December 22, 2016 • mccsokinawa.com
Last issue of the year! Back on January 12.
Thomas Alan Smilie
T
he New Year inspires rituals on both a cultural and personal level. It signals a new start in our lives, and we do a lot of things to make this idea seem as authentic and real as possible. Spaniards eat one grape for each of the 12 chimes at midnight for good luck; Greeks hang onions on their door to symbolize rebirth; Americans watch a giant ball creep down a pole; and in Denmark, throwing dishes on someone’s doorstep brings them many friends. In Japan, there are also a number of rituals that serve to wipe the previous year’s slate clean and represent the good fortune ahead. Two of the most popular New Year’s rituals in Japan are also the most practical when trying to
inside
start the year fresh and forget the past—they involve partying and throwing out all your old junk: Ôsôji and bônenkai mean end-of-year cleaning and forget-the-year party, respectively. Bônenkai are the most attended parties of the year, held by companies and groups of friends. Participating in annual ôsôji symbolizes independence from material things collected throughout the year (read more about ôsôji on page 5). Another popular tradition, which dates back to the Edo Period, is eating noodles. On New Year’s Eve, having a bowl of noodles wards off evil spirits, and noodles represent long life. The first temple visit of the year is also a similar token of good fortune. Called hatsumôde, people
Holiday Flavors at Bonsai Coffee | 3 New Year's Eve Parties at the Clubs | 3 Culture Corner: Ôsôji | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5
"In Japan, there are also a number of rituals that serve to wipe the previous year’s slate clean and represent the good fortune ahead." flock to shrines to offer the first prayers of the year and collect omikuji—yearly fortune.
Pick of the Week: Fukubukuro | 7 Body By You Bootcamp | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11
2 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | December 22, 2016
3 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | December 22, 2016
livingatlarge
L
Holiday Flavors at Bonsai Coffee 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/EDITORS | Ashley Snipes, Shelbie Thilmony 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
ike all things worth celebrating, this time of year is defined by specialty coffee flavors. The holidays are when the peppermint and dark chocolate find each other again, chocolate is something you drink instead of eat, and it’s okay to consume as many gingerbread cookies as you please. Take full advantage of the holiday flavors by stopping at Bonsai Coffee Company to sample their selection of limited brews that bring the holidays to your morning (or afternoon) cup of Joe. Visit any Bonsai Coffee Company location on Camps Foster, Kinser, Hansen or Schwab throughout December to sample their latest offerings including Peppermint Dark Mocha, St. Nick Cocoa, Frosted Gingerbread Latte and Gingerbread Cappuccino. Pair it with a couple of Bonsai’s freshly-baked cookies for a treat worthy of Santa himself. Visit mccsokinawa.com/ bonsai for more information.
Questions? Comments? Please e-mail OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
events&happenings
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.
New Year’s Eve Parties at the Clubs
From top to bottom: alexraths/bigstock.com, alexandr_1958/bigstock.com
G
ather your friends and countdown to 2017 with MCCS Clubs and Restaurants on December 31. The Landing Zone at the BeachHead on Camp Schwab will be open from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Both SNCO and Enlisted Lounges in The Palms on Camp Hansen will also be open from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fill your belly one last time in 2016 with dinner at Taiyo Steakhouse from 6 to 9:30 p.m. On Camp Courtney, Legends Officer’s Lounge and Hashmarks SNCO Lounge are hosting New Year’s Eve parties from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and the Bayview is open from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster has extended hours for all you party animals. Chesty’s SNCO Lounge will be open from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. and the Globe & Anchor will be
open from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Butler’s Officers’ Club will also be open from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. MCAS Futenma has two places for you to ring in the New Year. Habu Pit SNCO Lounge will be open from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Thirsty’s Enlisted Lounge will be open from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. The Surfside Ballroom is your New Year’s party headquarters for Camp Kinser
and will be open from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Now is the time to make your plan for New Year’s Eve. Gather your friends-turned-family here on Okinawa and split a cab, or start your fitness goals off early with a walk over to your local MCCS Clubs and Restaurants. Enjoy the celebrations responsibly. For more information, visit mccsokinawa.com/clubs.
This publication printed with
4 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | December 22, 2016
5 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | December 22, 2016
culturecorner
japanese phrase of the week
Akemashite omedetô gozaimasu! Happy New Year!
Clockwise from the top left: Hannamariah/bigstock.com, nito/bigstock.com
For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.
J
ÔsÔji
apan takes cleaning seriously. Year-end cleaning, or ôsôji, is more than decluttering—it’s a mindset rooted in Buddhism, dating back as far as the Edo Period. Satoru Imamura, head of the Nihon Sôji Kyokai (Japan Cleaning Association) believes sôjidô—the way of cleaning—will create better habits and a better home environment “People can only truly change through action. We believe the programming of a brain changes when someone takes action [with their] hands, mouth and feet. Sôjidô is a type of training that helps define you as a person.” Imamura tackles the overwhelming task of deep cleaning with a simple, yet frightening, rule: people should throw out things they used in the past and things they think they will use in the future. “We all value living in the moment […] I train people on how to let
go of the past and the future in order to concentrate on the present. The best way to start is by cleaning.” Throwing things out can be difficult when we place emotional value on material things. As long as there is a use for them, Imamura deems them okay to keep. “We believe most memorabilia is unnecessary, but if someone has a few things that make them
warm and happy — for example, personal items from a deceased parent — then it’s okay to keep them,” Imamura says. “Perhaps that person could even create a place to display the items. By seeing the item every day and drawing positive energy from it, they are technically using it.”
If you have any burning questions about Japanese culture, please send them to OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
6 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | December 22, 2016
7 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | December 22, 2016
getting there
pickoftheweek
L AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom How to get there: Exit left out of Camp Foster's Legion Gate (#6) onto 330. Head straight for approximately 3 km until you reach 85. Take a right at the stoplight and you will see the mall on your right. GPS Coordinates: 26°18'52.2"N 127°47'46.0"E Payment: ¥, $, Credit Card
Fukubukuro
ucky bags, or fukubukuro, are a fun New Year’s tradition at Japanese retail stores. Keeping in line with the Japanese tradition of starting afresh in the New Year, retail stores put together mystery grab bags of excess merchandise from the previous year and sell them at a discounted rate on New Year’s Day. Lucky bags range in price from ¥500 to upwards of ¥30,000 and typically include five or more items, one in particular being the “prize.” The contents of each bag are kept secret until they are available for purchase. Buyers can expect to receive a hefty discount of up to 80 percent on items in the bag, but they may have to wait in line; popular stores with a reputation for high-value lucky bags can sell out quickly and customers waiting in line may be turned away if no more bags are left. Extreme couponers may be inter-
ested in utsubukuro, or misfortune bags, which are steeply discounted mystery bags filled with items the retailer simply wants to get rid of, and aren’t of high value or popularity. The price for these unlucky bags usually falls between ¥500 and ¥1,000. Pick one of these up out of sheer curiosity or as a heartfelt gift for someone you don’t love. If you’re looking to score big with
a fukubukuro at AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom on this New Year’s Day, here are some tips: get together with friends and decide which stores you want to visit ahead of time. Since bags are in high demand, you may want to split up so that each of you can get in line at a different store. Be sure to arrive early so that you can get your hands on the lucky bag you want before it sells out!
From top to bottom: leungchopan/bigstock.com, Thomas Alan Smilie
photooftheweek
Visit a temple or shrine on New Year's Day to pick up an omikuji. These fortune-telling papers determine if your year will be a great blessing or a great curse.
9 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | December 22, 2016
spotlight
more details
C Registration for Body By You Bootcamp is accepted through December 31, and should be scheduled at the gym where you will attend classes. Camp Foster Gunners Fitness Center Monday, Wednesday and Friday 5 to 6 a.m., or 4 to 5 p.m. Camp Courtney Ironworks Fitness Center Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9 to 10 a.m.
Clockwise: Sashkin/bigstock.com, Langstrup Photography/bigstock.com
Please call 645-3910 for more information, or check them out at mccsokinawa/healthpromotion.
Body By You Bootcamp
ommit to your New Year’s fitness goal before the countdown starts. MCCS Semper Fit is now accepting registration for Body By You Bootcamp classes, being held from January 9 through March 3 at Gunners Fitness Center on Camp Foster and Ironworks Fitness Center on Camp Courtney. The class will meet 3 times a week for 8 weeks to help you push through the first two months of 2017 when your resolve for a “New Year, New You” may wane. Led by an MCCS Personal Trainer, participants will receive a fitness assessment, food log, nutrition brief and an individualized exercise prescription. The workouts are designed to show participants that fancy gym equipment isn’t needed to achieve optimum performance. Body By You Bootcamp is for all fitness levels, and will help you establish positive fitness and nutrition habits.
10 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | December 22, 2016
11 | OKINAWA LIVING WEEKLY | December 22, 2016
tours+
adventure begins here Southeast Botanical Gardens Illumination & Dinner * December 23 4:30–9:30 p.m. Adults $71, Children (15–18) $63, (12-14) $58, (6-11) $28, (4-5) $24, (Under 3) FREE Have an unforgettable meal at Taiyo Steakhouse followed by a stroll through a sea of lights that are sure to take your breath away. Christmas Sunset Dinner Cruise* December 24, 3:30–8:30 p.m. Couples $160; Adults $86, Children (6-12) $50, (3-5) $27, (0-2) FREE with no meal Enjoy live music and a gorgeous sunset from the upper-level deck. This scenic cruise includes a steak and garlic shrimp dinner.
Children’s Zoo Light Show* December 24, 3:30–7:30 p.m. Adults $35, Children (4–15) $9, (Under 4) FREE Join us at the Okinawa Children’s Zoo for an exciting holiday themed laser light show and even play in some snow. Forest Adventure* December 27, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults $49, Children (7–17) $34 Zip through the Okinawan woodlands and test your courage on the zip slide ride, Amazon rope bridge, Tibetan bridge, and many other exciting courses. Children must be at least 6 years old and 56 inches tall.
*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
Southeast Botanical Gardens Night Decoration December 22–February 19, 5–9 p.m. Southeast Botanical Gardens Okinawa City Adults ¥1,800, Children (7–15) ¥500, (16–18) ¥1,000, (under 6) FREE
Proud sponsor of MCCS Youth Sports
Athletics/Adult Sports
Thomas Alan Smilie, DJM4/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
Trick Art Exhibition December 23–January 29 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Okinawa Outlet Mall Ashibina Tomishiro City Adults ¥700, Children (13–18) ¥600, (4–12) ¥500, (under 4) FREE
Kanucha Resort Stardust Fantasia December 22–February 28 6–11 p.m. Kanucha Resort Hotel, Nago City Contact Tours+ for discount tickets
upcoming semperfitevents Flag Football Tournament December 30–January 1 Camp Kinser Fitness Center Register at Camp Kinser by December 27 at 1 p.m. for $105 per team. Games will begin on December 30 at 6 p.m., and December 31 and January 1 at 9 a.m. Awards will be given to the top three teams. Details: 637-1869
6-on-6 Soccer Tournament January 6-8 Camp Schwab Power Dome Fitness Center Register at Camp Schwab by January 2 at 1 p.m. for $90 per team. Games will begin on January 6 at 6 p.m., and January 7–8 at 9 a.m. Awards will be given to the top three teams. Details: 625-2654
classof theweek Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga exercises ligaments, bones, and joints not normally exercised in active asana practice. The connective tissues of the hips, pelvis, and lower spine are the focus of this relaxing class. Camp Foster For more information and a full schedule, visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness