Hina
Matsuri
SPRING OUTINGS UNSUNG HEROES: March 2021 | Issue 277
SAVING OKINAWA’S CORAL REEF
contents March 2021
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features
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Spring Tours Bask in Nature’s Unrestricted Optimism Go whale watching, azalea viewing and hiking to truly enjoy Okinawa in all its spring brilliance.
Unsung Heroes: Saving Okinawa’s Coral Reefs It is well within our power to slow and even reverse the damage we are causing to coral reefs. So what can we as individuals do to save these beautiful creatures that we share our planet with?
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MCCS PHOTOS
On the cover Learn about the rich history of hina dolls and the traditions tied to them.
Hina Matsuri An Age-old Tradition Passed from Generation to Generation There’s much more to Japanese dolls and figurines than the modern-day robots and anime figures you might be used to. Dolls in Japan have a rich history—and even a centuries-old national festival with dolls as the main focus.
contents March 2021
kids + parents 49 Read Across America Celebrate the many people and cultures in our great American melting pot with MCCS Libraries as we Read Across America!
51 Kids on the Move If your child is energized and ready to exercise, take advantage of Semper Fit’s Kids on the Move, an event focused on kiddos’ fitness and nutrition.
services 53 Ikebana The Japanese art of flower arranging has been around for centuries, and lessons are still readily available to this day—even on Camp Foster.
55 Engraved Plaques If you’re looking for a creative gift, keep the Foster Custom Shop in mind, where you can create personalized plaques that will be sure to impress.
51 fitness + fun
marines + families
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Virtual Color Me Fun Run Hit the streets of Camp Foster in this virtual 5k celebrating two important causes: Month of the Military Child and Autism Awareness Month.
Stress Management Stress is an inevitable part of life. Being stressed, however, is not. Learn how to better manage stress through Family Advocacy Program’s Stress Management classes.
31 Fit Camp A six-week exercise program tailored to the individual goals of its participants. Will you accept the challenge?
33 National Nutrition Month A good plan leads to good habits. And what better time to make a nutrition plan than National Nutrition Month?
39 Saying Sayonara to Language Barriers Experience your home-away-from-home to the fullest by learning Japanese through Marine & Family Programs-Resources’ Japanese Language Class.
dining + entertainment 43 Hansen Festival MCCS is thrilled to announce the return of Hansen Festival, a single-day extravaganza featuring entertainment, carnival rides, food and more.
extras 5 Mensôre
7 Feedback & Show Us!
69 Living on Okinawa
70 Marketplace Guide
MARCH 2021 | ISSUE 277 COMMANDING GENERAL, MCIPAC Brigadier General William J. Bowers ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF, MCCS, MCIPAC Edward S. Hutsell DEPUTY ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF, MCCS DIRECTOR, MCCS, MCB CAMP BUTLER Michael S. Gieseck DEPUTY MCCS DIRECTOR MARINE & FAMILY PROGRAMS Carlos J. Saldaña DEPUTY MCCS DIRECTOR BUSINESS & SUPPORT Hyun Woo Chang CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Jim Kassebaum EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mike Daley MCCS ART DIRECTOR Henry C. Ortega OKINAWA LIVING ART DIRECTORS Margie Shimabukuro, Emeline Toole GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Giulia Pulvirenti, Mayar Mahmoud, Rebecca Lambertsen DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Thomas Alan Smilie PHOTOGRAPHER Hillary Taylor EDITORIAL Alex Jusell, Angie Andrews DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA Kathlene Millette, Lillion Hunt Hamilton CULTURAL RESEARCH SPECIALIST Ayako Kawamitsu ADVERTISING SALES & SPONSORSHIP MANAGER Roy Forster ADVERTISING SALES & SPONSORSHIP Yoshihiro Shinzato, Hiromitsu Horikawa Terumi Nagai, Serge Sombie, Crystal Rivas MARKETING ACCOUNTS MANAGER Andrew Menges MARKETING ACCOUNTS Courtney Davis, Leah Scrybalo
mensôre “Welcome” to Okinawa Living
Head Out! Although spring starts a bit earlier here on Okinawa than in the rest of Japan to the north, March is still traditionally considered the beginning of the season— one synonymous with rebirth, renewal, revitalization and resurrection. It’s a time when barren branches sprout leaves and hills and fields are blanketed with a thick layer of verdant green accented with colorful flowers—including azaleas brilliantly complementing the deep azure of Okinawa’s springtime skies. Time to head outside and celebrate the end of a dreary and cold winter! Okinawa offers many things to do, places to go and events to enjoy during the month of March. Camp Hansen will host the first festival of the year, and clubs and restaurants will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with go-green events such as the “Lucky Green Bun Giveaway” at Thirsty’s on MCAS Futenma. In the spirit of renewal, March will also offer opportunities to get fit with Health Promotion’s Fit Camp for adults and Kids on the Move for the youngsters. Cool weather and blue skies make March a perfect time for gathering the family or friends (or both) for a hiking expedition or to catch a glimpse of whale pods off of Okinawa’s coasts before they leave on their long journeys northward with their families. March is also the perfect month to just roll all the way to the bottom of a grassy hill cushioned with clovers. Go ahead, you know you want to. As always, we thank you for picking up this issue of Okinawa Living Magazine. Now, time to turn the page and let your journey begin!
DISTRIBUTION Brian Jones
We welcome your comments. Please send letters to editor@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org For advertising | 広告掲載のお問い合わせ (日本語可) 098-970-2245 (phone) | 098-970-0975 (fax) sales@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org (email) See our advertising rates at mccsokinawa.com MCCS MARKETING BRANCH MCB Camp S.D. Butler. Unit 35023, FPO AP 96378-5023
Mike Daley Editor-In-Chief
Okinawa Living is published by MCCS Marketing. Its purpose is to inform the military and civilian community about events and programs offered by MCCS or available in the local market. Dates and times may change. Copyright ©2021 by MCCS. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transferred in any form, by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without written permission of the copyright owner. No federal or Marine Corps endorsement of advertisers and sponsors. MCCS is not responsible for editing content of non-MCCS ads. Okinawa Living Magazine is printed with
Take us on the road Enjoy Okinawa Living Magazine on your favorite mobile device! Visit mccsokinawa.com/ol for the latest issue. Also, visit issuu.com/mccsokinawa to see back issues of the magazine.
The Butler Officers’ Club staff is doing a great job! Sunday brunch is always great, the holiday meals were outstanding and the ability to get carryout is very convenient. The First Friday initiative is especially awesome with great food and an inviting atmosphere. Keep up the good work! —via ICE The staff at Foster Outdoor Recreation is outstanding and always willing to go above and beyond, but I noticed that there is no way to recognize them for the efforts. Is there any way you can have an employee of the month picture hanging on the wall in the facility? Also, are there any other ways to reward them for being so great? I would like to add that Ms. Latisha [ChoiceKapperman] has been outstanding and provides amazing customer service. —via ICE Thank you for contacting us at Semper Fit, as we always appreciate feedback. We were overjoyed to hear that you were happy with the service provided by the Foster Outdoor Recreation staff and thank you for taking the time to recognize their efforts. Semper Fit Athletics, which oversees Outdoor Recreation, strives to provide the best customer service possible so all customers enjoy a positive experience when using any of our facilities and offerings. One of the best ways to recognize our employees for their efforts is sharing positive feedback such as yours via the ICE system. It’s a great affirmation to know that the work they do to meet the needs and expectations of our customers is appreciated. Although there are no current plans to have an employee of the month picture hanging on the wall, this is something we can look at implementing in the future. Thank you again for bringing the issue to our attention as your feedback is an invaluable part of improving our program. —James Biggins, Athletic Director, Gunners Fitness Center The staff at the Camp Courtney Library is amazing! They continue to have fun and engaging activities for the kids, while adhering to the social-distancing guidelines. My children recently participated in the Spelling Bee and video game tournament and loved it. They always look forward to visiting the library. Keep rocking, Courtney Library! —via ICE MCCS Okinawa’s loan locker on Camp Foster is by far the best I’ve seen in the past 12 years that I’ve been in the Navy. Although the employee that assisted us was fairly new, she offered exceptional customer service. I am grateful for this service, as we used it for almost 30 days prior to our household goods arriving. Thank you! —via ICE
Give MCCS Feedback—ICE Program & Facebook Let us know how we can better serve you or thank us for a job well-done. Go to mccsokinawa.com and click on the ICE link at the bottom of the homepage or find us on Facebook to share feedback. Comments on this page may be edited for clarity or length.
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OUT + ABOUT
BASK IN NATURE’S UNRESTRICTED OPTIMISM TEXT BY: Angie Andrews DESIGN BY: Rebecca Lambertsen
MCCS PHOTOS
Spring is nature’s evidence of unrestricted optimism. The sun starts shining for just a bit longer, in turn brightening each day. New blooms, a burst of growth amongst perennial plants and new baby additions to the animal kingdom are all signals inviting us to get out and celebrate life. With all of its brilliance, spring helps to set the tone for a wondrous year.
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OUT + ABOUT
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If you picked up our February issue of Okinawa Living Magazine, you might be wondering when whale watching season closes. March is usually the last month Tours+ offers tours to witness these magnificent creatures, but this timeframe is definitely optimal. Of course the weather is a bit better, but these are also the best few weeks to see baby whales. The relationship between mother humpbacks and their calves is strengthened through nursing and frequent communication. The calves depend on their mothers for milk and can drink up to 600 liters in one day! As a byproduct of nursing, the calves stay close to their mothers at all times. Communicating in a few ways, calves affectionately tap fins with their moms and whisper (making squeaks or grunts) back
and forth in order to help with tracking in murky water. Additionally, the whispering serves as a way for the mother whales to help protect the babies from predators once they start migrating north. The bond between mother humpbacks and their young remains unbroken for about a year after birth. And although they are indeed babies, newborn humpbacks can weigh up to a ton and measure up to five meters in length. That is quite an enormous amount of adorable splendor to observe. There are several locations on island— such as Zampa Misaki, Manzamo, Okinawa Expo Park (from the top of the hill) and others—where whales can be spotted from land. You may even be lucky enough to see a breach! MARCH 2021 | OKINAWA LIVING 11
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OUT + ABOUT
For those looking to add a pop of color to their spring adventures, you can celebrate with azaleas! Higashi Village is home to Tsutsuji Eco Park (Azalea Park) with close to 50,000 of these flowering shrubs. (Fun fact: that’s about 25 times more plants than the population of the village!) Spreading throughout the 4-hectare (or almost 10-acre) park which offers breathtaking views of Taira Bay, the beautiful blossoms are yours to admire. Azalea plants can live a long time, and some last hundreds of years. Since these shrubs can keep growing throughout their
Check out ark! P o c E i j u s t Tsu
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lives, some reach heights of six meters or more, while others remain less than 30 centimeters tall but spread out widely and cover a lot of ground. They also come in various colors from whites, pinks and purples to rarer reddish-orange shades. On Okinawa, the azaleas are usually in full bloom during the month of March, and when the Azalea Festival is held, you can find other attractions such as eisa dancers and food vendors. Trips to this bucket-list worthy festival are usually offered by Tours+, so be sure to check for availability during your time on island.
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OUT + ABOUT
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MCCS PHOTOS
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Okinawa is hiding a whole lot of the great outdoors within its island landscape, so when you’re ready to swap those comfortable walking shoes for sturdier sneakers or boots, it’s time to go hiking. Opt for a trail that leads to historical sites, waterfalls or simply some well-deserved peace and quiet. If you’re up for combining your whale watching trip to the Keramas with a hike, check out Tokashiki Island. You can catch a ferry either directly from Naha or from Zamami or Aka. Although the island is only 9 km long and 3 km wide, 90 percent of its trails are uphill. You can consider the whole of it your own trekking paradise, but there are designated hiking trails as well. One thing to note: March is the perfect time to hike on Tokashiki as the considerable habu population is still hibernating! Heading in the opposite direction, towards Nago, hikers have numerous options to choose from—Hiji Falls, Mt. Katsuudake, Mt. Awadake and many more. But one area you definitely don’t want to miss is Dai Sekirinzan near Hedo Point. This is one of the usual hiking excursions offered through Tours+ and a great option if you’re not up for making the long drive yourself.
Winding through limestone formations and past ancient banyan trees, there are four trails to choose from, one of which is wheelchair-accessible. Beyond its captivating views, Dai Sekirinzan is considered a sacred place by many. And lastly, if you are looking to stay a little closer to the central part of the island, head out to Zakimi Castle Ruins Park or search for the Yamada Stone Bridge. You can also get in some pre-hike training and tackle the famous “Stairway to Heaven” near Camp Foster. Even if you aren’t up for the more difficult hikes, exploring on your own two feet is always recommended. In keeping with the spirit of spring, we, too, can hope for new chances to experience Okinawa’s wonders. Whether the safety of our communities during the ongoing pandemic allows for such outings this year or reserves them for the future, be sure to add these seasonal activities to your must-do list. As always, please check your command’s restrictions before heading out to explore the island and if you’d like to join a tour, visit mccsokinawa.com/tours. MARCH 2021 | OKINAWA LIVING 15
Text by: Alex Jusell | Design by: Emeline Toole
MIKE DALEY
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Corals are animals, and a single coral colony is made up of thousands of tiny, genetically identical polyps. Each polyp has a round body and a mouth surrounded by miniscule tentacles, which can sting and catch microscopic sea creatures floating by. There are two general types of corals: soft and hard. The main difference is that the polyps in hard (or reef-building) corals secrete a skeleton from their bases, which gives the colony a denser structure. Both soft and hard corals, however, depend on microscopic algae called zooxanthellae to survive. Algae and coral have a mutually beneficial relationship and get along famously: algae live inside the polyps themselves, photosynthesizing and supplying the coral with food in exchange for protection and nutrients. Algae is also responsible for corals’ vibrant colors; without algae, coral is white. Lastly, reefs serve as nurseries for small fish. If corals disappear, small fish will have lower survival and reproductive rates, which in turn will negatively impact populations of larger fish. In short, remove reefs and the ecosystem collapses.
MIKE DALEY
Humans all over the world benefit greatly from the existence of coral, but let’s focus on Okinawa specifically. Okinawa’s economy depends on coral reefs. Think about how much tourism the reefs attract, and how central the fish that inhabit these reefs are to Okinawan and Japanese cuisines. These reefs keep diving companies, fisheries, markets, restaurants—whole local communities—alive. Reefs also serve as breakwaters, or barriers that break up the energy of incoming waves. Without reefs, storms would have a far more destructive impact on Okinawa and its citizens. And as if that wasn’t enough already, reefs help people across the globe fight illnesses. Coral reefs are a common source from which pharmaceutical drugs are derived— drugs that fight cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, viruses and more—so much so that reefs have earned the nickname “underwater medicine cabinets.” Now, even if reefs weren’t beneficial to us, there’d be a moral obligation to save them since we are the ones responsible for their destruction. These benefits, however, give us all the more reason to identify the dangers we are posing to corals and fix them. To learn more on this subject, we spoke with Dr. Piera Biondi, a research scientist at the University of the Ryukyus’ Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Lab and marine biologist for The Oceancy, an NGO which provides consultancy for marine conservation, restoration and sustainability.
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REEFS
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DR. PIERA BIONDI
Dr. Biondi states that “Climate change is affecting coral reefs worldwide…causing bleaching and the loss of many hectares of reefs,” with bleaching events being “particularly strong in 1998, 2010, 2015 and 2016.” Here’s how that works: Fossil fuel usage, livestock farming and deforestation (among other things) increase the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is good at trapping heat. Elevated CO2 levels trap heat on Earth, and as our oceans cover roughly two-thirds of the planet, they absorb much of that heat. Remember how famously algae and coral get along? Unfortunately, increased water temperature, along with “overfishing, water pollution and sediment runoff,” said Dr. Biondi, puts tremendous stress on that relationship. Too much stress, and the coral will expel the algae from its tissues—the algae that it needs to survive. Without the algae, coral turns white (this is known as bleaching) and typically dies soon after if conditions don’t improve. Coastal development is also a threat to reefs, especially on Okinawa. In 2019, Dr. Biondi’s colleagues, Dr. Giovanni Masucci and Assoc. Prof. James Reimer, published a study on the loss of Okinawa’s natural coastlines (doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7520). They found that roughly 63 percent of Okinawa’s coasts have been altered, and a shocking 45.3 percent have been land-filled, or reclaimed. Dr. Biondi explained that land reclamation, or the process of creating new land from oceans, “has a huge impact on coral reefs by direct destruction or by alteration of the environment where they live.” And what really compounds this destruction is that reefs have suffered from an “out of sight, out of mind” situation, which—as Richard Vevers, reef conservationist and CEO of The Ocean Agency, puts it— “is an advertising issue.” However, as documentation and awareness of the plight of corals increase, so do their chances of survival.
“Climate change is affecting coral reefs worldwide…”
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PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. PIERA BIONDI
There is still time to stop and even reverse the damage we are causing to our reefs and planet...
Let’s start with the bigger picture—there is hope. There is still time to stop and even reverse the damage we are causing to our reefs and planet, and thankfully, more and more countries are shifting to clean energy and making commitments to greatly reduce their carbon emissions. And while commitments are merely promises that would be better coupled with stricter regulations and stronger policies, this is a move—albeit slow—in the right direction. But the faster we get this transformation rolling, the better, because, as Dr. Biondi explained, restoration is just complementary to conservation: “Many governments are investing in improving restoration strategies, which is great. However, restored reefs cannot compare with the complexity and diversity of native reefs, in the same way planted trees cannot compare with native forests. We need to invest more resources in establishing large scale Marine Protected Areas, sustainability protocols, ecotourism and education. We also need stronger laws for coastal conservation. We have to ask ourselves: is it worthwhile to invest millions of dollars to restore a few hectares of reef while constantly land-filling much wider areas of native reefs to build malls, resorts, parking lots, houses, fishing ports or military bases? Compared to restoration, conservation is cheaper, easier to implement and leads to better results. The two strategies need to be complementary.” In regards to those local restoration efforts, fishermen and diving centers on Okinawa have been supporting reef restoration since the 1990s. Since 2011, Okinawa Prefecture itself has thrown more weight behind restoration with the successful establishment of a coral nursery in Onna Village called Maeganeku Farm. Once large enough, the colonies grown in this nursery are fragmented and outplanted to damaged areas in the outer reefs. Other coral nurseries, like Sango Batake, and NGOs, like Reef Check and The Nature Conservation Society of Japan, are also active locally. The latter associations are important in that they work on monitoring reefs, tracking changes both positive and negative so conservation and restoration efforts can be more focused and data-driven.
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Vote
Help elect officials who make environmental conservation a priority.
Limit your fish consumption
Fish eat crown-of-thorns starfish that can destroy reefs, as well as macroalgae that compete against coral’s microalgae for sunlight. If we limit fish consumption, and thereby reduce overfishing, there will be more fish present to assist in keeping corals alive.
Dive and snorkel responsibly
Be aware of your surroundings and the current tide. Corals are fragile. One kick from a diver’s fin, one knock from a hanging regulator, causes damage that can take months for the coral to recover from. Also, it should go without saying but we will anyways: do NOT stand or walk on coral. Additionally, look for sunscreens without oxybenzone, a chemical shown to damage coral reefs.
Reduce pollution
Avoid single-use plastics, pick up trash when you see it and never litter. Pollutants can kill fish and corals, and fishing debris like nets can effectively smother colonies.
Get involved
Donate your time or money to organizations actively working to preserve our reefs, like The Oceancy, Reef Check, Project AWARE and many more.
Spread the word and see for yourself
Many people are unaware of the problems corals face. Help preserve these beautiful ecosystems by spreading the word, and while you’re at it, go see corals for yourself. Organizations like The Ocean Agency are doing the great work of photographing reefs so corals can reach a wider audience, but there is nothing like seeing these reefs with your own eyes. If you don’t have one already, think about getting a dive certification through Tsunami Scuba. It’s much easier than you might think. If you’re interested, check out mccsokinawa.com/tsunamiscuba.
Help preserve these beautiful ecosystems by spreading the word.
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FITNESS + FUN
Virtual Color Me Fun Run It’s Going to be a Blast (of Color!) April is an important month for two reasons: it is both Month of the Military Child—a time to honor the sacrifices and unique challenges military-affiliated children face—and Autism Awareness Month, a chance to increase the understanding and acceptance of people with autism, thereby fostering worldwide support. So, to bring service members and their families together to celebrate these two very special occasions, the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is hosting the Virtual Color Me Fun Run all month long (and then some). Here’s how this virtual 5k will work. Registration is open March 14–April 30 to SOFA ID card holders for FREE at mccsokinawa.com/ efmp. As soon as you register, you’ll have all of April to run the set
course and record your effort using a cellphone or smartwatch application. After your run, you will then email a screenshot of your stats (including the date, distance and duration) to efmp@okinawa. usmc-mccs.org by April 30. In the following days, winners will be announced on EFMP’s Facebook page. Furthermore, the race packets for each participant will include color powder for use during the run to help you celebrate in style. And as the course on Camp Foster will be available to run at any time, you’ll have to decide: will your family brighten up the day, or liven up the night? For more information, please head to mccsokinawa.com/efmp or facebook.com/mccsokinawa.marineandfamily.
Taiyo Targets A Win-Win Situation At Taiyo Targets, you won’t have much time to ease into the competition or shake off any rust because the challenges start early and last throughout the round. This is a tee-time event and early registration is not required, which means that you can book your regular tee time with your buddies and those who want can join the games and test themselves. The good news with this event is that it is a win-win situation no matter how you look at it: If you win, you, of course, win; but even if you don’t win in the competition, you’ll still have a whole day of golf under your belt. So come to Taiyo Golf Club on March 20, and bring your ‘A’ game. Just keep in mind that participants must have a tee time before 9 a.m. Tee times start at 6:30 a.m. and you can register at check-in for $10.
As for the challenges themselves, you have eight opportunities to win, as the “targets” include closest-to-the-pin on all of the par 3 holes along with the straightest drive, longest drive and two smart drive competitions. Closest-to-the-pin is the shot that comes to rest closest to the hole (on the green), the straightest drive is the shot with the least amount of slice or hook (closest to a line painted on the fairway), the longest drive is the shot that travels the farthest distance on the fairway, and the smartest drive is the shot that best demonstrates critical thinking in hitting and positioning the ball on the fairway. The winner of each target competition will be awarded MCCS Gift Certificates and go home with bragging rights. For more information, please head to mccsokinawa.com/golf. If you have any questions, please call 622-2004/2006. MARCH 2021 | OKINAWA LIVING 29
FITNESS + FUN
Duke it Out on the Field Camp Hansen Softball Tournament The inventor of softball, George Hancock, got his idea for the sport when one college-football fan threw a balled-up boxing glove at another. In fact, the first few games of softball were played with this makeshift stand-in while Mr. Hancock designed an official game ball. It’s fitting that a boxing glove was used in place of a ball since softball is not a game for softies at all. So bring your toughest team and knock some out of the park at the Camp Hansen softball field on March 13 and 14. When organizing your team, keep in mind that this tournament is open to SOFA ID card holders island-wide, ages 16 and older. Each team may have between 9 and 15 players plus a coach (if your coach is planning to play, they count against your 15-player limit). As for the games, if you lose one, it isn’t time to throw in the towel yet, but lose two and you’re definitely counted down and out. So, keep your competitive edge up while duking it out and you might just go home with some loot, as 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams will receive awards and T-shirts. Register through Eventbrite before 1 p.m. on March 8 for $150 per team. Once the registration window closes, tournament schedules will be finalized and released to registered teams. Be sure to report to the field at least 30 minutes before each of your assigned game times. For more information, visit mccsokinawa.com/adultsports or head to facebook.com/ mccsokinawa.semperfit. And if you have any questions, please email adultsports@okinawa. usmc-mccs.org.
Make the Transformation… Become a Dolphin Today! Becoming a Dolphin is much easier than you might imagine, for it is not the dorsal fin, flipper or ear-splitting call that makes the dolphin—it’s the tenacious swimming spirit. And if you’ve got that spirit, come join the fastest pod on island: the Okinawa Dolphins Swim Team (ODST). Tryouts for the youth ODST spring season take place on March 22, 3:30–5 p.m., at the Camp Foster Aquatic Center and consist of a two-stage skills test. In the first stage, you must swim freestyle for 50 meters while demonstrating correct head and body position, constant kicking and proper side-breathing. For the second stage, you must swim breaststroke for 25 meters then backstroke for another 25 (you are allowed a 20-second rest in between the 25-meter swims in
the second stage). All swims must meet competitive stroke rules, be non-stop efforts and be performed with no parental interaction. Apart from the skills test, swimmers must demonstrate maturity and be a SOFA ID card holder between 7 and 18 years of age. Once a part of the team, Dolphins attend regular practices and meets. If you have prior swim team experience or are unable to make the tryouts, please email aquatics@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org and a late tryout may be arranged. No registration is required; just show up on March 22, show us your skills, and you could be a Dolphin in no time. For more information, head to mccsokinawa.com/swimteam or facebook.com/mccsokinawa.aquatics.
Challenge Accepted Improve Your Overall Health The importance of health and fitness is common knowledge, but that doesn’t mean keeping up a healthy and fit life is a simple task. As the saying goes, “If it was easy, everyone would do it.” Fitness is a lifelong challenge, no ifs, ands or buts about it. Are you willing to accept the challenge? Fit Camp is a six-week small group exercise program led by a personal trainer—that means that even though you’re working out in a group setting, the workout you complete is tailored to you and your goals. Along with your trainer, you’ll meet other like-minded individuals committed to better overall health and fitness. Together, Fit Campers can provide mutual encouragement and support each other while everyone gains confidence and strength. Each session is progres-
sive with continuous monitoring of development, so by the end of week six, you’ll not only have a great grasp of the positive strides you’ve taken, you’ll also be armed with knowledge and renewed confidence to keep you moving forward on your fitness journey. Fit Camps run year-round and are held on multiple Marine Corps installations. For upcoming Fit Camp details and to register, please visit the front desk of the Semper Fit Fitness Center where you’d prefer to attend. SOFA ID card holders island-wide ages 18 and older are invited to attend. The registration cost is $199 per participant. For more information, please visit mccsokinawa. com/healthpromotion or call 645-3910 from a DSN or 098-970-3910 from off base. MARCH 2021 | OKINAWA LIVING 31
FITNESS + FUN
National Nutrition Month Form Those Healthy Habits Our minds are very sneaky. Even after being beaten over the head for years with nutritional advice from our parents, teachers and doctors—“you are what you eat,” “processed foods are bad for you,” “a moment on the lips, forever on the hips,” etc.—the voice in your head may still try to (quite convincingly) justify why having a bacon-wrapped chili-cheese dog is a good idea. How to counteract these urges that are devilishly easy to rationalize? It takes practice, persistence and, perhaps most of all, planning. An organized game plan is crucial when it comes to maintaining nutrition because plans lead to habits. And once healthy habits are formed, your inner voice—no longer a marionette to cravings and impulses—becomes much more healthfocused and much less combative. What better time to make a nutrition plan than National Nutrition Month? Join MCCS Health Promotion in taking control of your nutrition as they celebrate National Nutrition Month all March long. FREE individual consultations are available in which a nutrition expert can help make a plan that is best for you. To set up an appointment, simply call 645-3910 from a DSN or 098-970-3910 from off base. Also, if you head to mccsokinawa.com/ healthpromotion, you’ll find links to nutrition-related resources to help you in your journey towards a healthier lifestyle, including nutritiondata.self.com, which will help you learn how to read nutrition labels, and caloriecontrol.org. The latter website is stocked with nutrition facts and tips based on the latest dietary research, as well as calculators to help you compute your healthy body weight, BMI, calorie intake and more. Another great resource is eatright.org, which is celebrating National Nutrition Month by offering weekly goals to shoot for throughout March. These goals will help you create a stable foundation in nutrition that you can build from well after National Nutrition Month has ended. Additionally, you can visit myplate.gov for information on healthy eating and proper portioning to meet your nutritional goals. Lastly, keep an eye out for the wellness-themed kids’ events this month such as Eat the Rainbow (more on that below) and Kids on the Move (see p. 51).
Eat the Rainbow Helping Your Kids Understand Nutrition Hopefully you’re a parent of that one kid who just loves broccoli and can’t imagine life without Brussels sprouts—what a dream! Unfortunately, it’s more likely that your child prefers chicken nuggets and fries over healthier fare. And we’ve all witnessed the kids who stick to the same foods over and over again—the picky eaters. But never fear, parents—developing healthy eating habits and increasing your child’s understanding of nutrition doesn’t have to be a battle resulting in tears at the dinner table every night. There are plenty of fun ways to introduce your children to different and healthy foods. For example, the strategy of “eating the rainbow” involves seeing how many different colors of fruits and vegetables you can eat. This can be a fun way for your whole family to incorporate healthy choices into every meal and snack. And even though it’s a fun way to get your kids to play along, there are research-based reasons to eat a variety of colors. Raspberries, strawberries, red peppers, tomatoes and other reds fight free radicals, in turn warding off things like heart and lung
disease. All of the greens you can think of are powerhouses when it comes to preventing cancer and blues and purples such as blueberries, eggplant and plums can delay cellular aging and thwart the formation of blood clots. Plus, don’t forget those oranges and yellows, which are also good for your heart and keeping your cells in tip-top shape—go for carrots, bananas, oranges, mangos and those delicious tankan (tangerines). If you’re looking to learn more, MCCS Health Promotion is teaming up with libraries on Camps Kinser, Foster and Courtney to encourage healthy eating for even the littlest members of our Marine families. Check with your local library branch for Storytimes during the first few weeks of March for more details about our Eat the Rainbow events. Children are bound to come away with a fresh take on eating all of those fresh foods! For more information visit mccsokinawa.com/libraries.
MARCH 2021 | OKINAWA LIVING 33
MARINES + FAMILIES
Stress is Inevitable Being Stressed is Not We live in an incredibly taxing time and we’re all on the same stress page. Yet there are people around us who appear happy—or at least stable against the onslaught of negative news stories. How is this so? What tricks do they have up their sleeves? The likely difference is that these people are proficient when it comes to managing stress. Let’s be clear—stress management is a learnable skill; it’s not something that part of the population is born with and the other is not. So if you find yourself overwhelmed by stress— reacting to the world around you instead of responding—find comfort in the fact that you can change this. You too can take control by learning how to manage stress. How? With the help of MCCS. Behavioral Health’s Family Advocacy Program offers Stress Management classes to units upon request. In these classes, you’ll not only learn about identifying stress and the differences between toxic, tolerable and positive stress, you’ll also learn techniques to deal with stress properly. You’ll walk out with an actionable game plan with which to manage stress so that it no longer manages you. Stress is an inevitable part of life. Being stressed, however, is not. If you would like to request a class for your unit or if you have any questions, please call 645-2915, 098-970-2915 or email FAPprevention@okinawa.usmcmccs.org. For more information, head to mccsokinawa.com/behavioral_health.
Master Parenting’s Unique Skillset With MCCS New Parent Support Program In order to work, many of us complete the requisite 12 years in school, sometimes more if there’s higher education involved. And by the end of all of that? Well, there’s still regular onthe-job training at most workplaces. Conversely, being a parent is deemed one of the hardest jobs of all—with only nine months’ worth of time to prepare! So, be sure to take advantage of every opportunity to learn about your new role. And keep in mind, such opportunities are available through the MCCS New Parent Support Program, as they offer FREE classes and resources to help you master parenting’s unique skillset. Our 12-week Journey Through Pregnancy course is all about enhancing your understanding of pregnancy, birth, and mother and new baby care, so that you can feel much more confident about your bundle of joy’s upcoming arrival. This offering is available on Camps Kinser, Foster and Courtney. Baby Boot Camp and Japanese Baby Boot Camp are focused on everything you need to know regarding baby care during the first few months after birth. You’ll learn about best
safety practices along with other parenting skills such as diapering, bathing, soothing and feeding your baby. Plus, you can win prizes at the end of class! While Baby Boot Camp is offered monthly, Japanese Baby Boot Camp is a scheduled in-home tutorial provided by one of our staff members who is fluent in Japanese. Of course, for military families there is even more information to learn about your growing family, so our Parents in Uniform class can help you navigate Marine Corps policies tied to family readiness issues such as housing, legal requirements, DEERS processes, on-island childcare options and more. While this course and the Baby Boot Camps are offered through our Camp Foster location, expectant parents island-wide are welcome to attend. And that’s not all. Parenting is an ongoing learning process, so all parents, first-time or not, are encouraged to reach out to our offices for any parenting support you may need. To register for one of our courses or for more information, please visit mccsokinawa.com/npsp or call 645-0396 from a DSN or 098-970-0396 from off base. MARCH 2021 | OKINAWA LIVING 37
MARINES + FAMILIES
Saying Sayonara to Language Barriers M&FP-R Japanese Language Class Living overseas is a wonderful opportunity to learn a new language. Marine & Family Programs-Resources (M&FP-R) offers a Japanese Language Class, which includes three interactive segments that support your language learning so you can engage in and experience Japanese culture to the fullest. It’s time to say konnichiwa (hello) to Japan and sayonara (goodbye) to language barriers. The three segments build on each other, with Part 1 being the most introductory in nature and covering basic building blocks of the language including the writing system (hiragana, katakana and kanji), syllabary, useful phrases, sentence structure and guidelines for introducing yourself. If you have already attended Part 1 of our Japanese Language Class, or are wishing to brush up on some Japanese from prior experiences, gear up for Parts 2 and 3 this month. Each part includes four class sessions conducted from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Join us for Part 2 starting March 9
on Camp Courtney at the M&FP-R building (Bldg. 4425) to review your learning from Part 1, and build your knowledge with topics such as dates, days of the week, seasons, telling time and colors. Part 3 will be hosted on Camp Foster starting on March 23 at the M&FP-R building (Bldg. 445) and consists of a review of information from Part 2 and some in-depth learning of verb conjugation. Besides the learning gains you make during class, you’ll also receive a Japanese language booklet so you’ll have a handy reference tool at the ready as you continue practicing during your time here on island. Register before March 8 and March 22 respectively for our FREE Japanese Language Class Part 2 or 3 by visiting mccsokinawa.com/ cuturalawareness or reach out by calling the M&FP-R centers on Camp Foster at 645-2104 or Camp Courtney at 622-7332. And, don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for the next rotation of class sessions beginning with Part 1 if you’d like to start fresh with your language learning.
Smooth Move Workshop Make Your PCS a “Peaceful” Change of Station The dreaded PCS: three simple letters that can evoke images of long lines, waiting rooms, oversized baggage and mountains of forms that you may or may not have filled out correctly. However, more often than not, we build the PCS process up in our minds to be far worse than it actually is—likely a product of feeling ill prepared. How to best feel prepared, then? With the Smooth Move Workshop, hosted by MCCS Marine & Family Programs-Resources (M&FP-R). This workshop, available in person (March 8, 8:30–10:30 a.m. at the Camp Foster Community Center, Bldg. 5908) or online (upon request), was created to ease PCS-related worries and to make those three capital letters much less daunting. At the workshop, you’ll
receive information concerning pre-departure and destination requirements, relocation and travel entitlements, finances, employment opportunities and much, much more. This is also a great opportunity to ask all the questions you may have about PCSing, so by the end of it, you’ll have a much stronger grasp on the process as a whole. We dare say you may even feel good about it. Orders are not required to register and family members are encouraged to attend. If you are moving within the next 6 months, register today to make your PCS a Peaceful Change of Station. To sign up for a class or for more information, head to mccsokinawa.com/relocation. If you have any questions, please call 645-2104/2106 or email mcbb_reloassist@usmc.mil. MARCH 2021 | OKINAWA LIVING 39
DINING + ENTERTAINMENT
Just Right
MCCS PHOTO
Taiyo Steakhouse If Goldilocks lived on Okinawa, her favorite month would be March because the temperature is just right—no longer jacket weather, not yet sweltering. And, what better way to enjoy the warm sun and cool breeze than with a nice meal outside? Taiyo Steakhouse is known mostly for its high-quality steaks and seafood, but it also sports a lovely patio, open on weekdays for brunch and lunch and perfectly suited for those “just right” days in March. And even though it won the 2020 MCCS Food and Hospitality Excellence Award, Taiyo continues to improve on its already-satisfying offerings; if you haven’t visited within the past several months, there are plenty of new, delicious items thanks to Taiyo Steakhouse’s menu revamp just last year. For brunch, indulge in the Crab Benedict smothered in rich hollandaise sauce, the Country Breakfast and its sausage gravy-covered biscuits, the Buttered Lobster Roll, the Prime Filet Mignon and more. For lunch, enjoy the Fresh Calamari served with mango-chipotle and roasted tomato sauce, the Lobster Macaroni & Cheese, the Beer Battered Fish & Chips made with fresh cod, or the Wisconsin Cheddar & Bacon Burger, just to name a mouth-watering few. Lastly, Taiyo Steakhouse’s outdoor dining area is also available for evening cocktail events of up to 40 guests (weather permitting). To book, or if you have any questions about Taiyo Steakhouse in general, please call 622-2020 from a DSN or 098-954-2020 from off base. For more information, head to mccsokinawa. com/taiyosteakhouse.
Blending “Healthy” with “Delicious” There’s Something for Everyone at LifeJuice During National Nutrition Month, as you continue to blend lifelong healthy eating habits into your regular routines, add LifeJuice into your daily mix. Each smoothie is made with vanilla yogurt and your choice of low-fat, almond or soy milk and can be customized with add-ins such as peanut butter, honey, chia seeds or whole grain oats. While choosing your desired milk and add-ins can help with your personal health needs, knowing the nutrition offered through a smoothie is beneficial as well. For example, on LifeJuice’s menu, the Mucho Matcha is lowest in both calories and sugar. If you’re looking for a protein boost, opt for the Peanut Punch which ranks highest for protein content, or add BCAA or whey protein powder to power up any smoothie. Six smoothies are tied for lowest fat content and they are the Berry Bang, Tropical
Typhoon, Pineapple Paradise, Pineapple Burst, Energy Lift and Deep Blue. Choose the Açai Berry for a low-carb smoothie or opt for one of the three fresh-squeezed juices with even less carbs per serving—Cucumber, Carrot, or Cucumber and Apple. Speaking of fresh-squeezed juices, there are also several other Boost Juices on the menu. And the best part? Every single one of them has one gram or less of fat! That’s nutrition almost anyone can get excited about. Whether you are looking for a pre- or post-workout boost, a delicious and guilt-free drink or the occasional meal replacement, LifeJuice has something for everyone. For locations, hours and the full menu, please visit mccsokinawa.com/ lifejuice.
Hansen Festival Back in Action It’s been a quick minute since we’ve been able to provide a base festival due to restrictions (trust us, we miss them as much as you do), so MCCS is thrilled to announce the return of Hansen Festival, a single-day entertainment extravaganza on Saturday, March 13 from 1 to 9 p.m. Open to SOFA ID card holders island-wide, this event will be rocking at the Camp Hansen Parade Deck Field. Stop by and enjoy the live music and entertainment, as well as the featured attractions, Fun Land carnival rides, booths and vendors. Plenty of food and drink will also be available including Hickory House All-American BBQ’s delicious smoked meats and the satisfying bites we all know and love from Bulldogs Burgers. To keep everybody safe, everyone must play their part in ensuring this event falls within III MEF/ MARFORJ guidance. To do so, social distancing, face coverings and limited group sizes (maximum of six individuals per group) will be enforced. Moreover, please do not bring pets, glass bottles, outside alcohol or coolers. Gates 1 and 2 on Camp Hansen will be open for this event, so please enter base through either one of those. For more information regarding the festival and entertainment schedule, check out mccsokinawa. com/festivals for any updates as the event date approaches. MARCH 2021 | OKINAWA LIVING 43
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KIDS + PARENTS
Ready, Set, Read! Read Across America March 2 is practically a big birthday for books. Why? It’s National Read Across America Day! Sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA), Read Across America is a year-round program which celebrates the many people and cultures present in our great American melting pot to motivate kids of all ages and backgrounds to read. NEA accomplishes this by curating books that promote diversity—books in which readers are able to view the world from different perspectives and in which a wider range of students can see themselves reflected—because readers who feel recognized are engaged readers. Foster this love of reading and diversity with MCCS Libraries as we celebrate National Read Across America Day. Libraries on Camps Foster, Kinser and Courtney will be hosting Storytimes and crafts starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2. Registration is required due to capacity limitations, so if you are interested, please head to mccsokinawa.com/ libraries to sign up (registration will open a week before the event). And, after March 2, keep the joy of reading alive. Read Across America offers tools and resources to inspire reading at home and at school, as well as book recommendations every single month to ensure reading is celebrated and promoted all year long. Each month has a new theme, with books curated for elementary school students, middle grade students and teenagers.
March’s theme is “Cultivate Compassion.” The featured book this month for elementary school students is Tiara’s Hat Parade by Kelly Starling Lyons, in which a girl named Tiara must rally her community to help save her mother’s hat business. The book of the month for middle grade students is Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya. This story follows Emilia, who has ADHD, as she tries to rebuild her relationship with her recently deployed father while simultaneously handling the injustice she discovers while working on her school project about her hometown’s history. Lastly, the featured book for teenagers is They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, a graphic novel in which Mr. Takei recounts his experience of the U.S. government’s incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Heavy themes, indeed, but these books and many others help readers establish a richer understanding of the world around them and, as the theme of the month suggests, cultivate compassion. As for the coming months, themes will include “Inspire Stewardship” in April, “Develop Passion and Perseverance” in May, “Promote Respect” in June and “Build Community” in July. For more information on National Read Across America Day, as well as resources to help boost literacy in your community and in your home all year round, head to readacrossamerica.org. MARCH 2021 | OKINAWA LIVING 49
KIDS + PARENTS
Kids on the Move Energized and Ready to Exercise For many young children, a favorite part of their school day is attending “specials”—art, physical education, music and sometimes a trip to the technology lab. Time at these classes is indeed special since they provide a break in the academic school day and a chance for children to learn from teachers they might only see a few hours out of each week. Not to knock traditional classes, but it’s not really a secret that these types of classes are generally more fun—especially P.E., because there’s just nothing like running around outside on a beautiful day and having fun with your friends! So, as your kiddos are on Spring Break this month, they might not miss their times tables, but they could be getting a little stir crazy just hanging around the house. Let them get all of their wiggles and energy out with MCCS’ help. Semper Fit Health Promotion is hosting Kids on the Move, a fitness program full of fun, outdoor and interactive games that will support your child’s fitness and health. Some games will even incorporate nutrition-based themes to align with National Nutrition Month. If your kids are energized and ready to exercise, join us on Camp Foster on Wednesday, March 31 and Thursday, April 1 from 9 to 10 a.m. Kids on the Move is FREE (and that’s not an April Fools’ joke!), so take advantage of this opportunity to help foster your child’s love of an active lifestyle. Children ages 7 to 12 are invited to participate, and parents are welcome to stay but are not required to attend. To register for Kids on the Move, stop by the front desk of Gunners Fitness Center on Camp Foster before March 23. For more information, visit mccsokinawa. com/healthpromotion and if you have any questions, feel free to call 645-3910 from a DSN or 098-970-3910 from off base
Underwater Eggstravaganza Why Wouldn’t the Easter Bunny be Hiding Eggs Underwater? Little known fact: the Easter Bunny is an avid swimmer! This means that on top of the regular land-based hiding spots such as tree branches, bushes, mailboxes and so on, the long-eared legend also likes to hide an occasional egg underwater. Both the East China Sea and the Pacific are too unpredictable, and the eggs would wash up on deserted islands where no one would find them. So instead of hiding them in the ocean, the Easter Bunny hides the eggs in the calm waters of the Camp Foster Aquatic Center. On April 3, join Semper Fit Aquatics at 11 a.m. for the Underwater Eggstravaganza, where swimmers between 3 and 15 years of age will compete to collect the most eggs underwater. Competitors will of course be divided into age groups
(we don’t want the 15-year-olds mad at all the 3-year-olds for being faster than them) and the event will run according to classic, timed egg-hunt rules: whoever collects the most eggs in each age division within the given time limit wins and will go home with a prize. If you think this event sounds interesting but are taken aback by how weird it sounds for the Easter Bunny to be hiding eggs underwater, keep in mind how weird it is for a bunny to be sneaking around hiding eggs in the first place and we think you’ll forgive us for taking the liberty. For more information, head to mccsokinawa.com/aquatics or facebook. com/mccsokinawa.aquatics. For questions, please call 645-2211.
MARCH 2021 | OKINAWA LIVING 51
SERVICES
Get Your Bling On Beaded Jewelry Classes Did you know Beaded Jewelry classes are offered every Thursday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Camp Foster? Whether you have already dabbled in jewelry making or are a first-timer looking to take up a new hobby, you can create stunning pieces. A certified instructor will help you learn the fundamentals of this craft and then help you challenge yourself with more difficult projects as you perfect your skills. So, what will you make? Craft your one-of-a-kind jewelry using glass beads, Swarovski crystals or supplies of your choosing. Yes, you read that right; your creations can include Swarovski crystals—the same brand that adorned the tiara Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. They were also seen as part of costume design in other popular films such as Titanic and The Greatest Showman and were even used to decorate outfits for performers like Elvis Presley, Madonna, Michael Jackson and Jennifer Lopez. Needless to say, the jewelry you’ll create during the class will have you getting your bling on in no time. To register for a class and begin handcrafting your own jewelry, sign up in person at Foster Framing and Fine Arts at least two days before you wish to attend. Classes for beginners include all necessary materials and cost $15 while classes for advanced students are $15 plus the cost of materials. Both classes are open to those ages 18 and older. For more information, please visit mccsokinawa.com/ framingandfinearts or call 645-3674 from a DSN or 098-970-3674 from off base.
Ikebana
The Art of Flower Arrangement
Ikebana, or “giving life to flowers,” is a Japanese art form that involves much more than simply placing flowers into a vase. Every flower, every leaf and every stem is deliberately placed to achieve harmony, to create beauty where there once was not. Ikebana’s roots reach as far back as the 6th century when Buddhists started leaving floral offerings at temples, although the practice was more formally codified in 15th-century Kyoto with the opening of Ikenobo, an ikebana school which is incredibly still open after all this time. Over the years, ikebana schools have sprouted and flourished, many with their own unique styles, and lessons in this ancient art are readily available today—even on Camp Foster! If you’d like to try your hand at the ancient art of Japanese flower arrangement, Foster Framing and
Fine Arts is hosting Ikebana classes on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. For $85, you’ll receive four two-hour sessions as well as all of the flowers you will be arranging (students will need to bring their own flat vase and kenzan, which is the small spiked base used to hold the flowers). Single Ikebana sessions are also available for those wishing to dip their toes into the art. Registration is required in person (Foster Framing and Fine Arts is located in the Foster Community Center, Bldg. 5908) at least two days before your desired start date. For more information, please call 098-9703674 or email artsandcrafts@okinawa.usmc-mccs. org. For more information, please visit mccsokinawa.com/framingandfinearts.
Create Your Keepsakes Kimekomi Doll Making Classes Although frequently cited as the world’s oldest known toys, in Japan, dolls are an important part of the culture and are also popular as decorative items and keepsakes. There are many varieties available throughout the country, many of which are very beautiful and make excellent mementos or gifts. Foster Framing and Fine Arts and Courtney Arts and Crafts Center offer Kimekomi Doll Making classes where you too can create a piece of Japanese culture. Prior to kimekomi dolls, there were kamo dolls which were carved from willow wood. Now, kimekomi dolls are made from pre-molded wood and decorated with beautiful fabrics. At Kimekomi Doll Making classes, students’ first figurine comes with the option of red or black kimono cloth. After learning this traditional craft, students can continue on with classes and choose from over 100 different
kimekomi dolls. Some can even be decked out for different holidays such as Halloween or New Year’s, or modeled after animals. On Camp Courtney, classes are offered Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Saturdays, Camp Foster holds classes from 2 to 4 p.m. Classes are open to SOFA ID card holders island-wide, ages 18 and older. To register, please sign up in person at Foster Framing and Fine Arts at least two days in advance. While doll options range in size, style and price, the ones made during the first class cost ¥3,300 and payment should be made when registering. For more information, please visit mccsokinawa. com/framingandfinearts or mccsokinawa.com/ artsandcrafts. If you have any questions, please call 645-3674 from a DSN or 098-970-3674 from off base.
MARCH 2021 | OKINAWA LIVING 53
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SERVICES
Personalized Plaques and Gifts The Foster Custom Shop Are you looking for a “hail and farewell” gift, or perhaps a gift to recognize someone’s accomplishments or show appreciation? The Foster Custom Shop has everything you need to create personalized items. Various complete plaque sets are available as well as plaque parts, so you can customize not only the engraving text, but actually your whole design. Choose embellishments such as USMC insignia, Japanese or American flags and emblems in the shape of Okinawa, shīsā or even the gate of Shuri Castle. Moreover, ordering your custom work couldn’t be easier. All orders should be placed in person at our shop located inside Camp Foster Community Center (Bldg. 5908). Our staff will help you design your item, complete your order form and assist with any questions you may have. For any engraving, all text must be typed and printed out, or emailed to customshop@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. Be sure that text is capitalized, spelled and punctuated exactly how you want it to look on your plaque. Please note that all payments should be made at the time of your order, and the standard turnaround timeframe is five business days. However, rush orders are available for an additional fee if you need your item completed sooner. And if you’re in the market for something other than a plaque, the Custom Shop also offers portfolios, trophies and many other gifts to personalize. For more information on services and to view our products, visit mccsokinawa.com/ customshop. Feel free to call 645-0126 from a DSN or 098-970-0126 from off base if you have any questions.
MCCS We Want YOU! MCCS offers a variety of challenging, careerbuilding opportunities with the priority of hiring qualified family members of active-duty military and civilian employees stationed in foreign areas. Jobs are available in entertainment, sports, accounting, marketing, wellness, child development, maintenance, IT, counseling and much more. Prospective employees can check current vacancies at careers.usmc-mccs.org and submit applications online. If you would like the hot job listings, along with the latest happenings and offerings from MCCS sent directly to your smartphone, subscribe to the MCCS Okinawa News & Events newsletter at mccsokinawa. com/newsletter. Applicants without an internet connection can visit the MCCS NAF Human Resources Office located on the second floor of Bldg. 5966 on Camp Foster. Interpersonal skills, technology and leadership course offerings, designed to help employees develop skills that improve workplace performance, are available to all MCCS employees. Moreover, for regular full- and parttime employees, MCCS offers a generous benefits package including the Tuition Assistance Program (up to $10,000 per year for certifications, licenses and college degrees
up to a professional level). In addition, a NAF Retirement Pension that may be transferrable between civil service and non-appropriated positions with other agencies is available along with a Fidelity 401(k) Retirement Plan with up to 5% matching on a robust investment plan. Aetna International Medical Insurance— convenient and accessible medical and dental care through military and local treatment facilities for employees and their families—is also available in addition to a life insurance policy through UniCare that offers affordable coverage to employees and family members up to three times their annual salary. In addition, regular full- and part-time MCCS employees are eligible for shortterm disability insurance—up to 60% of the employee’s salary for up to 3 months while qualified. Employees may also earn vacation and sick leave and are authorized to utilize the Family Friendly Leave Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Leave Donation Program, Employee Assistance Program and much more (when qualified). For more information on becoming a part of the MCCS team, call the MCCS NAF Human Resources Office at 645-3052.
Warehouse Sale! Computers, Furniture and More Did you know that MCCS conducts weekly sales of excess Non-appropriated Fund (NAF) property every Wednesday? Items such as computers, monitors, furniture, sporting equipment, recreational equipment and more are usually available. These sales take place on Camp Foster in Warehouse 5601 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. During the hours of 8–11 a.m., the sale is open to SOFA ID card holders only, while both card holders and non-DoD ID card holders may make purchases from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information about these sales, contact MCCS Supply via email at warehousesales@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org or via DSN at 645-3954 (098-970-3954 from off base or a mobile phone). MARCH 2021 | OKINAWA LIVING 55
Hina
雛 祭 り
Matsuri An Age-old Tradition Passed from Generation to Generation
MCCS PHOTO
TEXT & PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MIKE DALEY DESIGN BY: MARGIE SHIMABUKURO
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hile thinking of a Japanese doll or figure, many may envision figurines of transforming robots, cyborgs, super-Saiyan-heroes and monsters from anime and manga. However, the history of Japanese dolls and figurines is much older and richer than most can imagine…there’s even a festival celebrated nation-wide known as Hina Matsuri with dolls as the main focus. In Japan, dolls are called ningyo; the word itself is made with two kanji characters—nin, which means “human,” and gyo, which means “form.” Since ancient times in Japan, dolls and figurines were thought to contain magical properties, and more than a few carried substantial religious significance. The earliest known examples of dolls in Japan are figurines made of stone and solid clay from the Jomon period (10,000 BC– 300 AD). During the Kofun period (300–710 AD), dolls called haniwa (human figurines, as well as effigies of animals and architectural works made of hollow clay) encircled the final resting places of members of the ruling classes. Besides serving decorative and spiritual purposes (such as protecting, comforting or entertaining the deceased in the afterlife), these figures also served as a sort of retaining wall for the burial mound.
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It is commonly believed that dolls served many functions in pre-modern Japan. Effigies called hitogata or katashiro were used as something similar to scapegoats in ceremonies to reverse defilement, divert malevolent energies and prevent injury or disease. Many folk traditions during that period attributed magical powers to some dolls and many even thought that a few special dolls had souls of their own. Dolls also played specific roles in Shinto-related court ceremonies, and were also used in didactic roadside dioramas set up by Buddhist monks. Of course, not all dolls in ancient Japan played parts in religious ceremonies or carried mystical powers. The designs of small wooden dolls excavated at Nara from the ruins of Heijyōkyō (the capital of Japan between 710–784 AD) suggest that the dolls were also used as playthings for children. And, many examples of Heian-era literature state that the children of royalty often played with elaborately garbed dolls called hina ningyo. During the Edo period (1600–1868 AD) doll making flourished in Japan and many different types of dolls—each seemingly more beautiful than the next—were manufactured in droves to entertain royal kids. It was during the Edo Period when formal, often elaborate, displays of dolls began to be used as the focal point of individual household festivities during Momo no Sekku (a seasonal festival during the third month of the year).
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The Five Sekku The term sekku itself, which actually means “seasonal festival,” originally applied to food offerings made on certain days regarded as equinoxes. However, over time, the term began to be used to refer to the actual day. During the Edo Period, the Tokugawa Shogunate decreed these five days as “official” sekku: January 7 (Nanakusa no Sekku, or the “Seven Herb Festival”), March 3 (Momo no Sekku, or the “Peach Blossom Festival”), May 5 (Shōbu no Sekku, or the “Iris Festival”), July 7 (Tanabata, or the “Star Festival”) and September 9 (Kiku no Sekku, or the “Chrysanthemum Festival”). Although traditions have changed, many of these festivals are still celebrated during modern times with different customs and new names. Originally, Momo no Sekku (peach blossoms are in full bloom during the third month of the year in Mainland Japan) was a celebration of the spring equinox, and festivities included the whole family. Since ancient times, it was customary during the festival for all people—men, women and children—to create effigies of themselves called hinagata out of paper and straw and transfer all of their misfortune, sickness and bad luck into these dolls via ceremonies involving rubbing the doll against themselves. These dolls were then gathered up, and the family would make a trip to the nearest river or brook and cast the dolls into the water. This not only ensured the family’s good fortune and health for the rest of the year, it also gave the family a golden opportunity for picnics and get-togethers with other families. Royalty also followed this custom. However, the dolls that they used were more elaborate and a great deal more expensive than versions used by the local populous—many families used dolls similar in design to the beautiful hina dolls popular from Heian times.
Some believe that wealthy families began to compete against each other with doll displays that became more splendid and gaudy each year. Others state that a young female member of the royal family talked her parents into keeping the dolls for her to play with. Regardless of which (or any other for that matter) theory is correct, it became the custom to set up elaborate displays of dolls during this sekku. The idea of transferring ill luck to the dolls also survived (even though the dolls had become too valuable to throw into water), and over time, it became popular belief that the dolls exclusively protected the daughters of the family. The festival began to be known as “Girl’s Day,” commonly called Hina Matsuri. Today, Hina Matsuri is celebrated throughout the nation to pray for daughters’ happiness. It is observed with a ritual display of dolls and gatherings of young girls clad in kimono eating and drinking special Hina Matsuri fare, including chirashizushi (sashimi, seaweed, shredded scrambled eggs and other delicacies strewn over sushi rice), ushio-jiru (a type of clam soup), hishi-mochi (sweet, diamond-shaped rice cakes colored pink, white and green) and shiro-zake (an extremely mild, opaque rice wine). They also offer tea and refreshments to their dolls, and sing “Ureshī Hina Matsuri”—a traditional Japanese folk song about the festival.
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Hina Ningyo Traditionally, a complete set of hina dolls consists of at least 15 dolls placed upon a tiered structure called a hinadan covered in vermilion cloth. Although modern versions include a variety of designs—yes, there are version modeled after different anime and characters—many families prefer actual hina dolls. They are usually dressed in full Heian-era court regalia, often consisting of intricately brocaded kimono. The uppermost tier is occupied by O-Dairi-sama and O-Hina-sama—the emperor and empress which are usually the most elaborately dressed and most expensive. This tier also holds various exquisitely constructed miniature household articles—the most important of which is bonbori or paper-covered lamps that light the top level. Two ministers usually occupy the second tier, accompanied by three ladies in waiting (called kanjo), caricatures of tea ceremony sets and food offerings including miniature hishi-mochi. Five court musicians wielding drums and flutes for the royal couple’s pleasure occupy the next level and the lowest level is reserved for three guards bearing weapons to protect the court. The set of dolls is usually either an heirloom passed down through generations or purchased for daughters by their parents or grandparents for their first doll festival. These sets can be extremely large (some reach heights of seven to eight feet and include over 20 dolls) and are usually quite expensive (some with price tags of a couple million yen or more). These displays are typically set out between February 4 (considered the first day of spring) and the middle of the month.
They are often displayed prominently in the largest room in the house until the day after the festival when the set is carefully dismantled, packed in boxes and returned to storage for next year. Procrastination usually wasn’t a problem— popular superstition states that leaving the doll set displayed too long was a good way to accumulate bad luck for the daughter. It was also considered inauspicious to dismantle the display when the weather was bad—although humidity and mold may have had something to do with that superstition. Hina Matsuri can carry many different meanings for different Japanese parents—some observe the festival to encourage filial piety (the Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist belief that honoring one’s parents, elders and ancestors is a virtue), while others wish to impress upon their daughters the importance of honoring family traditions. However, regardless of the many different reasons, almost all parents in Japan who observe the festival almost unvaryingly associate it with two things: the beautiful dolls that represent the beauty and majesty of old Japan and the simple pleasure of seeing their child’s face light up with wonder and joy.
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Okinawan-Style Seafood Salad Serves two Ingredients • 50 ounces of umibudō (sea grapes) • 5 lettuce leaves, torn into bite-size pieces • 1 cabbage leaf, shredded • ¼ carrot, shredded • ½ tomato, diced • ½ cucumber, shredded • 4 small cooked shrimp, diced • 2 cooked scallops, diced Dressing • 4 tbsp. white wine vinegar • 4 tbsp. olive oil • 2 tsp. soy sauce • 1 tsp. lemon juice • Pinches of salt, pepper and crushed cayenne pepper to taste Method of Preparation 1. Combine dressing ingredients and chill. 2. Soak umibudō in a bowl of water for about 3 minutes to wash away the salty taste. 3. Rinse umibudō in ice-cold water and allow to dry. 4. Mix vegetables and umibudō in a shallow bowl. 5. Arrange diced shrimp and scallops on top of salad greens. 6. Pour dressing over salad. 7. Serve with slices of lemon or lime, if desired.
Black Pearls It is said that the chances of finding a naturally occurring black pearl of any quality in the wild are approximately 1 in 400,000. Because of this, the black pearl has always been considered a prized gem, equaled in its beauty only by its monetary value. Large specimens have adorned the crowns and jewelry of royalty since ancient times. Although known worldwide for their value, many don’t know that black pearls were first cultured, or successfully “grown” artificially, in Kabira Bay on the island of Ishigaki, located in the southern reaches of the Ryukyu Archipelago. During the early 1900’s, multitudes of Japanese pearl-producing companies (including the world famous Mikimoto Pearl Company of mainland Japan) raced to be the first to perfect the process of growing the rarest of pearls in the warm, crystal-clear waters surrounding Okinawa. However, because of the extreme difficulties involved with the process (the failure rate was regularly 90 percent or more), as well as the onset of WWII, most ventures were unsuccessful. It wasn’t until 1963, after almost 50 years of disappointment and exorbitant expenditure, when a small locally-owned business named the Ryukyu Pearl Company successfully produced the first cultured black pearls. The pearls were sent to New York (which was considered to be one of the leaders in the jewelry fashion world at the time) and exhibited in boutiques in 1968. As they became more readily available, their notoriety spread quickly throughout
the world and necklaces made with these black pearls became coveted by many. Cultured black pearls come in many different sizes and although their name may suggest they only come in one color—black—this is not the case. While all are certainly dark in color, some examples may have a bluish cast, others are tinged chocolate or russet, and some even have a metallic silvery hue. Today, black pearls can be purchased at most jewelry stores and in larger department stores located in Naha. Once travel restrictions ease, prospective buyers can also go straight to the source—and perhaps vacation—to one of the most beautiful bays in Japan. The black pearl farm of the Ryukyu Black Pearl Center is in Kabira Bay—a mainstay on the list of the 100 most beautiful spots in the country.
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