91"E Payments: , Major Credit Cards
lthough onsen did not trickle down to Okinawa until after WWII, there are now several on the island and a handful of sento sprinkled throughout. Our pick this week is an onsen close to home. Located in Ginowan, Tennen Onsen Aroma offers a traditional onsen experience. Slip into the sodium chloride-rich spring water of its rotenburo (outdoor onsen)—open-air but encircled by a carefully manicured zen garden. This serene setting is common on mainland, but a rarity on Okinawa. According to Tennen Onsen Aroma, you can also take a dip in their jet-stream bath for improved circulation, or a cold water bath and a warm cypress bath for improved heart health. The high-temperature sauna and the low-temperature salt scrub sauna claim to enhance the metabolism. Tennen provides all your necessities: towels, soap and loose-fitting apparel to relax in afterwards. Mas-
Onsen
sages, facials and body scrubs are available. Enjoy simple Okinawan cuisine and then curl up in one of the large reclining chairs for a nap. If this is your first onsen experience, take a deep breath and then take the plunge. Men and women are separated, and you may use a small privacy towel before getting into the water. The staff provides English instructions. Unfortunate-
ly, tattoos (no matter how small) are strictly prohibited. Tennen Onsen Aroma is open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight. Adults are ¥1,500; children (high school age) are ¥1,000; ages 6–15 are ¥750 and under 6 are free. Dip in the onsen for a simple relaxation session after work, or make a whole day of it and truly immerse yourself in a Japanese tradition.
Thomas Alan Smilie
photooftheweek
The Courtney Christmas & Holiday Festival offers fun for the whole family. Turn to page 12 (back page) for more information.
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spotlight
more details
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Clockwise: bigstock.com/Wavebreak Media, bigstock.com/yobro
This tournament is a single round robin event followed by a seeded double elimination playoff. There will also be a 3-point shootout, skills challenge and slam dunk contest.
MLK Basketball Tournament
he annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Pacific-Wide Basketball Tournament is the biggest, most-anticipated basketball tournament of the year. The five-day tournament consists of teams of all ages from all over the Pacific. The tournament is held at the Camp Foster Fieldhouse and will run January 12 at 6 p.m., until the championship game on the January 16. There is no fee for spectators. The tournament is open to anyone who wants to play as long as they have a team and register by January 2. Registration is $250. Late entries will be accepted until January 6 at 1 p.m. for $300. The event is full of fun activities for participants and spectators to enjoy such as giveaways, prizes, contests and more. You don’t have to be a big basketball fan to come support your community. Whether you have a
friend or spouse playing, or just want to cheer on your local basketball team, the MLK Basketball Tournament is the perfect event to
do so. For more information, contact Semper Fit Athletics at 645-3521 or mccsokinawa.com/mlkbasketball.
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tours+
adventure begins here Battle Sites Tour December 3, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $28, Children (3–11) $18 (under 3) FREE Visit Kakazu Ridge, the Battle of Okinawa Historical Society’s museum and explore the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters. End the day at Peace Memorial Park. Participants should wear comfortable, non-skid shoes and a hat. Shuri Castle & Naha Tour December 3, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $23, Children (3–11) $16 (under 3) FREE Tour this ancient castle, once home of the 19 Ryukyu kings and the only fully-restored castle on Okinawa. Then, it’s on to Kokusai Street for lunch and shopping. Spend the rest of the afternoon at Fukushu-en Chinese Garden and Naminoue Shinto Shrine.
Northern Highlights Tour December 4, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $39, Children (3–11) $24 (under 3) FREE Visit Nago Pineapple Winery, Nago Glass Factory and the Orion Beer Factory. Then, enjoy a buffet lunch (included) at Yanbaru Ikoi no Mori. Glass blowing is an optional additional fee. Pizza in the Sky & Nakijin Castle December 4, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $23, Children (3–11) $16 (under 3) FREE Visit the famous café, “Pizza in the Sky,” located in the hilly areas of Motobu Village. Enjoy the beautiful panoramic ocean view with a delicious meal of pizza and salad. Afterwards, stop by the Nakijin Castle Ruins to learn the history of the Ryukyu Islands.
*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
Kimono Flea Market December 3, 1–6 p.m. December 4, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Ginowan Marine Shien Center
Proud sponsor of MCCS Youth Sports
Athletics/Adult Sports
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
Kanucha Resort Stardust Fantasia December 1–February 28, 6–11 p.m. Kanucha Resort Hotel, Nago City Tickets: ¥1,500
Ashibina Winter Elegance 2016–2017 December 1–February 14, 5–11 p.m. Okinawa Outlet Ashibina Mall Tomigusuku City
upcoming semperfitevents Northern Commanders Cup Racquetball Tournament December 10–11 Camp Hansen House of Pain Register at an MCCS Athletic Facility by 1 p.m. on December 5. This FREE event is open to eligible units aboard Camps Courtney, Hansen and Schwab. Tournament bracket and rules will be emailed to participants. Awards will be given to the top two teams. Details: 623-5569
Southern Commanders Cup Racquetball Tournament December 10–11 MCAS Futenma Semper Fit Gym Racquetball Courts Register at an MCCS Athletic Facility by 1 p.m. on December 5. This FREE event is open to eligible units aboard Camps Foster, Kinser and MCAS Futenma. Tournament bracket and rules will be emailed to participants. Awards will be given to the top two teams. Details: 636-2672
classof theweek BodyBlast
This strength training class is designed to build strength, increase endurance and burn body fat. Each class will focus on strength training major muscle groups using light weights with heavy repetitions in a fun and motivating atmosphere. Appropriate for ALL fitness levels. Camp Foster For more information and a full schedule, visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness.