Okinawa Living Magazine January 2023

On the cover

Loved by frugal millions in Japan and throughout the world, instant ramen means happiness is always only three minutes away.

Yeti Ski Tour

Grab some skis (or a board, sled or other preferred method of barreling downhill) and hit the slopes on an all-inclusive trip with MCCS Tours+! 16

Bowls of Instant Happiness

Dive into the delicious history of ramen, our staff picks of instant noodles and low-effort ways to boost the nutritional value of your own prepackaged favorites. 56

Ohanami

Charge those camera batteries because the island is about be blanketed with the brilliant blooms of sakura—oh, cosmos and sunflowers, too!

COVER

PHOTO BY MIKE

DALEY

fitness + fun

27

Lord of the Tengan Run

Lace up those sneakers and head to the starting line at Camp Courtney Ironworks Fitness Center for the Lord of the Tengan 5k/10k Run. 29

Crews Into Shape

Set spark to that New Year’s resolution by committing to Crews Into Shape—a four-week, team-based approach to health, stress relief and wellness.

marines + families 33

Mental Wellness & Work/Life Balance Month

Mental wellness and work/life balance are two important topics to be thinking about at the beginning of the year. The MCCS Family Advocacy Program is teaming up with Semper Fit Health Promotion to shed more light on why we should be thinking about it all year long. 35 Culture

Club

Join us at the Camp Foster Library for the inaugural meeting of the brand-new Culture Club—a space designed to foster intercultural friendships through shared experiences!

37 Hearts

Apart

You don’t have to navigate deployments alone—find support and build connections at Hearts Apart.

dining + entertainment 39

Tasty Bites

In the time wasted in bumper-to-bumper traffic en route to an off-base meal, you could’ve watched at least three Tasty Bites videos!

kids + parents 43

Make an

Impact on Your Community

Get paid to change the world by becoming a childcare provider with Child and Youth Programs, where you’ll make a tangible difference in the lives of children every day. 45 Game

On

Test out those reflexes, physics and luck on the brand-new air hockey table at the Camp Courtney Bowling Center.

Livin’ the Dream

Help others experience the same sublime feeling of taking their first breath underwater by going pro with the help of Tsunami Scuba.

FREE Stuff

Take advantage of the FREE things offered by MCCS—such as FREE snorkeling vests from Tsunami Scuba and FREE group fitness classes—they’ll make your home-away-fromhome that much better!

COMMANDING

GENERAL, MCIPAC

Major General Stephen E. Liszewski

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 DIRECTOR

Margie Shimabukuro

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Tiffany Kim, Emily Wright, Alora Wilson Elizabeth Goldsmith, Deanna Berg

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER

Thomas Alan Smilie

PHOTOGRAPHERS/VIDEOGRAPHERS

Kathlene Millette, Mia Cox, Kirstin Spanu

EDITORIAL Kiara Klein, Dani Livesey

DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA

Roxine Ami, Jaci Mullally

CULTURAL RESEARCH SPECIALIST Ayako Kawamitsu

ADVERTISING SALES & SPONSORSHIP MANAGER Julia Gregory-Bovender

ADVERTISING SALES & SPONSORSHIP

Yoshihiro Shinzato, Hiromitsu Horikawa Terumi Nagai, Ronshanda Perkins, Tsutomu McCoy

MARKETING ACCOUNTS MANAGER

Andrew Menges

MARKETING ACCOUNTS

Bethany Ramirez, Latoya Cardona

DISTRIBUTION

Wataru Yamanoha, Shohei Ikene

MARKETING INTERN

Martinez

mensôre

“Welcome” to Okinawa Living

Happy New Year(s)!

Did you know that 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit according to Eto in Japanese? Eto was originally an ancient Chinese method for determining auspicious and inauspicious days depending on one’s birthday, and it was also thought to determine personality traits. The system is a combination of Jikkan, or 10 calendar signs, and Jyunishi, or 12 animal zodiac signs that were composed to indicate the day, month, year, time and “direction” of luck. Even today, many in Japan use the system in a similar manner as the version of the celestial zodiac based on constellations such as Virgo, Pisces or Taurus.

According to Eto, a person’s birth year determines their “totem animal,” and this supposedly determines character traits, lucky days, compatibility with others and so on and so forth.

This calendar is based on the Lunar New Year, as opposed to the Gregorian, which begins on January 1. According to the Lunar calendar, the New Year—and the Year of the Rabbit—begins on January 22. Many here on Okinawa, especially members of the elder generation, celebrate New Year’s twice. One is during Oshōgatsu (January 1), and the other occasion is known as Kyū-Sogwachi locally, or “Kyū-Shōgatsu” in Japanese and is celebrated January 22—which also begins the next Eto cycle.

A complete Eto cycle consists of 60 years in the following order: ne (rat), ushi (ox), tora (tiger), u (hare or rabbit), tatsu (dragon), mi (snake), uma (horse), hitsuji (ram or sheep), saru (monkey), tori (rooster), inu (dog) and ‘I’ (boar). The order of 12 animals rotates through 12 years and repeats five times to equal 60 years for a complete cycle. If you were born in 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 or 2011, then this is your year you wascally wabbit!

According to those that subscribe to this system, people born under the totem of the rabbit (or hare, if you prefer) are quiet, elegant, alert, quick, kind and very responsible. Many consider the rabbit one of the most faithful of animals, but they tend to keep their feelings to themselves. They are also thought to be the luckiest of all the 12 animals (surprise, surprise).

As we start a New Year and a fresh, clean slate, the staff of Okinawa Living Magazine hope 2023 is a year of happiness, peace and light for you and yours—whether it begins on the 1st or the 22nd of the month. 

Mike Daley Editor-In-Chief

Take us on the road

Enjoy Okinawa Living Magazine on your favorite mobile device!

Visit okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/ol for the latest issue. Also, visit issuu.com/mccsokinawa to see back issues of the magazine.

feedback from the ICE Program and Facebook

As we enter the busy holiday season, coordinating events can be a challenge; however, Karlin Polizzi, the manager at Tengan Castle on Camp Courtney, continues to make planning simple. She is quick to respond, and she accommodates various sized groups and budgets. She also has a wonderful demeanor and friendly attitude. Ms. Polizzi has helped me coordinate events in the past, and she always goes above and beyond. She helps me to get excited about the events, and because she is so good, I keep coming back to Tengan (and Legends Officers’ Club which she also oversees) for our events. I just thought someone out there should know how good she is!

—via ICE

Good morning, thank you for your kind words regarding Ms. Polizzi. We will pass them on to her supervisor as well as the MCCS Food & Beverage management team! Thanks again and have a wonderful day!

