YAGAJI AND KOURI ISLANDS – OKINAWA UNPLUGGED
MAKE OKINAWA HOME LEARN TO SPEAK JAPANESE August 2020 | Issue 270
contents August 2020
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30 out+about 10 Yagaji & Kouri Islands—Okinawa Unplugged Plan your escape to these two islets connected to Okinawa (and each other) by the longest concrete arch bridge on the island and the longest toll-free bridge in Japan.
features 30 Make Okinawa Home Learn How to Speak the Language! Make your stay on Okinawa a better one by learning the language. You’ll make new friends, understand more about the culture and become a better ambassador.
TOP LEFT MIKE DALEY, THOMAS ALAN SMILIE, TOP RIGHT THOMAS ALAN SMILIE
58 Gōyā A Monarch Among Gourds Ah, summer. Time for summer food favorites such as ice cream, BBQ ribs and…bitter melon? On Okinawa, the reigning monarch of summer cuisine is the gōyā; have you tried it yet?
fitness + fun 19 Taiyo Golf Club Summer Skins Weekend Grab your buddies and prepare for a weekend summer skins face-off at Taiyo Golf Club.
21 High Intensity Tactical Training As a Marine or Sailor, it’s important to manage your body like the tactical athlete you are. To help maintain peak shape, check out the High Intensity Tactical Training (HITT)
program, your source for tactical strength and conditioning solutions.
dining + entertainment 25 Meals Fit for a Khan Mongolia is known for hearty, flavorful cuisine and MCCS has got enough scrumptious Mongolian BBQ to have you clanking your pike against your shield in joy.
marines + families 41 Further Your Education Learn more about how MCCS Education Centers can help guide you on the path to self-improvement—and possibly a new career— through continuing education.
43 Keep Your Kids Safe Depending on the age of your children, there are a number of guidelines provided by III MEF/ MCIPAC-MCBB that must be followed to ensure the safety of themselves and others.
51 Youth Swim Team Tryouts Did you know that with a bit of work on stamina and swim strokes your kid can become a dolphin?
services 53 Your Guide to Okinawa Although it’s a welcoming and beautiful island, Okinawa can also be a bit intimidating for newcomers. If only there was some sort of handbook that told you everything you needed to know. Some sort of manual that gave you all the information necessary to make the most of your time here. Oh, wait, there is! It’s called the Okinawa Guide and it’s FREE!
extras 5 Mensôre
7 Feedback & Show Us!
69 Living on Okinawa
kids + parents 47 MCCS Youth Sports Basketball and Cheerleading Season Get your kids off of the couch and onto the c ourt with MCCS Youth Sports Basketball and Cheerleading!
78 Marketplace Guide
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AUGUST 2020 | ISSUE 270 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 CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Jim Kassebaum EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mike Daley MCCS ART DIRECTOR Henry C. Ortega OKINAWA LIVING ART DIRECTORS Margie Shimabukuro, Ai Jirka GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Emeline Toole, Giulia Pulvirenti, Mayar Mahmoud DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Thomas Alan Smilie PHOTOGRAPHER Kailey LaValliere EDITORIAL Alex Jusell DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA Kathlene Millette, Lillion Hunt Hamilton, Hillary Taylor Christine Zimmerman 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 Alicia Sallese, Courtney Davis, Leah Scrybalo DISTRIBUTION Jason Jones SUMMER INTERNS Joshua Cobb, Emilio Novillo
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)
mensôre “Welcome” to Okinawa Living
Savor the Moment Time has a curious way of running away from us when we’re not paying attention…2020 is almost two-thirds over in a blur of colorful masks and take-out containers. This year has been a trying one by any standards, and many throughout the world would probably take its ‘coming to a close’ as a good thing. However, during both good years and especially during challenging ones, one should never forget to “stop and smell the roses” along the way. As timeworn and cliché as this may sound, it doesn’t mean that it should be discounted. Each precious moment—especially ones we spend with people that are precious to us—should be savored like the finest vintage (or a thick dollop of maple syrup on a stack of fluffy pancakes, if wine isn’t your thing). Being on a beautiful island, whether you are a visitor or permanent resident, offers plenty of ways to generate precious moments. Learned how to swim yet? No? Semper Fit Aquatics offers swimming lessons that’ll have you snorkeling in Okinawa’s pristine seas in no time. Want to learn more about the island by learning the language? Turn to p.30 to learn how to start your linguistic journey. The list of things to do on Okinawa is as long as it is worthwhile. Life is just too precious to be counting down the days to PCS back to the familiarity of the United States. Being on Okinawa offers a myriad of opportunities to grow and a million more moments to savor, each one more magical than the last. This month’s issue will give you a small taste of what the island has to offer, beginning with the aforementioned treatise on learning the language, a day trip to Kouri and Yagaji Islands, a taste of gōyā, an important announcement about the upcoming Comic Con Okinawa event (spoiler alert: it’s coming in January 2021), Mongolian BBQ at the clubs and much, much more. 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!
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 ©2020 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.
feedback
from the ICE Program and Facebook Just wanted to give a shout out to Larry at Typhoon Motors. I had a pre-JCI inspection done on my vehicle to see if it was worth keeping. I already knew I had to have my airbag coil replaced off base for around $300. The report came back with minor repairs under $100, so I kept the vehicle. When I came back to have the JCI completed, the JCI place gave a huge long list of repairs. I was very upset. Larry brought the vehicle back and had it re-inspected. The initial mechanic had missed a few key repairs, but other repairs were not necessary. Larry told me he would make it right. He gave me a loaner, kept the vehicle for a couple of days, helped me get some parts and then replaced them for me. He made sure my vehicle would pass JCI if I did it myself. I passed with flying colors! He truly went above and beyond. This would have been a negative ICE, but because of his awesome customer service, it is a very positive one! I will be sure to recommend Typhoon Motors to my friends. THANK YOU for taking care of your customers! —via ICE.
@okilivingmag Show us your island adventures and favorite food finds!
@allie_whalen
sunday we played, we swam, we kayaked, and we stayed until the shadows were long and our bellies were hungry. #okilivingmag
I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the staff at MCAS Futenma library. I have made multiple requests for 3D prints there and I’ve always received so much support and kindness from the staff. I never have an issue with the prints and they seem just as excited to make them as I am when I receive them. Keep up the great work! —via ICE
@lovealwaysnikkicole
o k i n a w a || My little ocean lover checking out the hermit crabs! #okinomnoms
I cannot say enough how amazing our experience was at Tengan Castle [on Camp Courtney]! Laura K helped me coordinate from start to end and even added small amazing details for our event. She was absolutely amazing. The food was so fresh and delicious and our drinks were never low. Truly, thank you. —via ICE The staff [at Hansen Education Center] is extremely helpful. I had been struggling to get back into school my whole career and they helped me get going quickly. I was able to start school as soon as I passed the prerequisites that they aided me through. Any time I needed help they sat down with me and gave me guidance. They actually cared about my opinions and concerns and I have never been so happy to have this kind of help. I have sent five Marines over to them and they’re all in college now pursuing degrees to become officers for the USMC. Thank you guys for everything you do for us! —via Facebook I called [Behavioral Health Community Counseling] to refer a person who found themselves overwhelmed by the stress of their current situation while coping with their family member. The person I reached out to was patient and caring and provided all of the information needed to make a call back to the stressed-out person and help them seek the help they need. —via ICE
@brandyslist
Staycation weekend at Okuma Blessed to know these amazing ladies this year.I’m sure our paths will cross again in the near future. #okilivingmag
Domo arigatou gozaimashita and thank you for your posts! We can’t wait to see what else you love about Okinawa! —The Okinawa Living Staff 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.
AUGUST 2020 | OKINAWA LIVING 7
YAGAJI & KOURI ISLANDS— OKINAWA UNPLUGGED Text & Photography by Mike Daley Layout by Margie Shimabukuro
O
kinawa isn’t a metropolis by any standard. While the island does feature excellent resorts with every imaginable comfort and convenience, its reputation in Japan is as a “getaway.” It’s a place where people can escape the hubbub of the big city and recharge while enjoying picturesque coastlines and a slower pace. It’s a place to unplug.
Yagaji and Kouri Islands, which are connected to northern Okinawa via bridges, fit the description of unplugged to a “T.” These two tiny, idyllic isles offer very little in the form of modern conveniences, but make up for that with countless nooks and crannies of pure island paradise.
OUT + ABOUT
AUGUST 2020 | OKINAWA LIVING 11
a m u k O h c a Be
Summer at Okuma!
Enjoy all Okuma has to offer! Relax on pristine beaches and enjoy summer water activities. • Two beautiful beaches • Jet ski rentals • Ski boating • Ski tubes • Wakeboards • Water skis • Kneeboards • Glass bottom boat tours • Snorkeling tours • Scuba diving excursions • And more! Visit okuma.kadenaFSS.com for more information.
Embracing Paradise OKUMA RECREATION in our Backyard... Okuma Beach Splash Party Saturday • 5 September Join us for an end of summer event! We will have water bouncy castles and a water balloon battle. It’s open to children ages 13 & under. Enjoy a fun-filled family day at Okuma!
Color Run Sunday • 6 September 4 pm • Register by Beachfront Campground 5:30 pm • Race starts $13 • Per person Join us for a 1.5 mile fun run as you get blasted with colorful chalk powder! Price includes the registration fee and a t-shirt.
Okuma Beach • 631-1990 or 098-962-1990 | Surfside Grill & Bar • 631-1805 or 098-962-1805 Reservations • 631-1991 or 098-962-1991 | Located 51 miles north of Kadena Air Base
KADENA AIR BASE
Okuma.kadenafss.com
facebook.com/theokumabeach
Instagram us @okumabeach
OUT + ABOUT
Yagaji Island Yagaji is a tiny islet connected to Nakijin Village, Nago City and Kouri Island via bridges— the most impressive of which is Warumi Bridge, which links Nakijin to Yagaji. Warumi is an arch bridge; it’s actually Okinawa’s longest concrete arch at 315 meters in length and soars 37.4 meters above the water. Yagaji is known principally for places to pitch a tent, roast marshmallows and commune with the great outdoors. Bordering the Haneji Inland Sea on one side, Yagaji’s coasts sport natural groves of Ryukyu pine and large pockets of mangroves. The mangrove forests offer a great opportunity for studying a unique ecosystem, with the
octopus-like roots of the semiaquatic plants offering solace to crabs, birds and countless small fish. Kayaking is also a great activity on Yagaji—due to the coastline’s unique topography, the scenery changes drastically around every bend. From placid bays and tropical, jungle-like conditions to grassy minimountains peeking out of the waters (one even features a sandbar bridge to Yagaji that appears during low tide), the scenery seems like it emerged straight out of a children’s book. Although the kayak trip circumnavigating Yagaji can sometimes be a bit arduous due to currents, it’s well worth the effort.
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OUT + ABOUT
Kouri Island
Much larger than Yagaji, Kouri Island is connected to Yagaji Island via Kouri Bridge. This bridge, which is Japan’s longest toll-free span, is truly picturesque—all 1960 meters of it. Driving on this bridge on a sunny day gives travelers the illusion of flying with cobalt-bluefading-to-emerald-green waters below on both sides. Kouri is circular and is made mostly of coral. Visible from Nakijin Castle, Kouri Island’s main sources of income are agriculture (sugarcane and ube potatoes), fishing and harvesting the roe of bafun-uni sea urchins. Places of interest include Kouri Beach (which offers ample amenities
and a roped-off swimming area), “heart rock” beach and Kouri Ocean Tower. Kouri Ocean Tower features a spire that gives visitors a panoramic view of the entire island, including Kouri Bridge. The facility also features two restaurants, a gift shop and a shell museum with 10,000 specimens—some as rare as they are beautiful. Not limited to tourists and beach-goers, Kouri is also a place of interest to archeologists as well. The Kourihara Ruins are part of a group of digs located on the island near Kouri Port that date back to the early to mid Okinawa shell mound period (10,000 BC–1185 AD).
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OUT + ABOUT
Artifacts such as ivory and bone products, earthenware, copperware, ironware and blue porcelain, as well as remains of holes for pillars and water wells, have been excavated. Scientists have proven that people have inhabited Kouri Island since the prehistoric age (approximately 3,600 years ago), using stone axes, earthenware and fishing for livelihood. Both Kouri and Yagaji Islands are definitely worth a
day trip with family or friends. MCCS Tours+ offers tours to Kouri Island, which run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and include a visit to the Shell Museum inside Kouri Ocean Tower, lunch and an afternoon on the beach. Tour prices are $23 for adults, $16 for children 3–11 and FREE for children 0–2. For upcoming dates, call Tours+ at 646-3502 or visit them online at mccsokinawa.com/tours.
Kouri Island Yagaji Iland
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FITNESS+FUN
Gear Up… ...at Tsunami Scuba!
MCCS PHOTO
Whether you’re a scuba diving expert or newbie, check out your nearest Tsunami Scuba for all your diving needs. The peak season for ocean activities on Okinawa and surrounding islands runs until mid to late September, so there’s still time to gear up! At Tsunami Scuba, divers can rent vital items such as life vests, snorkel sets, fins, wetsuits, aluminum tanks, dive computers and much more. They can also purchase the latest scuba equipment, receive help and advice from knowledgeable staff members regarding gear (and its upkeep) and even get tank refills. If you’re looking to get into the wonderful world of scuba diving and don’t know where to start, Tsunami Scuba also offers PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certifications via a wide variety of courses and dive services for beginners all the way through to the instructor level. For more information on offerings and upcoming events, call your local Tsunami Scuba or visit mccsokinawa. com/scuba.
Taiyo Golf Club Summer Skins Weekend Is your golf game inconsistent? Every once in a while you’ll play a brilliant hole, but the holes you play in between are…lacking? If this inconsistency is the reason you’ve been avoiding tournaments, then Taiyo Golf Club’s Summer Skins Weekend may be the tournament for you. Named after the material in which people back in the day used to hold money, skins is a game where every single hole is a new competition. The player who posts the lowest score on a hole among all players in the tournament wins that hole (no ties allowed). For an 18-hole skins tournament, there could potentially be 18 different winners. As the Summer Skins Weekend will be spread across two days, August 15–16, there could
be as many as 36 different winners, with each winner receiving an MCCS gift certificate. So even if you play the worst two days of golf in your life, chock-full of double bogeys, fried eggs, skulls, duffs, yips, shanks and whiffs, all you have to do is perform well on one hole to be deemed a winner. This tournament is open to all DoD ID card holders and costs $10 to enter. Please register bright and early the day of the tournament at the Taiyo Golf Club Pro Shop, as players must tee off before 9 a.m. If you have any questions, check out mccsokinawa.com/golf or call Taiyo Golf Club at 622-2004/2006 from a DSN or 098-954-2004/2006 from off base.
Tour de Butler Indoor Cycling Competition If you’re looking for a heart-pumping cardio workout that’s going to set fire to those unwanted calories, perhaps your next move should be an indoor cycling class at an MCCS Fitness Center. More exciting than the treadmill and more effective than the elliptical, indoor cycling is a low-impact activity that reduces the overall risk of injury, but is still highly effective in improving cardiovascular health, endurance and building muscle. Indoor cycling isn’t a walk in the park; it consists of a challenging high-intensity interval workout. Resistance and speed training will have you tapping into both your aerobic and anaerobic systems, which will continue to torch calories even after you’ve left the building. With fast-tempo music and motivational coaching, indoor cycling is perfect for anybody who needs a bit of extrinsic motiva-
tion to get themselves all the way through their workout. And, if you need an even bigger motivational push, MCCS Health Promotion will be hosting a competition at the end of this month to coincide with the most famous biking competition in the world—the Tour de France! Tour de Butler, a fun and casual event, will run August 29–September 20. It’s simple: Download your stamp card from mccsokinawa. com/healthpromotion, have your stamp card validated in class and the person who attends the most cycling classes will win a fabulous prize! This event is open to all active duty and SOFA status individuals. For more information on Tour de Butler, call 645-3910. For more on Health Promotion, visit them on Facebook at facebook.com/mccsokinawa.semperfit.
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FITNESS+FUN
High Intensity Tactical Training
MCCS PHOTO
Is Your Body Combat Ready? When you receive the call, will your body be at its top physical condition? As a Marine or Sailor, it’s important to manage your body like the tactical athlete you are. To help maintain peak shape, check out the High Intensity Tactical Training (HITT) program, your source for tactical strength and conditioning solutions. The HITT program focuses on seven foundational movements that are essential for tactical readiness: squat, plank, lunge, push, pull, rotation and hinge. Each of these movements mimics combat actions and are programmed to keep Marines and Sailors mission ready year round. Featuring new 5:30–6:30 a.m. class times, you can now attend HITT at Camps Kinser, Foster and Hansen on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and at Camps Courtney, Schwab and MCAS Futenma on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Our HITT instructors are also available to assess the physical training needs of your unit or command. In addition to the workout sessions, HITT instructors offer unit-specific strength and conditioning programming, collaboration with command force fitness instructors, tactical fitness education, support for unit body composition programs and guidance for PFT and CFT performance improvement. If you are looking to participate in a training session but are unable to attend, please check out facebook.com/ highIntensityTacticalTraininghitt for the workout of the day. You can also check out demonstrations of the exercises at fitness.marines.mil/Force-Fitness-Instructor. For more information or details on our programs, please call 645-3910 or contact your local installation’s HITT instructor.
Outdoor Recreation Break the Routine It’s easy to feel pent-up, disconnected and stuck these days. You’ve read all your books, played all your video games, watched all the shows and movies you had on your “to-watch” list—what else is there to do while remaining socially distant? Quite a lot, actually, through MCCS Semper Fit Outdoor Recreation. With locations on Oura Wan Beach and Camps Foster, Hansen, Schwab, Kinser, Courtney and MCAS Futenma, Outdoor Recreation will set you up with all the gear you’ll need to recharge out in nature—alone or with friends—and add some variety to your routine. If you are camping with just the bare minimum, tents range from $3 to $6 while foam pads are only $1, but if you want to set yourself up with a mini outdoor kingdom, canopies
are $20, camping chairs are $1 and tables range from $2 to $5 depending on the size you’d like. Keep your drinks cold with $2 to $3 ice chests and your food hot with small, medium, large or full rotisserie grills. Camping accessories are also available for rent—lanterns, sleeping bags, screen tents and more. Additionally, Camp Foster offers special items including TV’s, PlayStation 4’s, bikes and fitness equipment including dumbbells, kettlebells, benches, bars, medicine balls and boxing stands. All charges are daily usage fees with each item’s availability varying depending on the camp. Please call ahead to confirm the items you want are in stock. For numbers and Outdoor Recreation locations, head to mccsokinawa.com/outdoor_recreation. AUGUST 2020 | OKINAWA LIVING 21
DINING+ENTERTAINMENT
Summon Your Inner Illustrator Powers Comic Con Okinawa T-Shirt Art Contest
Meals Fit for a Khan Mongolian BBQ at MCCS Clubs and Restaurants
Mongolia is known for hearty, flavorful cuisine and MCCS has got enough scrumptious Mongolian BBQ to have you clanking your pike against your shield in joy. For only $0.65 an ounce, you can pile your meal well past the brim of your bowl to build a mountain of beef, chicken, shrimp and fresh vegetables. Next, top it off with a sweet or savory sauce, then hand it off and try not to drool as you watch the chef transform your ingredients into a stir-fried masterpiece. As the seasons change, Mongolian nomads often move from place to place as they follow the movement of the livestock. Likewise, MCCS’ Mongolian BBQ special travels to different installations throughout the week. Head to BeachHead on Camp Schwab Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m., then to MCAS Futenma’s Habu Pit on Thursdays
(5–9 p.m.) and Fridays (11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.) to satiate your stir-fry cravings. If you live or work closer to Camp Hansen, check out The Palms on Sundays and Wednesdays from 5 to 9 p.m. or Mondays from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Additionally, Tengan Castle hosts a Mongolian BBQ lunch on Thursdays (11 a.m.–2 p.m.) and dinner on Wednesdays from 5 to 9 p.m. Lastly, two locations on Camp Foster offer Mongolian BBQ to satisfy your hunger: Butler Officers’ Club on Wednesdays (5–9 p.m.) and Ocean Breeze on Tuesdays (11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.) and Thursdays (5–9 p.m.). Stop by soon for a meal fit for a Khan. For more information about Mongolian BBQ at MCCS Clubs and Restaurants, visit mccsokinawa.com/clubs.
Calling all super-artists—MCCS is in peril! Comic Con Okinawa is around the corner, but we don’t have a design for the T-shirts that will be offered at the event; it’s time to don your cape, summon your inner illustrator powers and be the hero that MCCS needs—design the next Comic Con T-shirt! Although traditionally held in October, Comic Con Okinawa will now be held January 2021. Join us in kicking off the festivities early with the Comic Con Okinawa T-shirt Art Contest, September 1–30, where you’ll have the chance to see your design on the shirts of Comic Con Okinawa attendants island-wide. Winners will receive eight T-shirts with the winning design, two VIP passes to Comic Con 2021 and a $100 MCCS gift card. To even out the playing field for the young ones, the competition will be split into two age groups: 10 and younger for the kid’s T-shirt design and 11 and older for the adult’s. Here are the rules: Submissions can either be physical or digital, but you can only use a maximum of 3 colors. If submitting a physical drawing, make your design no larger than A4 size and drop it off at the Custom Shop in the Camp Foster Community Center (Bldg. 5908). If submitting electronically, email your masterpiece to customshop@okinawa. usmc-mccs.org. Lastly, if you are incorporating characters into your design, the characters must be original creations; no copyrighted characters are allowed, so let your imagination flow. For more information, call 645-0126.
AUGUST 2020 | OKINAWA LIVING 25
KAILEY LAVALLIERE
likely crossed your mind, followed by some sort of weighing of the pros and cons. Let’s take a look at a few of those. First, the pros. Learning Japanese opens up opportunities for meeting new people, making new friends and better understanding your surroundings and the culture in which you are immersed. Traditions, etiquette, directions, restaurants, menu items, signs, people and places will suddenly become much less mysterious and much less confusing. Moreover, learning Japanese can make you feel less isolated and more a part of the community. It can help alleviate awkwardness and lessen lapses of communication while out and about, as well as keep you from floundering when all someone is asking is if you would like your meal microwaved at a local Family Mart. Simply put, learning a language empowers you.
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With such a deluge of reasons to learn Japanese, it’s interesting most of us find the “I don’t have the time” excuse reason enough not to learn the language. “Listen, pal,” you might be thinking, “I PCS in a year or two. Why bother putting time into a language I won’t ever need again?” Because learning Japanese will “open the door to friendships and adventures that would not be there for you if you did not know any Japanese,” says Seth Renquist, a Japanese language teacher at Kadena High School. “So, your ‘year or two’ on Okinawa will probably end up being a much more enriching ‘year or two’ with you understanding things on a higher level, maybe having more friends and making connections that would not have been possible without a bit of language learning,” he continues. Additionally, “you never know for sure what turns your life will take. You may end up back in Japan later, or move to a different part of Japan. You may end up having Japanese friends back in the states or in another country outside of Japan. Even if you leave Japan and never meet another Japanese person again, the skills you use in learning Japanese will make learning your next language even easier,” he concludes. It bears mentioning that Mr. Renquist didn’t know how to speak Japanese until his twenties, a testament against the argument that you have to tackle a language from a very early age to fully grasp it. For Seth, he took Japanese in college on a whim to fulfill a foreign language requirement. He ended up taking to it, and it completely changed the course of his life. “During the process of studying Japanese, I met my future wife, then later got a job in Japan where we got married. After having kids, I ended up using my Japanese skills to become a Japanese language teacher at the high school level. Now I have lived half of my life in Japan and consider it home just as much as America.” The latter detail is reason enough for learning a language—it can transform a foreign place into a home.
Learning a language can transform a foreign place into a home
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THOMAS ALAN SMILIE, KAILEY LAVALLIERE
HILLARY TAYLOR, KAILEY LAVALLIERE
Start small... and build day by day
If you have never attempted to learn Japanese, this article was not written to shame you; it was written to help you get a start if you’re interested. And it’s not that you have to begin with the goal of becoming fluent or anything; start small, learn common phrases you know you are going to have to say or hear and build day by day. Being able to express yourself in common social situations in Japan is a strong step towards becoming more involved in the Okinawan community. The good news? You have many options! One great starting point is the slew of FREE Japanese language classes that MCCS Cultural Awareness & Adaptation offers every month. Atsuko Kinjo, one of the Japanese language teachers with this program, urges you to take advantage of these classes. Take the Survival Japanese Language Class to learn pronunciation and basic, applicable Japanese phrases that you can practice around island, or get started on the Basic Japanese Language Classes track, which offers increasing levels of difficulty to help you build your language skills one step at a time. In addition to language classes, they also host grocery store field trips and Japanese culture classes like origami, building a Japanese penholder with washi paper and
cooking lessons to help immerse you in the culture and make you feel more comfortable in your home-away-from-home. For more information on these classes, check out mccsokinawa.com/ culturalawareness. If you prefer studying at your house as opposed to in a classroom setting, MCCS Libraries are a great resource. In addition to plenty of books and printed materials on learning Japanese, MCCS Libraries offer Pimsleur Audiobooks. Expensive to purchase for yourself but free to borrow from the libraries, these language-learning audiobooks feature the Spaced Repetition System, a language-learning tool that has been proven to increase language acquisition and recall. Additionally, MCCS Libraries offer free access to Mango Languages, a language-learning platform with access to learning over 80 languages. Finally, one last—but incredibly helpful—offering is the virtual “Japanese on the Go” program every Monday at 5 p.m., where you can be paired with native speakers online to help hone your speaking and listening skills. For more information on MCCS Libraries’ offerings, head to mccokinawa.com/libraries.
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KAILEY LAVALLIERE
Apply the Japanese you have learned and practice it on others
The “Japanese on the Go” program, and others like it, are indispensable because there is no better way to build your language skills than applying what you have learned and practicing it on others. And yes, speaking a different language to native language speakers can be nerve-racking, but according to Kinjo-san, Japanese people appreciate foreigners showing respect by trying to speak their language. So much so that you might receive overly positive feedback: “Don’t be surprised if a Japanese person tells you your Japanese is great when all you have done is say one basic greeting," says Seth Renquist. With such social support, it can be easy to find a conversation partner with whom to practice your skills outside of the “Japanese on the Go” program, whether it be a Japanese-speaking coworker or a friend. If you are having trouble finding one, however,
Mr. Renquist suggests getting involved in one of the many international organizations in Okinawa such as the Koza International Plaza or Okinawa City International Association, where you can make a conversation partner and get involved in the community simultaneously. Pair conversation practices with gradual implementation of Japanese into your everyday routine—like watching Japanese television with English subtitles or eventually switching the language of your phone to Japanese—and you’ll surprise yourself at how quick you can learn the language, especially if you learn to read and write its alphabets. That’s right, alphabets, plural. And yes, while learning more than one alphabet—and foreign ones, at that—may seem intimidating, it’s a whole lot less scary when broken down.
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KAILEY LAVALLIERE
Japanese uses three alphabets: Kanji are characters that represent whole words, like 小 (sho) which means small, and 大 (dai), which means large (signs that might look familiar—if not because of their common usage—because of their presence on most toilet handles in Japan to designate the size of the flush). Hiragana is used for particles, prepositions, conjugations and for phonetically spelling out Japanese words, like まぐろwhich, sounded out, is “maguro,” or bluefin tuna in English. Lastly, katakana is used for phonetically spelling out words that are foreign to the Japanese language. It is widely suggested to begin by learning katakana since this alphabet is comprised of “loan words”— or words from other languages, including English. Because of this, many words in katakana will sound familiar to English speakers once spoken aloud. Take, for example, マクドナルド. In order, these characters sound out “ma-ku-do-na-rudo.” Sound it out quickly, and you’ll hear a familiar fast food chain. Fun, isn’t it? Try this one: ゴルフ, or sounded out, “goru-fu.” Need a hint? Tiger Woods. It’s like playing the most applicable game of Mad Gab. And after learning katakana, you’ll be able to sound out many of the signs around town and, better yet, understand what they mean. Whichever alphabet you ultimately decide to start with, though—as it is also effective to learn them in conjunction with each other— there are countless flashcards and study guides online available to print and study to help you push your Japanese skills to the next level.
Expand your ability to communicate with locals
With all these ways to get started, we hope you take advantage of your time on Okinawa to get a basic grasp of the language. Alondra Del Mar Olán Báez, a recent student of the Japanese language, says that in the short time she has been studying Japanese, she has already “expanded [her] ability to communicate with locals.” This expanded communication is crucial, and you too can achieve it to be a better ambassador, a better guest and to help make Okinawa feel much more like home.
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MARINES + FAMILIES
Further Your Education You’ve Got Options
Are you feeling a bit stagnant career-wise? You can change that! Continuing your education can get you out of that rut and on the path to fulfillment. Whether you are a service member or a military family member looking to actualize your ideal career path, or whether you are separating from the military soon and are looking for a smooth transition into another career field, you’ve got options. University of Maryland Global Campus, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Troy University are regionally accredited academic institutions available on Okinawa to help push your education and career to the next level. University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) offers certificates, associate’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees across a large range of different majors, as well as a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Transformational Leadership. For more information on UMGC’s programs, check out asia.umgc.edu. Moreover, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers certificates, Associate’s degrees, Bachelor’s degrees and Master’s degrees in aeronautical-related fields. Head over to worldwide.erau.edu/administration/military-veterans/pacom to find out more. Lastly, Troy University offers a Master of Science in International Relations, and for more about that program, you can go to troy.edu. However, if you’d prefer a more personal look through what these programs offer, the Education Centers are offering virtual tours
throughout the whole month of August. These virtual tours will take you through what the Education Centers provide in terms of services and facilities as well as show you the academic programs available for the 2020–2021 school year through UMGC, Embry Riddle and Troy University. To take a virtual tour and learn more about the different routes available on the path to education, check out facebook.com/ mccsokinawa.educationandlibraries before the end of August. And don’t forget, the aforementioned schools offer military-affiliated student discounts so you don’t have to break the bank to get where you want to go. Also, for family members looking to keep tuition fees to a minimum, keep in mind that MCCS offers tuition assistance for its employees, so it’d be worth your time to check for any openings in the MCCS family to help alleviate tuition pains. Lastly, take advantage of the vast amount of scholarships available for military members and their families. Head to mccsokinawa.com/ education to click through the tabs and see the assistive opportunities available to you as well as other potentially pertinent information regarding your education, such as academic exams, certification exams and more. Remember, you are not alone when considering furthering your education. Let MCCS Education help you along the way. For questions, call the Camp Hansen Education Center at 623-4375 or the Camp Foster Education Center at 645-7160. AUGUST 2020 | OKINAWA LIVING 41
MARINES + FAMILIES
Commit. Model. Reinforce. 7 Habits for Managers Leadership Workshop Leading is hard. Effective leading is even harder. Luckily, MCCS Marine Corps Family Team Building offers “7 Habits for Managers,” a leadership workshop built to teach managers how to lead effectively. This FREE workshop is a one-day introduction to the 7 habits of highly effective people. Learn how to balance the demands of your time, work more cohesively with others and gain strong individual performance at all levels of your team—including non-managerial and staff-level employees—using the 3-step implementation process: commit, model and reinforce. First, one must commit to implementing the 7 habits by creating a personal commitment statement on how to best become an intentional leader. Then, leaders must model the 7 habits of highly effective people, applying them to their lives and workplaces while remaining open to feedback. Lastly, these habits must be reinforced—actively listen to employees, celebrate their successes and always be working to create a more effective work culture. Of course, effective work cultures don’t happen overnight. It takes commitment, time, persistence—and it takes a plan. So set your expectations high, rise to the challenge and refuse to settle for a somewhat effective work environment. For upcoming class dates and locations, visit mccsokinawa. com/mcftb. For more information, call 645-3689.
Keep Your Kids Safe Follow the Child Supervision Requirements Depending on the age of your children, there are a number of guidelines provided by III MEF/MCIPAC-MCBB that must be followed to ensure the safety of themselves and others. First, a subject that pertains to all youth (individuals under the age of 18 and 18–20 year olds who are currently enrolled in secondary school): curfew. During curfew, youth must be in quarters or with a parent/designated adult. Off base, curfew is 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Sunday through Saturday. On base, curfew is 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday night through Friday morning and midnight to 5:30 a.m. Friday morning through Sunday morning, holidays and any other time school is not in session the following day. In regards to supervision throughout the day, children ages 5–6 may be outside with immediate parental access and kids ages 7–9 can be outside unattended for 2 hours with access to a designated adult, but babies/toddlers (ages 0–4) must never be left unsupervised in or outside quarters. Similarly, minors 17 and younger can never be left unsupervised in quarters while parents are on vacation or TDY/TAD, and children ages 13 and younger must never be left alone overnight. In addition, kids ages 9 and younger can never be left in a car unsupervised and children ages 11 and younger can never babysit or supervise siblings or others. Children ages 6 and younger can never be left in public areas and kindergartners and younger may never walk to school or to the bus stop alone. For more information, click the youth supervision guidelines link at mccsokinawa.com/ prevention_and_education. AUGUST 2020 | OKINAWA LIVING 43
MARINES + FAMILIES
Leading at the Speed of Trust Leadership Workshop Trust is crucial in leadership. If your team does not trust you, communication can fragment, indifference (and even active resistance) can inhibit mission effectiveness and the morale of the team can plummet. On the other hand, if a team trusts you, work relationships can strengthen, team confidence can soar and solutions can be created faster. In short, a team will be more productive if they trust in your leadership. As we all know, though, trust is something that is earned, not freely given when you simply ask for it. Earning trust in a workplace can be difficult, especially as a new leader, but the FREE “Leading at the Speed of Trust” workshop on August 11 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Camp Foster Chapel
will help you navigate workplace trust to eventually earn a state of “high trust” from your team. By building and sustaining professional credibility and adopting behaviors that increase trust, this course will teach you how to trust yourself first and then extend that trust to others so you can lead a team that everyone involved has confidence in. Moreover, you will learn the language of trust and the different levels of trust one can achieve from others, as well as how to sustain the high trust of your team. You will also receive a “Speed of Trust Sustainment” app and a leader accountability plan just by coming to this one-day workshop. For more information, head to mccsokinawa. com/mcftb or call 645-3689.
Unconscious Bias Notice, Adjust and Act Say you are interviewing potential new employees. Does the gender of the person you are interviewing persuade your decision-making? How about the interviewee’s accent? Does the color of their skin or hair, the shape of their eyes, the pitch of their voice or the clothing they wear cause assumptions to form in your head about that person? If you answered no, are you sure? It’s possible—and common—to be completely unaware of your biases. Don’t worry, biases don’t necessarily make you a bad person—biases are more common than you think. Whether innate or learned, bias is a natural part of the human condition, a mechanism in our brain that possibly served our ancestors in making tribal decisions and assumptions to better their chances of survival, but
in our modern day and age can affect how we make judgements, engage with others and respond to situations—often narrowing the mind and thereby limiting potential. Luckily, you don’t have to fall prey to your biases. At the “Unconscious Bias” leadership workshop at the Camp Foster Chapel on August 24, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., discover how to notice biases, adjust for them and act with courage to make a real change in your workplace and community. It’s alright to have biases, but it’s what we do to recognize and correct them that matters. Registration is required by August 17 at mccsokinawa.com/mcftb. For more information, call 098-970-3689.
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KIDS + PARENTS
MCCS Youth Sports Basketball and Cheerleading Season Other than a much-needed break from the house, team sports, especially at a young age, can provide lasting positive impacts on both mental and physical health; sports promote cooperative play, teamwork, sportsmanship and critical thinking skills as well as help improve motor skills, lower cortisol (the hormone associated with stress), burn fat and facilitate muscle growth. Socially, sports are a fun way to make new friends, build self-esteem and become a part of the community. Thankfully, this fall, youth basketball and cheerleading are back. The basketball and cheerleading seasons are open to ages 5–18 and run from October 2020 to January 2021. And don’t worry, they
don’t have to be a professional player or cheerleader to join. In fact, MCCS Youth Sports is a perfect arena to hone their skills. So whether your kid wants to sharpen their dribbling and shooting, learn how to stick some difficult stunts or go for gold, then check out Youth Sports this fall. You can register your kids online at mccsokinawa.com/ youthsports or in person at any staffed MCCS Fitness Center for $70 per child. Interested in becoming a coach? Volunteer coaching is an incredible way to engage with the community, be a positive role model for children and teenagers, share your experience and knowledge of a sport with youths and even get some exercise, as
modeling how to dominate the low post or properly perform a high kick can certainly take it out of you. If you like the sound of these aspects and you think you’d be a responsible, positive addition to the MCCS Youth Sports community, download the application at mccsokinawa.com/coachescorner. Print the application, fill it out and drop it off at the Semper Fit Youth Sports office on Camp Foster to register. For more information, head to mccsokinawa.com/youthsports and if you have any questions, feel free to email youthsports@okinawa. usmc-mccs.org, call 645-3533/34 from a DSN or 098-970-3533/34 from off base.
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Tamaru Camping Park YS
Tamaru Camping Park YS
TROY’s Military and Family Scholarship caps the cost of tuition at $250 per credit hour for active military. Also, your spouse and dependents receive up to 50% in tuition savings. CONTACT THE PROGRAM
COORDINATOR NEAREST YOU FOR MORE INFORMATION
KADENA AB kadena@troy.edu DSN 634-7464
OSAN AB osan@troy.edu DSN 784-8151
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TERM I, 2020 Aug. 10 - Oct. 11, 2020 Application Deadline: 07/31/20 Registration Begins: 05/04/20 TERM II, 2020 Oct. 12 - Dec. 13, 2020 Application Deadline: 10/02/20 Registration Begins: 09/21/20 TERM III, 2021 Jan. 4 - Mar. 7, 2021 Application Deadline: 12/18/20 Registration Begins: 11/23/20 TERM IV, 2021 Mar. 15 - May 16, 2021 Application Deadline: 03/05/21 Registration Begins: 02/22/21 TERM V, 2021 May 24 - Jul. 25, 2021 Application Deadline: 05/14/21 Registration Begins: 05/03/21
KIDS + PARENTS
Lead Okinawa Teen Volunteer Workshop Students, you have earned this summer break. Being a student is a full-time job, and on top of sports, clubs, actual part-time jobs and everything that 2020 has thrown at all of us, you deserve some rest. But just because you are now in full-on relaxation mode doesn’t mean you can’t better your future while making the local community a better one. Take two hours out of your day on August 5—from 9 to 11 a.m.—to partake in the Lead Okinawa: Teen Volunteer Workshop in the Camp Foster Education Center, Rm. 13. This workshop will help you explore local volunteer opportunities and gain valuable experience that’ll bring your college applications and resume to the next level, all while making a positive impact on your community. The Lead Okinawa: Teen Volunteer Workshop is available to teens ages 13 and up and registration (available at mccsokinawa.com/volunteer) is required to attend. If you have any questions, please call 645-3729 or email volunteernow@okinawa. usmc-mccs.org.