—MCCS Consumer Relations team

Our son Rockett recently joined EGA [Excellence Gymnastics Academy], and we absolutely love it! Coach Coco is attentive, energetic and focused on her students. We enrolled him to cross-train and augment his martial arts class, and we can already see improvement in his strength, flexibility, confidence and body control. In addition, the facility is beautiful and well maintained.

—via ICE

All the MCCS HRO (Human Resources Office) staff are always kind and a pleasure to work with. Allissa Haseley helped me with my in-processing today, and she was very kind and informative when answering questions I had.

—via ICE

Thank you very much for the positive feedback regarding the NAF Human Resources Office. Your comments have been shared with the team, and we look forward to assisting with any/all future HR needs. Thank you and have a great day.

—MCCS NAF HRO team

The following comments are for the Camp Schwab Education Center. Throughout my 14-year career, I have not encountered a better-run education center. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and professional. During my unit’s 6-month deployment, staff there offered numerous classes on tuition assistance and financial management. They also provided classrooms for our command-sponsored Corporals Course which graduated 36 Marines. I would like to highlight Ms. Beverly Pascual for her attentiveness and knowledge regarding educational benefits, the Skill Bridge program and financial management, as she helped to educate 107 Marines on their benefits and the resources available to them. Her efforts helped to ensure my Marines are better equipped and knowledgeable as they continue with their future. She is the epitome of professionalism, and my unit was lucky to have been able to work with her. 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 okinawa.usmc-mccs.org and find the ICE link in the “MORE” section of the homepage or find us on Facebook to share feedback. Comments on this page may be edited for clarity or length.

A LEGENDARY TRIP YETI SKI TOUR

TEXT BY DANI LIVESEY DESIGN BY MARGIE SHIMABUKURO

Japan’s glittering jewel and tallest volcano, Mount Fuji, parts the sky like a stairway leading straight to the moon. It is both a cultural and sacred icon that attracts hundreds of thousands of people each year to stand in awe in its shadow, climb to its peak and ski down its slopes.

YETI SKI TOUR

If you are one of the many people who’d enjoy a chance to visit the iconic mountain, and you miss snow and snow-related activities like skiing, snowboarding or even making snow angels, then the Yeti Ski Tour, offered by MCCS Tours+ February 18–23, is the trip for you.

February marks the beginning of “powder season ” and is the perfect time to take advantage of

weather systems that brush the Sea of Japan bringing snows from icy Siberia that fall in consistent amounts each year (usually between 12–18 meters); which according to Different Snow Magazine, “leaves chilled, crisp and fluffy snow of unparalleled powder and easy fresh tracks.”

YETI SKI TOUR

The Yeti Ski Resort itself has amenities that make the trip a worthy endeavor. Located in Shizuoka Prefecture with a peak elevation of 1,450m, it offers skiers and snowboarders a 150m vertical drop with 3 km of marked trails, four main slopes and even an extra slope for sledders. Everything is easily accessible using one of their four ski lifts. For novices to the snow scene, Yeti Resort offers what they call Ski School and Snowboard School featuring 90-minute lessons for first timers and classes for kids 5–12 years old. Sessions for intermediate and advanced

folks are also available, and they even offer a class for parents and children together. Those needing more hands-on instruction can sign up for an hourlong private lesson.

When not slipping, sliding, skiing and sledding the day away, participants will be staying in the prestigious Hiroo residential area of Tokyo at the New Sanno Hotel, where they can enjoy spectacular shopping, indoor swimming pool, a fully stocked fitness center, time relaxing in the sauna and jacuzzi, or the state-of-the-art game room.

Here’s a more specific breakdown of the trip’s itinerary: on day one, participants meet at the Foster Education Center, where the bus will take them to Naha Airport. Upon arrival in Tokyo, folks will check into New Sanno Hotel and enjoy leisure time for the rest of the day. Days two and three, travelers will enjoy the slopes at Yeti Ski Resort departing the hotel at 7 a.m. and returning at 11:30 p.m. On day four, participants will meet in the lobby of New Sanno Hotel for departure to Haneda Airport.

Upon arrival, a bus will then pick them up at Naha Airport for the transfer to Foster Education Center. Pricing for the trip (including all gear and lift passes) is $1,085 for a single occupancy room, $990 for double or triple occupancy room and $805 for children 3–6, with a 25% deposit due at reservation and full payment due by Wednesday, January 18. For more information or to book your spot, email tours@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org or call 098-971-3502. 

Text by Kiara Klein and Dani Livesey Photography by Mia Cox and Kirstin Spanu Design by Kathy Millette

Ramen is known across Japan as both an affordable—and in some cases—a luxury dining option, with many hole-in-thewall shops having quite the word-of-mouth reputation and some mainland ramen establishments even touting Michelin stars. Ramen is best known for its luscious time-intensive broths, delicately prepared toppings and the iconic noodles of various thicknesses and consistencies.

Before ramen was a national staple in Japan, its roots are said to have started in China, though the precise point of introduction of China’s wheat flour noodles to Japan remains elusive; one of the most convincing conjectures suggests they arrived sometime during the 1880s with Chinese migrant cooks from the Guangdong region who made their way to Yokohama’s bustling ports just after Japan finally reopened its borders for trade during the Meiji Period.

Up until the latter half of the Meiji Period, Chinese cuisine was considered high-class fare offered as extravagant main courses for royalty and the social elite, but these ideals shifted as Chinese restaurants started popping up all over to serve the influx of Chinese students entering Japan, with the first Chinese restaurant established in Yokohama in 1870.

But it wasn’t until 1910 in Asakusa, Tokyo when Rairaiken—the first ramen shop—took Chinese wheat noodles and fused them with traditional Japanese cuisine. Unfortunately, 13 years later, the upand-coming noodle hub in the Yokohama region suffered serious damage during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, forcing many shop owners to close their doors.

In the disaster’s wake, many street stalls, or yatai, popped up in cities as they were quicker and easier to open than traditional brick and mortar shops. Many yatai were different than the other shops in the area, and to ensure that they were able to maintain consistency and quality in their food many yatai only served ramen.

Loaded with salt, protein and processed wheat flour, ramen was the perfect filling, stick-to-the-ribs kind of meal that was needed during the industrial revolution so it became the ideal meal for the working-class individual. In the 1920s and 1930s, the popularity of ramen continued to proliferate as Japan’s urban population continued to grow.

According to Momofuku Ando, founder of Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd., in the streets of postwar Osaka he was struck with an extraordinary idea after he saw a large group of hungry people huddled around a yatai waiting for a bowl of ramen. His idea? Instant noodles could cure world hunger! It would take over a decade before that inspiration would produce anything edible, but in 1958, after experimenting for almost a year in a backyard shed, Ando finally cracked the code by flash-frying noodles to dehydrate them. The first instant ramen—Chikin (as in “Chicken”) Ramen—was born.

Eight years later during a trip to America, inspiration struck again when Ando watched grocery store managers breaking apart Chicken Ramen noodles into Styrofoam cups and eating them with a fork rather than chopsticks. This gave birth to “Cup of Noodles” (known as Cup Noodle in Japan) in 1971, which quickly gained global popularity and cemented Ando’s place in culinary history.

oday instant ramen has grown far beyond his original invention, and though Nissin is still one of the largest instant ramen producers in the world, it seems as if everyone has a different favorite insta-ramen, preparation method and even way of eating it. If you’re feeling a little lost in the instant ramen sauce, check out our staff favorites.

SHIN

Shin Ramen is the most flavorful in- stant ramen that I have had to date. I’ve tried a lot of different brands, but nothing compares to the season- ing within this affordable packet.

—Latoya

U.F.O.

I like that it has thoughtful packaging because I eat the noodles but not the broth [… also] it’s flavorful without making my nose run.

—Bethany

GOTSUMORI

It has strong flavor and taste. It’s 90g of noodles, it makes me feel full and it’s cheap.

—Wataru

NISSIN RAOH

(which is short for “King of Ramen”)The texture of the noodles is pretty good for instant, and the soup is good too—nice and flavorful.

—Mia

I like that the miso and noodle are different [than other ramen brands]. Ro-ah has a specialty in noodles.

—Ayako

The flavors are bangin’.

—Rox

There are five main elements to a bowl of ramen. First the soup which is composed of some combination of pork, seafood, chicken and/or aromatics and vegetables; then there’s , or sauce, which provides much of the seasoning for the broth. Ramen is often characterized by the kind tare used, and some of the more common types are shōyu (soy tonkotsu (pork bone broth), shio (salt) (fermented soybeans). Next, there’s men or noodle used. Complementary and diverse toppings are usually optional—such as chāshu (sliced pork), menma (bamboo shoots), negi (green onion), moyashi (bean sprouts), tamago (egg), seaweed, (fish cake), corn and/or butter. And finally, a flavored oil or fat is used as a flavor enhancer by coating the noodles, providing a smooth, easily slurped texture and insulator, preventing the hot broth temperature from dropping too quickly.

Ladled and layered, each of these savory components fuse to create a unique depth of flavor.

There are many ways that you can take the humble package of instant ramen and elevate it into a meal worthy of burning the extra 10 minutes it’ll take you to put it together (as well as the hours to work off the calories). Japanese grocery stores are a mecca of easy-to-grab additions that will really upgrade instant noodles, adding more nutritional value to the brick of fried noodles and sodium laden seasoning packets. The OL staff fancified a college dorm room staple, chicken Top Ramen to see what we could come up with, and here’s how it went:

Like traditional ramen, it’s about starting with the base, and of course we went ahead and stuck to the tried-and-true chicken flavoring packet, but we also threw in a little bit of our own seasonings such as garlic, ginger and turmeric power. These are great for their anti-biotic and anti-inflammatory properties, but you can throw in all your favorite seasonings.

You already know we used the flash-fried brick encased in the iconic orange wrapper (thank you, Ando-san)! Although, we do recommend boiling your noodles separate from your broth, that way you can keep your broth free from the starch that leaves the noodles during the cooking process.

This is the best part! There are so many options, and, of course, you can add or subtract according to your tastes. Our instant ramen was topped with green onions, bamboo shoots, a soft-boiled egg, bean sprouts and some pre-cooked chicken. For your protein, you can keep it simple with leftovers that are already in the fridge.

We drizzled ours with a little bit of sesame oil and placed a dollop of garlic chili oil in the center to give it a little bit of kick. A tablespoon of butter or even some wasabi oil would really make the instant ramen a little less one note.

Ramen purists, look away, because all we did was add a little bit of miso paste, but if you want to make a more traditional tare for your instant ramen, we say, go for it!

Enjoy your bowl how you want it, and happy slurping! 

Lord of the Tengan Run

Calling all Runners!

Lace up your sneakers on Sunday, February 5, and head to the Camp Courtney Ironworks Fitness Center for the Lord of the Tengan 5k/10k Run. While awards will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in all gender and age divisions, you are your best competitor, so remember any finish is always a win.

At 3.1 miles, 5ks are a fantastic way for those getting into the running game, with an average training time from couch to finish line being 6–8 weeks. A 10k race, on the other hand, is 6.2 miles and is ideal for experienced runners who are looking for more of a challenge (which is perhaps why the 10k is the second most popular race after the half-marathon) and requires a fitness level that balances strength,

Wrestle Mania!

Conquer

In this corner, wearing the red, white and blue singlet and weighing in at 275 pounds, it’s…your staff sergeant? Alright, there’ll be no “smelling what the Rock is cooking,” Undertakers undertaking or Stone Cold Stunners in this wrestling tournament, but that doesn’t mean that the action won’t be just as fierce as the main event at WrestleMania!

Show everyone who’s the real “Big Show” by mercilessly performing double-leg takedowns (for points, of course) and pinning the competition at the Futenma Open Wrestling Tournament on January 28 at the Futenma Semper Fit Fitness Center! Register by January 25 (11:30 p.m.) online at okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/adultsports for $20. This event is open to participants island wide ages 16 and older, and individual awards will be given to the top three wrestlers in each respective weight class. For more information, call 645-3521 or email adultsports@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. 

energy and endurance. When training for either a 5k or 10k, it’s important to have a pre-race plan that combines different runs focusing on either tempo, interval or speed and incorporates strength training while being mindful of how you are fueling your body.

If you’ve made the decision to put in the training time (or you’re just ready to run), you can register for the race online at okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/adultsports for $40 until 11:30 p.m. on February 1. Race day check-in will be from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. with a mandatory brief at 7:35 a.m. before the race starts at 8:05 a.m. For more information, check out Semper Fit’s Facebook page or email adultsports@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org 

Crews Into Shape

Prioritize Your Health

Working towards a healthier lifestyle has many benefits—there’s weight loss (and muscle gain), an increase in mental clarity and an improvement in mood. Although one might be aware of the physical and mental benefits of prioritizing health, there’s always a motivation factor (or lack thereof) that can discount health from one’s priority list.

Spark that New Year’s resolution, find motivation and reprioritize your health by committing to Crews Into Shape! Running from January 9 through February 3, Crews Into Shape is a four-week challenge that employs a team-based approach to promoting wellness. Crew members (2–10 participants) earn points by eating nutrient dense foods and participating in physical activity.

Each crew has one crew leader, and they must register their team before December 30 by emailing mccshealthpromotions@okinawa.usmcmccs.org with their team’s name and names, emails and phone numbers of all team members. 

HITT SUL Course Kinser

Upgrade Unit PT

All units are fit according to PT standards, but if you want to push your unit’s performance to the next level, the HITT Small Unit Leaders (SUL) Course is for you. Open to active-duty Marines and Sailors E4 and above, this course equips you with the knowledge to improve your unit’s overall performance and tactical readiness; the next 5-day course runs January 23–27 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Camp Kinser HITT Center.

Due to its time-intensive nature, this program qualifies as a temporary place of duty and requires command approval. SUL Course participants should expect intellectual learning in addition to hands-on, physically demanding work, so come ready with a notebook, pencil and dressed in your green-on-green PT uniform. Those interested must complete Semper Fit Basic Fitness (MCI 4133A) and Semper Fit Advanced Fitness Course (MCI 4134A) prior to taking the SUL Course.

To register for the course, email mccshealthpromotions@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org or stop by the MCCS Health Promotion office before January 16. 

Say Yes to Changing Lives

Volunteer to Coach Youth Soccer

The youth soccer season runs February 6–May 13, and they need coaches like you to make the season a success. On the fence about lending a hand? Here’s a few reasons why you should say “yes” to being a youth coach.

First and foremost, team snacks are delicious, and there is nothing quite like the guiltfree feeling of chugging a fruit punch-flavored Capri Sun after spending time in the fresh air and putting a bit of play in your day. You can also gain valuable soccer knowledge to impress your friends at trivia night while adding 72 volunteer hours to your brag sheet. At practices, you’ll get a mood boost as you laugh at the silly things your team of tiny sport-playing titans do and say, and most importantly, you’ll impact the lives of children in ways you cannot begin to imagine.

Say yes to coaching and having an awesome adventure by visiting the coaches corner at okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/coachescorner. 

Mental Wellness Month & Work/Life Balance Month

“Mental health matters,” "healthy mind, healthy body," “mental health is preserved wealth” and “end the stigma” are all catch phrases you have probably heard at some point referencing mental wellness, but what exactly is mental health, and why do we need catchy slogans to tell us it matters?

Simply put, mental health is the combination of how we think, feel and act. Our mental health is part of our physical health and needs to be cared for just like our body. According to the National Association for Mental Illness, seeking help for mental illness is widespread with one in five adults in the U.S. facing a mental illness each year; yet, approximately 60% of military personnel who experience mental health problems do not seek help. Service members most commonly cite fears of being treated differently by unit leadership or being seen as weak for why they don’t get help. For these reasons, mental wellness needs some public relations assistance.

In honor of January being Mental Wellness Month, the Family Advocacy Program is picking up that mantle to help raise awareness. In their Mental Wellness Promotion brief, they are focusing on breaking the stigma surrounding seeking help by visiting an organization or unit’s location to talk about mental wellness, the services provided by MCCS Behavioral Health and other programs on Okinawa. They will also discuss wellness skills like breathing and stress management.

To sign up, contact Family Advocacy Program Prevention & Education Specialists at 645-2915 or via fapprevention@usmc.mil

Mental wellness isn’t always about seeking help through; just as good physical health starts with a healthy lifestyle and not a trip to the doctor or personal trainer, so too does good mental health. Some basic tenets of mental wellness include taking care of your body (through fuel, movement and rest), connection (with others, a cause or something larger than yourself), doing something you enjoy on a regular basis (i.e., a hobby), taking medication as prescribed, asking for help when you need it and setting healthy boundaries.

Setting healthy boundaries is one of the hardest to do regularly, and this is especially true when it comes between work and home. This is perhaps why January is also Work/Life Balance Month. MCCS Health Promotion is here to help you deal with stressors at work and home by restoring your balance through program offerings like group fitness classes and the Liberty App’s Total Fitness Tool (okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/liberty). They’ll also offer tricks to help you find your equilibrium when you feel stressed like grounding activities, mindful breathing or intentional movements and exercise. Find out more at okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/healthpromotion.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, seek help by dialing 988 and press ‘1’ for the Military Crisis Line. 

Re-train Your Brain Class

Become a Better You

Imagine becoming a better you in only four short weeks. This is completely possible with Re-train Your Brain—a four-week psychoeducational class taught by MCCS Behavioral Health Family Advocacy Program’s Prevention & Education Specialists. In this class, attendees focus on building the foundational skills of interpersonal effectiveness, assertive communication, stress management and empathic listening.

By building and improving these foundational skills, individuals will learn to properly manage stress levels, cope with feelings of frustration and anger and communicate effectively. This will help improve relationships through effective communication and healthier coping habits. Re-train Your Brain classes are held on Camp Hansen

(Bldg. 2631) on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Camp Foster (Bldg. 439) on Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The course curriculum is provided by global leader in the anger management field, Century Anger Management, and participants who attend all four sessions receive a certificate of completion.

These FREE classes are open to all SOFA ID card holders island wide interested in self-improvement. Register to attend a class by emailing fapprevention@usmc.mil with your full name, telephone number and the camp you would like to take the class on (Camp Hansen or Camp Foster). For more information, visit okinawa.usmcmccs.org/familyadvocacy 

Culture Club Sharing Experiences and Connections

Build connections through shared experiences by joining the Camp Foster Library for the inaugural meeting of their brand-new Culture Club! Meeting the last Thursday of every month at 6 p.m., Culture Club is designed to foster intercultural friendship between US service members, their families and our Japanese hosts by encouraging discourse through the enjoyment of movies, books, anime and more. Participants will watch or read selected titles prior to the meeting, and then spend the meeting discussing thoughts, feelings and impressions, all while building cross-cultural relationships. At the end of each meeting, participants will select what to watch, read or review prior to the next gathering.

The topic for the first meeting is the critically acclaimed animated film Spirited Away by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. Rob Aldam of

Backseat Mafia and a critic for Rotten Tomatoes states the movie is “one of those films where everything clicks. Miyazaki has a story to match the beautiful animation while the voice actors are perfectly cast. It’s a magical mystery tour through the mind of a master. Spirited Away is a wonderful film which will entertain, amaze and amuse both young and old alike.” You can check out the movie from any of the MCCS Libraries or catch it on Netflix.