Youth Swim Team Tryouts
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Become a Dolphin Today! The Summer Olympics may be postponed, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the swim competitions this year—you yourself can compete! If swimming is your passion and you weren’t on the Okinawa Dolphins Swim Team (ODST) over the summer, then try out for ODST August 24, 3:30–5 p.m., at the Camp Foster Aquatic Center. This 5–10 minute tryout is split into two stages. In the first stage, you must swim freestyle for 50 meters with correct head and body position while side-breathing and kicking constantly. For the second stage, you must swim breaststroke for 25 meters followed by backstroke for 25 meters. 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 must be performed with no parental interaction. Apart from the skills test, swimmers must demonstrate maturity and must be 7 years or older by the first day of practice, August 25. Once a part of the team, Dolphins attend regular practices, meets and sometimes even travel (to mainland Japan and Taiwan, among other places) for competitions. If you have prior swim team experience or are unable to make the tryouts, please email Aquatics at mccsaquatics@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org and a late tryout may be arranged. For more information, head to mccsokinawa.com/swimteam or facebook.com/mccsokinawa.aquatics. AUGUST 2020 | OKINAWA LIVING 51
SERVICES
There’s an App for That… The MCCS Okinawa Liberty App
MCCS PHOTO
While moving to a new country is exciting, it does have a catch—it’s unfamiliar. And being stationed overseas, there are a lot more rules you may be unaccustomed to than if you were stationed somewhere in the States. Obviously, that can be both overwhelming and confusing. But don’t worry: there’s an app for that. Make life easier and download the award-winning Liberty MCCS Okinawa App—it contains all sorts of information concerning life on Okinawa (both on and off base), including transportation schedules and numbers, event information, emergency contacts and a helpful guide on Okinawan policies. The Liberty App also provides flag and sea conditions, up-to-date TCCOR levels, a yen rate calculator and common basic Japanese phrases with pronunciations. Find places beyond the gates to eat, shop, visit and play or discover the nearly-endless offerings from on-base resources such as MCCS, the Exchange, USO and more. The Liberty App even features a “how-to” on taking buses and using the daiko service, as well as a list of what’s off-limits (you know, the ones they told you about, but have probably forgotten by now). In collaboration with the III MEF Chaplain’s office, the Liberty App now features information relating to “Body,” “Mind,” “Spirit” and “Social” in the new Total Fitness section. This area consolidates information for Marines and Sailors, providing fingertip access to chaplain services, fitness programs and many other resources. In addition, a Total Fitness self-assessment survey is also currently in development, a completely anonymous tool that will give users a resource to gauge their current “Total Fitness” score. The Liberty App is available for both iPhone and Android users, and can be downloaded for free via the Apple Store and Google Play as well as on the MCCS website. For more information, or to download the app, visit mccsokinawa.com/liberty.
Your Guide to Okinawa The 2020–2021 Okinawa Guide There’s a lot to learn about Okinawa for newcomers. Although it is a welcoming and beautiful island, it can also be a bit intimidating to move here knowing very little about the language, culture, where to shop and what to buy. If only there was some sort of handbook about the island that told you everything you needed to know. Some sort of manual that gave you all the information necessary to make the most of your time here. Oh, wait, there is—it’s called the Okinawa Guide and it can serve as your guide to Okinawa during your stay. The Okinawa Guide is an annual publication packed with comprehensive information on just about everything Okinawa, produced by the staff of Okinawa Living Magazine for newcomers and island veterans alike. The ‘Introduction’ chapter covers the basics—checking in, hospital info, schools on base, veterinary info and more. Japanese language, culture, holidays, festivals, eating etiquette, off-base grocery shopping and more are covered in the ‘Local Culture’ chapter, while driving tips, what to do in the event of an accident and info on local buses and taxis are covered in ‘Transportation.’ The ‘MCCS’ chapter covers the vast amount of offerings available for service members and their families on Marine Corps camps. Additionally, the ‘Island Guide’ covers places to visit on Okinawa—beaches, waterfalls, resorts, malls—and is conveniently broken down into north, central and south sections both on and off base. All this and much, much more is contained in the Okinawa Guide…and the best thing? This guide is FREE! Pick up your copy today at an MCCS facility near you! For more about the 2020–2021 Okinawa Guide, visit mccsokinawa.com/guide. AUGUST 2020 | OKINAWA LIVING 53
SERVICES
Share your Love of Okinawa… …with your Loved Ones back Home Everyone that’s visited Okinawa has a favorite spot, whether it’s a perfect place to watch the sunset, a beach that the family visited every summer, the steps to Nago Castle lined with sakura (cherry blossom) trees blooming brilliantly pink or even a stretch of beautiful coastline that is so breathtaking you have to stop the car every to time you pass by to take a photo. With Omoide: Memories of Okinawa and The Best of Okinawa Living, both produced by the staff of Okinawa Living Magazine, you can share the beauty of your home-away-from-home with friends and family in the states. Omoide: Memories of Okinawa captures Okinawa’s beauty in a
pictorial format. Broken down into north, central and south sections, this full-color coffee table book contains images from Hedo Point on the northern tip of the island to Chinen Cape—the southern-most point of Okinawa. The Best of Okinawa Living, a more comprehensive compilation of everything Okinawa, uses words and images to cover the island’s history, picturesque locales, interesting cuisine, cultural curiosities, art and artists, national and local festivals and holidays and much more. The Best of Okinawa Living and Omoide: Memories of Okinawa are available island-wide at any Exchange retail facility that sells books.
MCCS Gift Certificates
MCCS PHOTO
The Versatile Gift Show them how much you care with an MCCS Gift Certificate, fit for any special occasion. What can you buy with a gift certificate? Well, what mood are you in? Feeling adventurous? Then rent some gear from MCCS Outdoor Recreation. Feeling sore or tired? Why not a relaxing massage or dietary supplement from Semper Fit? Feel like hitting the lanes, the streets or the paints? Then buy a customized bowling ball from the Camp Foster Bowling Pro Shop, a tour from Tours+ or an art class at Foster Framing and Fine Arts! You can snag
a ticket to one of MCCS’ premiere culinary events, buy that new golf club you’ve been eyeing or get that much-needed oil change from Typhoon motors! The list of possibilities is endless, as the MCCS Gift Certificate is available to use at MCCS facilities island-wide and available to buy in $5, $10 and $20 denominations at any MCCS retail facility. For more information, visit mccsokinawa.com/giftcertificates.