Folks wanting more information can contact the library at 6457178 or via email. If one is off base and wanting to participate but doesn’t have base access, they can reach out to the U.S. Consulate General Naha for more information or email the Foster Library at fosterlibrary@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org to register. 

High Fantasy Football

Design Your Dream Team

To foster friendly competition, MCCS Libraries are putting a whimsical spin on the traditional Fantasy Football League. Each week, participants will submit their chosen team of fantasy characters (from a compiled list of manga, movies, role-playing games, book series and more) to see how they stack up in the standings. Players will earn points every time someone votes for one of their characters either on-site at the library's High Fantasy Football display or via poll on the MCCS Okinawa Education and Libraries Facebook page. Votes will be tallied each week and the winner announced on Super Bowl Monday.

Ready to assemble your team of fictitious fighters and find out if you have what it takes to win the golden High Fantasy Football trophy? If so, visit your library or email fosterlibrary@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org to register and get your full list of rules and regulations. 

Book Clubs

Lovers of literature unite! It’s time to create bonds with other readers and dive nose-first into new novels at Foster and Kinser Libraries’ book clubs. What’s on the reading list? At the Foster Library, they’re enjoying the haunting and luminous How High We Go in the Dark, Sequoia Nagamatsu’s science fiction novel set in 2030 Arctic Circle, where researchers expose the remains of a Neanderthal girl and an ancient virus in melting permafrost.

Or, readers can immerse themselves in the world of ‘AI’ at Kinser Library with Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun; it’s narrated by the unforgettable and keenly observant Klara, an Artificial Friend (AF) powered by solar energy. Interested readers should secure a copy of the novel at the beginning of the month and meetings take place January 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Kinser Library and January 19 at 6 p.m. at the Foster Library.

For more information, head to okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/libraries. For book club inquiries, please call the Foster and Kinser Library at 098-970-7178 or 098-970-5555, respectively. 

Hearts Apart

Dive Nose-First into New Reads Connection and Support

Getting through a deployment is tough and it’s not something that anyone should do alone. A good support group provides spouses the chance to connect and build a supportive community with one another as they navigate the ins and outs of deployment together.

Build your community by meeting other spouses at Hearts Apart—a weekly Marine Corps Family Team Building workshop held on Mondays from 9 to 11 a.m. (locations rotate). These activity-based workshops allow participants to make connections, meet new people and build their network here on the island.

If you’re interested in attending Hearts Apart, the next workshop is happening January 4 at the McTureous Community Center, and anyone interested in attending (your spouse does not have to be deployed) can register via Eventbrite. For more information, check out okinawa.usmcmccs.org/mcftb. If you have questions, please call Marine Corps Family Team Building at 645-3696 from a DSN or 098-970-3696 from off base.

Eat Healthy. Live Healthy.

Plant-Based Beef and Cloud Bread

Get ready to indulge with some brand-new, guilt-free options at Sumo Burrito, Bonsai Coffee and Bulldogs Burgers. First, you can customize any of your Sumo selections by substituting any protein for plant-based steak for a mere additional $1. This meat alternative is so tender and well-seasoned with such a delicate char-grilled flavor, you’ll have to try it to believe it for yourself!

If you’re living that low-carb life but aren’t feeling the lettuce wrap option, switch things up with cloud bread, a high protein, low carb

alternative “bread,” made mostly of eggs, which gives it a soft soufflélike texture; it's so delicious, you won’t even miss our buttery buns. In addition to being low carb, our cloud bread is also gluten-free, ketofriendly and low in fat! Nestle your next patty betwixt two slices at Bulldogs Burgers or snag a cloud bread sandwich from Bonsai Coffee and enjoy! Visit okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/dining-entertainment/dining for locations and hours of operation for the nearest Sumo Burrito, Bonsai Coffee or Bulldogs Burgers. 

Tasty Bites

Looking to avoid fighting the insufferable, bumper-to-bumper offbase traffic en route to your next meal? Don’t know about all the on-base MCCS food options?

If either of these are true, check out the latest episode of Tasty Bites to help you figure out your next meal! In this video series, our staff tackles dining-out choices ranging from Build Your Own Pizza Night at Kinser Surfside and weekday lunch buffets offered at MCCS Clubs to LifeJuice Café smoothie creations and delicious, meaty options at fast-casual restaurants Bulldogs Burgers, Sumo Burrito and Red Barn Country Kitchen and more.

Marvel as the Tasty Bites crew squares off in a pasta battle royale at Camp Schwab BeachHead’s build-your-own-pasta lunch—complete with a pithy panel of judges. Or, find out how they really feel about Camp Kinser Red Barn’s classic southern cuisine such as their Fried Catfish and Key Lime Pie. Join them as they partake in a blind taste test of four different custom smoothies from LifeJuice Café, attempting to decipher the ingredients. Get the lowdown on new menu items—such as the Irish Nachos, Keto Sushi, Taco Rice and decadent Rocky Road Brownie Sundae from the Globe & Anchor inside Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster.

Find Tasty Bites videos on our Facebook page ‘MCCS Okinawa’ (facebook.com/mccsokinawa), or search ‘MCCSTVonOkinawa’ on YouTube, and leave a comment telling us what you think or what you’d like to see next! 

Restaurant/Food Video Series

Globe & Anchor

Hometown Hangout

Every hometown has a place with locally famous appetizers and cushy booths where you go to hang out with buddies and grab a bite. It’s the place where you celebrate your friends by taking care of their check and where kids beg to go when they win their Saturday game. The food is homey, hardy and big enough to share, but it’s tasty enough that you don’t always want to. On Camp Foster, that place is the Globe & Anchor, located inside Ocean Breeze.

Executive Chef Edward Cloonan and Club Manager Michelle Pedersen met our entourage in the dining area to chat about the changes to their menu, while we demolished a hefty appetizer of Irish Nachos made of crispy tots, bacon and freshly made queso seasoned with tomatoes, garlic and jalapeños. Chef Cloonan explained that they wanted to make the menu both seasonal and hardy—fare that would fill you up and make you feel good.

Ms. Pedersen elaborated that this holds true even if you chose something from the keto menu, where all selections have fewer than 14g of carbs. If counting carbs, you can have a satisfying dinner with enough carb elbow room left for a snack later. This was exemplified with their Chicken BLT— which featured grilled chicken, crispy bacon and lettuce nestled in a chewy cheese tortilla, topped with a zesty Sriracha mayo.

For carb lovers like me who prefer to dive into a gargantuan bowl of pasta, the chefs were proud to present the Chicken Broccoli Alfredo—made of orecchiette pasta, tender chicken and perfectly cooked broccoli smothered in a luscious alfredo sauce in which my tastebuds happily swam.

A tasty textural experience, the Apple Bacon Bowl

also fit the bill of being both satisfying and seasonal with crispy bacon, crunchy apple, chewy walnuts and cranberries that added pops of sweet to the tangy red vinaigrette dressing. Another flavorful contender, the Shrimp Fried Rice arrived with a secret weapon— kimchi, which added a potent punch to the stir-fried mountain of rice and veggies.

Our last savory dish was the Grilled Chicken Pesto Sandwich, and its roasted red peppers, mozzarella cheese and tomatoes served on ciabatta, caused our graphic artist Emily to yell “This is my jam!” immediately after trying. Ms. Pedersen explained (while laughing) that cook Koji Yamauchi adds a local herb, shiso, which dials up the flavor.

Chef Cloonan was excited to inform us that every dessert on the menu is made in-house, as he brought out both the Rocky Road Ice Cream Sundae and the Warm Apple Crisp À La Mode. Both desserts were topped with a homemade chantilly cream that I could not stop eating. The brownie in the Rocky Road Sunday had everything desired in a brownie, especially a warm, soft and chewy center; but it was the apple crisp that stole my heart. The inviting notes of cinnamon and nutmeg juxtaposed with cold vanilla ice cream and warm gooey baked apples had me thinking one word—yum!

As we left, I couldn’t help feeling I’d found a home away from my hometown hangout, and my crew and I would be back for dinner soon.

You can order dinner or lunch from Globe & Anchor anywhere in Ocean Breeze. Check out their menu at okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/oceanbreeze. To see more of the Globe & Anchor, check out their Tasty Bites episode on MCCS TV’s YouTube channel. 

Text by Dani Livesey | Photography by Mia Cox

Make an Impact on Your Community!

Become a Childcare Provider

Want to get paid and change the world? Child and Youth Programs (CYP) offers the chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of children and youth everyday (while also making the highest starting pay for an entry level position on the island). Come work where you are wanted, needed and can contribute the things you are passionate about to the next generation.

At CYP, their purpose is to support the military community by providing quality childcare and recreational activities in environments that celebrate individual successes through social, cognitive, affective, physical, language and creative development—that means whether you are the kind of person that’s into crafts, sports, anime, magic, tabletop games or dance, they need you! Your unique gifts bring an opportunity for discovery to the children and families that they serve, and they want you to be a part of their team.

While consistency and routine are important when working with kids, no workday is ever the same with children. On any given day

you might be the confidant of a child’s joy, teach a new skill, facilitate social emotional learning, play a game, get into a funny-face contest or help rinse fingerpaint out of a little one’s ear. It’s a job of many tasks that boils down to one thing—making a positive impact. This is a career that weaves flexibility, heart, joy and compassion together on a journey to shape lives.

Thinking that sounds great, but don’t know if you’re qualified? They’ve got you covered! If you have the passion, CYP has the (transferable from duty station to duty station) training. A job with CYP is an investment in our youth, so they want to invest in you—joining the CYP team means up to $10,000 in tuition assistance per year, training that leads to salary increases, a 100% discount on childcare for your first child and 50% off additional children and, the ability to transfer to your next duty station through NAF HRO. Start the journey to join the CYP team and make the future brighter one child at a time by visiting careers.usmc-mccs.org 

Copyright

Game On!

Air Hockey at Courtney Bowling

The glow of the neon lights, the soft hum of the fan, the gentle whoosh of the air rising from the table and that magical levitating disc can only mean one thing— it’s time to tighten your grip and lean in close because the game is about to begin! That’s right, air hockey— that classic competition of reflexes, physics and luck— has arrived at Camp Courtney Bowling Center, and for a mere $5 per 30 minutes or $8 per hour, you can stake your claim as air hockey champion. Every child of the ‘80s and ‘90s can attest to a good time spent with the click-clack of the puck resounding in their ears as it zigzagged against the sides of the table and banged against their paddle while they hoped for the ring of the siren to announce a goal. So go ahead, indulge in a nostalgia bomb and engage in good wholesome fun at the air hockey table today! 

Bounce Houses

Bundle up and Bounce!

Sure, it’s cold outside, but that doesn’t mean tykes can’t enjoy a bit of brisk outdoor bouncing! Bundle up your kid in fleece (and/or down vests) for an afternoon of New Year’s bouncy fun in a bounce house available for rent through MCCS Special Events Bouncers+.

Not just for birthdays and special occasions, bounce houses are perfect for bringing smiles to kids’ faces and making their eyes sparkle with happiness. Invite all your kid’s friends and their parents for the first bouncy block party of 2023!

Instill Self-Discipline

Youth Martial Arts Classes

Could your little one benefit from learning the art of self-discipline? Do you want to help them succeed at working towards and attaining specific goals while bolstering self-esteem and building confidence? All the above and much, much more can be gained by enrolling them in a youth martial arts class! MCCS Fitness Centers offer several classes—many open to children—including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (a martial art form centered around grappling, submission holds and other leverage-based techniques), Isshin-ryū (a traditional style of Okinawan karate focused on form and close-range techniques) and more.

Youth martial arts classes are held at Gunners Fitness Center on Camp Foster, Ironworks Fitness Center on Camp Courtney and the Camp Kinser Semper Fit Fitness Center. Folks interested in signing up their kids for classes can find details, class times and fees as well as contact information at okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/recreation-fitness 

Bounce houses are, of course, customizable to fit any occasion. Choose from twelve different themes including Marvel Avengers characters, Disney Princesses, Hello Kitty, Jurassic Park and more. Increase the kids’ fun by renting bounce houses with a slide or secure some inflatable sumo suits and a 20’ x 20’ inflatable boxing ring for the parents to enjoy! For more information, call 645-5828 or visit MCCS Special Events Bouncers+ online at okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/bouncers 

Rolling into the New Year

Sales to Keep You Safe and Humming Along

Roll into the New Year in a ride you can trust and enjoy with the help of MCCS. This month, Typhoon Motors is offering a New Year’s tire sale, a $1 lift and stall rentals sale and an audio sale to help you feel at ease with your ride and hum along to your favorite tunes with a newly upgraded sound system.

With the chance of intermittent showers always looming on Okinawa—even when none are forecasted—slick roads are an ever-present source of vehicular mayhem. To help mitigate tire slippage, make sure the tread on your tires is deep enough to

grip the road. An easy way to check for appropriate depth is with the penny test. Stick a penny into the tread groove so that Abraham Lincoln’s head is upside-down.

If you can see all of Abe’s head, it’s time to head to Typhoon Motors for the New Year’s tire sale—with 10% OFF new tires, mounting and balancing all-January-long at all Typhoon Motors locations.