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The gōyā, which is known as nigauri (literally “bitter gourd”) in mainland Japan or as the Chinese bitter melon in the West, often falls victim to prejudice (yes, just like Shrek). It is shaped like an ‘Incredible Hulk’ version of a cucumber, and larger specimens are usually 20–30 centimeters in length with an average circumference of 10–15 centimeters. The Okinawan gōyā’s skin is a brilliant green, textured with multitudes of lumps and knobs when fully ripe—almost like the vegetable version of alligator skin. Many find the gōyā quite ugly or grotesque and harshly bitter. However, the gōyā is a dietary mainstay for many Okinawans and a summer icon in the islands. Many consider citrus fruits as the king of vitamin C; a typical lemon contains 0.56 percent of the vitamin per single fruit on a dry weight scale. While this is perfectly respectable, it is a miniscule amount when compared to a gōyā’s 3.6 percent of vitamin C content per fruit. And for the gōyā, the high content of vitamin C is just the tip of the iceberg. A gōyā contains twice the amount of potassium as a banana, double the betacarotene content of broccoli and twice the amount of calcium as spinach. Gōyā also has a high iron content, contains vitamins B1, B2, B3 and phosphorus and is high in dietary fiber. And, of course, the gōyā contains no cholesterol, saturated fat or sodium. While the whole plant is often used in other countries’ cuisines and medicinal treatments—like the Chinese folk remedy that calls for the seeds and leaves of the plant to be distilled into a restorative tea—on Okinawa, usually only the fruit of the gōyā is used in dishes and beverages. Very few people on Okinawa will argue the fact that while some think gōyā is not exactly chocolate-good, it is just as addictive. Gōyā, much like caviar, can definitely be considered an acquired taste to a first time eater. Yet every serious gōyā-addict will attest that the more you eat, the more you crave. But neophytes, beware: although its flavor can vary in intensity depending on preparation, it’s called bitter melon for a reason.
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Probably the most popular gōyā dish here on Okinawa is the summertime staple gōyā champurū. Champurū is an Okinawan term which translates into “mixture” or “a mixture of various things thrown together to form a harmonious whole,” and gōyā champurū is just that— a mixture of gōyā with other ingredients stir-fried to balanced perfection. Although specific ingredients tend to vary from person to person (like many people’s chili recipes), the central theme of any good champurū recipe is balance. Because the taste of gōyā can be overpowering to some when eaten by itself, most recipes temper it with scrambled eggs, tofu, pork, spam and other ingredients. If done correctly and proper balance is attained, the gōyā’s bitterness not only amplifies the flavor of the other ingredients, it also elevates the deliciousness of any other dish that accompanies it to heights previously unattainable. A serving of good gōyā champurū has the ability to transform even a simple unassuming bowl of rice into a culinary event of epic proportions.
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On Okinawa, while many sing the gōyā’s praises as a healthy food, most love gōyā because of its ability to enhance a meal. After all, one must experience the full spectrum of tastes to truly enjoy cuisine. For example: a tiramisu torte with multiple layers of creamy whipped mascarpone cheese alternating with luscious sponge cake dusted with rich chocolate powder may taste pretty good on its own, but when balanced with a strong, piping-hot cup of bitter espresso, it becomes something that you gush about incessantly for the rest of the afternoon. Likewise, gōyā can upgrade a simple meal into a culinary experience. The fact that bitterness also has a place in the scheme of life itself is something that many Okinawan people understand excruciatingly well. Many Okinawans maintain that the more bitter the gōyā, the better. It just makes the sweet seem that much sweeter, and many of the older generation know from firsthand experience that surviving hardship does give you an enhanced perspective. The simple joys in life, which can be taken for granted, become easier to recognize and appreciate. Not limited to the gourd itself, gōyā champurū also reflects many cultural aspects of Okinawa. Many examples of Okinawan art and culture were derived from a myriad of influences drawn from a multitude of cultures. All of these different facets from different nations were “thrown together” and balanced harmoniously to produce the unique champurū ethos of Ryukyu. Call it bitter melon, nigauri, or ampalaya—whatever name it’s known by, gōyā is truly great.
AUGUST 2020 | OKINAWA LIVING 65
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JANUARY AUGUST 2016 2020 || OKINAWA OKINAWA LIVING LIVING XX 67
LIVING ON OKINAWA
Okonomiyaki Ingredients 100 g flour 1 egg 1 tsp. salt 2 tsp. baking powder 150 cc water 8 leaves of cabbage 100 g lean pork, sliced 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise 6 Tbsp. ketchup 3 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce Thinly shaved dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi) Green laver Preparation 1. Mix flour, salt, baking powder, beaten egg and water thoroughly until smooth. 2. Shred cabbage; cut pork into slightly larger than bite-size pieces. 3. Mix cabbage and pork with flour mixture. 4. Heat vegetable oil in a pan. 5. Pour the mixture into the pan in the shape of a pancake. 6. Cook until underside is golden brown; flip over. 7. Apply mayonnaise lightly over top surface. 8. Spread mixture of ketchup and Worcestershire sauce over mayonnaise. 9. Sprinkle with green laver and bonito flakes.
Summer Icons With summer in full swing on the island, you’ve probably already run into one or both of these two perennial summer evening Okinawan icons—the yārū and the tōbira (their Uchināguchi names). And while we’re not talking about giant bats or slithering reptiles, the level of trepidation (and for some, sheer terror) these two island residents can generate is on the same level. While the name may sound endearing, the tōbira is everything but— namely because we’re talking about the large, disgusting and almost indestructible Okinawan cockroach. Hardened veterans of the tōbira wars often swap stories of their epic battles with specimens “the size of Rodan” (the flying monster from the Godzilla movies) and lament that defeating them is an impossible task. Although this point may be argued by some, yārū, or house geckoes, are the far more agreeable member of this iconic pair (except for their disturbing habit of falling from the top of door sills almost surgically onto the back of your neck). The gecko’s name in the Japanese language, yamori, translates into “protector of the home” and it is possible that this moniker stems from the tiny creature’s habit of controlling household pests...such as smaller versions of the aforementioned roaches.
Uchinâguchi Corner English
Japanese
Uchinâguchi
Summer
Natsu
Nachi AUGUST 2020 | OKINAWA LIVING 69
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