Another way to feel at ease with your car is to check its ins and outs with your own eyes. Without a lift, that can be hard to do, but fortunately, Typhoon Motors is having a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Livin’ the Dream

Okinawa is one of the last dive bastions in the world. Healthy coral gardens, diverse sea life, incredible visibility—it’s no wonder throngs of people get dive certified during their stay. And with so many people learning to dive, instructors are in high demand. Remember the first time you took a breath underwater? Now you can help others experience that same sublime feeling by becoming a PADI Instructor through Camp Foster Tsunami Scuba’s PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) starting March 6. Have questions about becoming an instructor? Head on down to the Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster January 25 for the Livin’ the Dream (Go Pro) presentation beginning at 6 p.m.

Whether you want to become an instructor to enhance your career or supplement your income while igniting a lifelong passion of diving in others, this class will sharpen your dive demonstration skills and teach you how to control open water dives. After completing this two-part course, which consists of the Assistant Instructor course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor program, you’ll be ready to take the Instructor Examination, the final step towards earning a PADI Instructor certification.

To sign up, you must be a PADI Divemaster over 18 years old with more than 60 logged dives. Moreover, you must be a certi-

Special, with $1 lift and stall rentals on Camp Foster January 15–17, and at Camp Kinser, Courtney and Hansen locations on January 17.

Last but not least, it’s time to tune up your tunes! At Camp Foster’s Typhoon Motors during the entire month of January, they’ll be offering 15% off all Sundown Car Audio products to make your dream of a great sound system a reality!

For more information, including services, hours of operation and contact information for all Typhoon Motors locations, head to okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/typhoonmotors. 

fied First Aid/CPR instructor. The registration deadline for the upcoming IDC class is March 1 and registration will be accepted at any Tsunami Scuba location. For more information, check out okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/scuba, and to register for IDC, head to Camp Foster Tsunami Scuba in person or call 645-4206. 

FREE Stuff

For Enjoying the Island Life

MCCS offers a wide range of FREE activities that you can take advantage of to make Okinawa a better home-away-from-home for you and your family. And, in many cases, MCCS does it for zero dollars and zero cents! What does MCCS offer for FREE? We’re glad you asked!

MCCS Clubs and Restaurants offer tons of FREE entertainment and FREE coffee, tea and soft drinks for designated drivers.

Tsunami Scuba offers FREE snorkeling vest rentals for up to three days so you can experience the island’s beautiful underwater world.

Get fit for FREE at MCCS Aquatics’ pools as well as at Semper Fit Fitness Centers which offer FREE fitness assessments, access to world-class gyms, FREE sports and fitness gear, FREE fitness classes and more.

Libraries offer FREE rentals of CDs, books and movies as well as FREE programs for adults that include book clubs, crafts, cultural education and more.

Learn even more about Japanese culture and even some of the language with FREE classes with Personal and Professional Development-Resources (P&PD-R).

And, that’s just the tip of the FREE iceberg! Want more FREE stuff? Of course you do! For a full listing of everything that’s FREE from MCCS, check out okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/FREE. 

Warehouse Sale!

Computer, 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-SOFA ID card holders may make purchases from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In addition to warehouse sales, MCCS also conducts sealed bid sales for larger items on a semi-monthly basis. Items offered include vehicles such as sedans, vans and trucks, larger gym equipment and even hard-to-get specialty items such as forklifts. Sales are announced on facebook.com/mccsokinawa at the beginning of the month (when available), and sealed bids are accepted Monday–Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the MCCS Supply Branch in Bldg. 5601 on Camp Foster until bidding is closed.

For more information about warehouse or sealed bid sales, contact MCCS Supply via email at warehousesales@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org or via phone at 645-3954. 

Enjoying the Flowers of Winter Ohanami

TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY: MIKE DALEY LAYOUT BY: TIFFANY KIM

When one thinks of flowers, they usually think of spring months with hillsides blanketed with brilliantly colored blooms after winter’s thaw. On Okinawa, however, flowers can be enjoyed (and photographed) year-round—even during the dead of winter.

During the winter months, the hillsides of northern Okinawa turn pink and white with the bloom of sakura (cherry) and plum blossoms, fields that normally produce rice and vegetables are refreshed with sunflowers and cosmos and even carefully cultivated tulips can be seen en masse in the gardens of Okinawa’s Ocean Expo Park Tropical Dream Center.

Sakura

Every year, the Japan Meteorological Association tracks the blooming of sakura trees from the southernmost prefecture in January to the northernmost regions in April and May. Called “sakura zensen,” its progress is covered in the daily evening news. Thanks to the Okianwa’s relatively balmy winter climate, the sakura zensen begins months before many other Japanese locales see the traditional harbinger of spring. When sakura begin appearing, usually beginning in the northern parts of the island during the end of January, the rest of the nation avidly watches via television reports. Some mainland residents even make the trip to Okinawa to see the local species—the kanhi-zakura—in bloom. Known as Formosan cherry or bellflower cherry in English and prevalent in Taiwan, the kanhi-zakura have darker, (in some cases almost scarlet) pink bell-shaped blossoms. The trees themselves are smaller than brethren found in mainland and blooming usually starts atop Mt. Yae, the Nakijin Castle ruins and Mt. Nago.

MT.

NAGO & NANGUSUKU

One of the satellite castles of Hokuzan, Nago Gusuku (or castle) was known as Nangusuku to the local populace. The remains of Nago Gusuku are located atop a hill soaring over the city. Today, there are approximately 20,000 cherry blossom trees planted alongside the stairway leading to the top (643 steps—not for the faint of heart), that explode into shades of pink every year. During this time, the Nago Cherry Blossom Festival takes place at the base of Mt. Nago.

NAKIJIN CASTLE

Nakijin Castle was once a mighty fortress, designed to defend the rulers of Hokuzan. It was one of the largest and most impressive of the three kingdom era castles with gardens, stables, several residences for the king’s most important aides, and a palace for the king at the highest, innermost section. Each year, the many hundreds of cherry blossom trees planted on (and around) the grounds bloom, making Nakijin a photographer’s paradise—especially in the evenings. Nakijin lights up the ruin’s walkways in the evenings during its sakura matsuri (festival).

MT. YAE

Also known as Yaedake, this mountain straddles both Nago and Motobu. It is the tallest peak on the Motobu Peninsula at almost 600m above sea level and was used as a defensive position by Japanese forces during the Battle of Okinawa. The road that winds up Yaedake is lined with tens of thousands of cherry blossom trees. And although the road offers several parking areas along the way, the best way to enjoy sakura at Yaedake is by parking at the bottom and slowly working your way upwards on foot.

Plum Blossoms

Known as ume-no-hana, these delicate blossoms are much rarer than sakura and bloom in colder weather—usually a week or two before the sakura. One of the main differences between ume and sakura is the strong, almost overpoweringly sweet fragrance plum flowers produce in full bloom.

OSHITTAI

A small grove of approximately 75 to 100 plum trees can be found in a grove in Nago City—in a tiny hamlet known as Oshittai. Known locally as where the winter is coldest on Okinawa, Oshittai is one of the only places where winter snow has touched ground on the island. Villagers in Oshittai care for a small armada of bees in hives located in the groves and harvest the sweet-tart honey that the bees produce.

Cosmos & Sunflowers

Both cosmos and sunflowers are considered “cover crops”— plants grown for the primary purpose of improving soil quality. Since ancient times, farmers have used cover crops to prevent erosion, suppress weeds and replenish nutrients by mulching the cover crops.

Many fields throughout the island have become more and more famed for their cover crops almost as much as the vegetables and rice they produce during productive seasons.

KITANAKAGUSUKU

During recent years, fields in Kitanakagusuku, which usually yield leafy lettuces, cabbages, daikon (winter radish) and more, have been attracting people wielding cameras instead of gardening gear. Why? During off months, more and more farmers have been planting their fields with sunflowers to replenish the soil, turning vast stretches into seas of brilliant yellow. Since 2008, Kitanakagusuku has been holding a Himawari (sunflower) Festival in late January or mid-February (depending on the average temperature) and it has been growing every year. In 2018, the festival occupied approximately 10,000 square meters of farm land and totaled almost 400,000 sunflowers.

IGEI & HANEJI

Although Okinawa is quite small, rice production is growing every year. One of the most popular cover crops for rice paddies are cosmos and two of the best locales to view fields filled with these delicate pink, white, orange, red and purple daisy-like flowers are Igei in Kin Village and the Haneji rice fields in the Kawakami district of Nago City in mid- to late-February. Igei holds an annual Cosmos Festival in mid-February amongst 25,000 square meters of cosmos fields with stalls hawking produce, food and drink and, of course, rice.

And…Tulips?

Tulips are probably most associated with Holland (i.e., the Netherlands). During the days of the Ottoman Empire (in what is now known as Turkey), the tulip was considered a symbol of abundance and indulgence and, in Turkey, represents a symbol of paradise to this day. But, tulips on Okinawa?

OKINAWA OCEAN EXPO PARK’S TROPICAL DREAM CENTER

Every year during the winter months, usually starting in late January depending on the average temperatures, the Tropical Dream Center located in Motobu’s Ocean Expo Park displays over 48 varieties (over 100,000 flowers) of tulips. Bulbs are carefully cultivated and, in some cases, refrigerated in preparation for the display, which usually lasts around two weeks. This year’s display is slated to run January 21–29. 

Niku Jyaga

(Meat and Potatoes)

Ingredients

1/2 large onion

Two medium-sized potatoes

6–8 large green beans

200 grams sukiyaki beef (thinly sliced)

4 Tbsp. soy sauce

1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar

1 1/2 Tbsp. mirin (sweet cooking wine)

4 Tbsp. dashi*

Preparation

1. Make sauce by mixing soy sauce, sugar and dashi.

2. Peel potatoes and cut into bite-sized chunks.

3. Cut beef strips into bite-size pieces.

4. Boil the potatoes until al dente (fork tender)—do not overboil.

5. Cut beans into 1 1/2-inch pieces, boil for 2–3 minutes and place in cold water.

6. Thinly slice onions into strips.

7. Stir-fry beef and onions until onions are semi-transparent, then add potatoes and sauce mixture.

8 Set heat to medium-low to reduce liquid (stirring constantly), add green beans with mirin allowing ingredients to simmer for 12–15 minutes.

9. Serve with steamed white rice.

* To make dashi: bring water to a rolling boil then add a generous hand-full of katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes). After one minute, strain the liquid.

Otoshidama

Although Christmas may be over, and all the gifts are thoroughly “played out,” many children in Japan have another holiday to look forward to—New Year’s.

While many in the West may consider New Year’s as an adult’s holiday involving champagne and late-night merriment, in Japan, New Year’s tends to be more of a quiet family affair.

On New Year’s Day, children in Japan receive small envelopes containing money as gifts from relatives. Called otoshidama, this monetary gift can range from ¥500 to ¥10,000 or more depending on children’s ages (and, of course, how well-to-do the family is).

It’s believed that otoshidama originated as a Shinto rite. Kagamimochi, the two round rice cakes topped with a tangerine often seen in homes around this time of year, are also a New Year’s tradition in Japan. They were originally offered to the gods at shrines

during Oshōgatsu. And, after the ceremony ended, the rice cakes were given as gifts called “toshidama” to the people worshipping at the shrine. It was believed that these offerings contained special holy energy, and recipients received this energy when they ate the mochi. As years passed, this “holy energy” was replaced with cold, hard yen. Today, some children do better during Oshōgatsu than they did during the past three Christmases combined—receiving total amounts of ¥100,000 or more from various relatives.

On average, elementary school students receive ¥1,000 to ¥3,000, and teenagers receive between ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 from each relative. Even “children” over 20 years old sometimes receive otoshidama as well if they’re still attending college. However, they’re only a step away from switching roles to being a “otoshidama-giver,” as they enter the workforce.

Uchinâguchi Corner

Uchinâguchi Ukimi Sōchi Japanese Ohayō Gozaimasu

29 Café Pine Tree Bless 26

AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom 42

AEON Ryukyu 42

Bar & Grill Flex 50

Burrito Box 34

Chatan Palace Dental Clinic 62

Churayashi Park Okinawa 44

Cocok Spa 34

CrossFit Asia 34

DoubleTree by Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort 54

Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort 54

Hilton Okinawa Sesoko Resort 60

iias Okinawa Toyosaki Shopping Mall 36

Kinsei Barbell & Fitness Co 34

Manga Souko 30

Mediatti Broadband Communications C2

Miyagi Cosmetic Surgery 10

Okinawa Self-Storage 14

Okinawa White Dental Clinic 14

Okuma Beach 6

PARCO CITY Shopping Mall 20

Plastic Surgery KC 2

Royal View Hotel Churaumi 32

Ryukyu Garage 24 44

Ryukyu Golden Kings Back Cover

Santa Monica International School 62

Troy University 14

University of Maryland Global Campus 44

YYY Club iE Resort 28