Nago Half Marathon--deadline for entry, Dec. 28th

Nago Half Marathon (Okinawa, Japan) will be held on February 5th, 2012, Sunday.

A pamphlet with the application/payment form can be obtained at each municipality's board of education, gymnasium and athletic stadium in Okinawa as well as at each branch of Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper corporation.

Here is the URL of the event organizer's website (Japanese language only)
http://www.nago-marathon.com/index.htm


If you are a non-Japanese person living/working in Okinawa, you might need to seek a help from a Japanese person for translation, etc.

Deadline for the application: Dec. 28th, 2011.

Mura Odori, or Dance Festival of Village Community

Mura Odori, literally means dance festival of village community, takes place in most rural communities and smaller islands throughout Okinawa. This particular festival took place in a community called  Makiya in northern part of Okinawa in September. 

In this community, like other communities in the prefecture, has a sacred area called "Ashagi" where divine entities are entertained with the dance performance dedicated by the locals. The stage faces a hill that stands at the back of the community where gods or the spirits of the remote ancestors reside to offer blessings and good harvests. 

Locals gather in the evening and each donate money for the event. The space is filled with many people including the residents living within the community and the natives who now live in urban areas in the southern part of the island. 

Shishi-Mai, or dance of lion, is popular throughout Asia. For those of you who have observed Lion Dance in China, you many notice the lion looks a lot different, appearing to be wilder and primitive.(Sorry, the photo is too dark.) This is kids' favorite; small children gather before the stage and try to touch the beast to prove themselves of bravery. Still the same scene as I did a few decades ago. 

Two of professional dances; they are trained at a dance school. Countless number of traditional music and dance schools still exist in Okinawa. This is why Mura Odori is not limited to certain  parts of the island but held in almost all communities each year.

Dragon Boat Race Event Has Been Cancelled Due To Typhoon

Nago City Mayor's Cup Inter-Business Dragon Boat Race, which was slated for August 7th, Sunday, has been cancelled, according to the race organizer, Nago City Tourism Bureau.


Okinawa has been hit by TY 1109 (MUIFA) for the last 2 days and it is very likely that gusts will brow tomorrow as well. I made a phone call to Nago City Tourism Bureau to find out their decision of cancelling the tomorrow's boat race event and they answered yes.


If you live in Okinawa and know someone who were going to take part in the race or to watch the boat race, please pass the information around.


For more information, please call 0980-53-7755 (Nago City Tourism Bureau).




**Nago City Mayor's Cup Inter-Business Dragon Boat Race is an annual boat race held in the City of Nago in Okinawa, Japan. Dragon boat race originates in ancient China and has spread to many parts of East Asia. In fishing villages and towns in Okinawa, this is a religious/cultural ceremony as well as a sport; it is still held as a ceremonial event for large hauls of fish and safe journeys on the ocean. Nago City used be a fishing town with a good natural port located in the deep bay, so the boat event in Nago fits to that category of culture, too. What's unique about this event is that among all dragon boat race events in Okinawa, this is the last and larges boat race event of the year and has been established as the last boat race in Okinawa, where participants from all over the prefecture consider the race to be the event to decide the strongest team. Winning the tournament is considered to be an honor among dragon boat teams in Okinawa.

Fisherman's Wharf in Yomitan, Okinawa

Fisherman' Wharf in the township of Yomitan, in the central region of Okinawa, Japan.

When I discovered this place more than 15 year's ago, I instantly knew this restaurant would be one of my favorite eateries I would go on a regular basis. Away from the crowded, noisy areas of the central Okinawa, this place embraces everyone with its calm surrounding and the endless expansion of the ocean. Many might imagine this place would be always full of people because of the beautiful location, but there are always plenty of seats available whenever I go without reservation. (Not that I mean you don't have to make reservation. It's always a good idea to reserve your seat for dinner.)

At what time do I go there? I definitely go there to view a sunset while dining. Beautiful scenery should be a part of the meal here, right on the beach. The time of sunset varies depending on the season; In June and July, the sun sets rather late, after 7:00 PM in Okinawa and sets early during the winter. But I think visitors should go to the place during the summer season simply because the sunset over the East China Sea during the season is the most picturesque.

A small chapel has been established on the terrace

overlooking the East China Sea.

The colors change right in front of your eyes around the

time of sunset. This is why I recommend that you get there

before the time of sunset.

On the other side of the sky, the moon was already high

above us, slowly increasing its radiance as the night sets in.   

The color of the sand turned into pink at this time.

Dinner tables and chairs comfortably spaced.

The entrance of the restaurant, creating a nostalgic atmosphere.

By the time we left the place, the moon was already taking

the starring roll on the stage of night sky.

Direction from Naha Airport to Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant in Yomitan, Okinawa


Fisherman's Wharf Website here

Don't Miss Okinawa's Largest Fireworks Event, this weekend

Celebrate the mid summer with splendid fireworks this weekend.

Having a summer festival without fireworks is just like having a dinner without main dish. Do not miss the main part of the summer festival at Okinawa Ocean Expo Park (where world's famous Churaumi Aquarium is located) slated for July 16, Saturday at 8:00PM, admission free.

However, I strongly recommend that you get there earlier in order to find and keep a good place to watch fireworks. If you leave home too late, chances are you get caught in a traffic jam and be late for the last firework.

I scanned and posted a copy of the fireworks festival flyer. Copies of the flyer are available in most of convenience stores in Okinawa, and traffic information is printed on the back of the flyer. 

Click the below picture to enlarge.

A number of bus companies are offering tour services.

If you want to drink rather than driving, I recommend

that you take advantage of those services. Call and find

out the fair and bus schedules.

Traffic Information (Japanese & English)

Click the below picture to enlarge.

Don't worry if you arriving at the park during the daytime. There are plenty of things you can do at the park. If you have never been to Churaumi Aquarium, it is a good chance to visit and see the world's largest viewing window (acrylic panel) through which visitors marvel at the sight of three shark whales swimming majestically among hundreds of other deep ocean fish in the second largest aquarium tank in the world. If you are frequent visitors to the aquarium and have seen enough of the place, another place I recommend is a village just north of the park called "Bise." This beach-side village features nice tree-lined promenades as well as a walk along the sea wall facing the beautiful East China Sea, with a view of Ie Shima off coast. Enjoy collecting sea shells and sea glasses (beach glasses) along the way, take photos, or just spend an hour or so just sitting under a tree shade, with a bottle of your favorite cold drink in your hand, relaxing and watching the blue ocean under the tilting sun.

Plan ahead and make things a little easier for yourself:

1) Arriving at the place too early is much better than arriving there too late.

2) Don't forget to protect yourself from the strong sun ray/UV. Bring sunscreen lotion and apply it on your skin as often as necessary. Wearing sun glasses, a hat or bringing a parasol will minimize UV exposure.

3) Drink plenty of water in order to avoid dehydration. You can bring your own bottled water or soft drinks. There are many vending machines inside the park, but do not forget to bring Japanese currencies, especially 100 yen and 10 yen coins (Most bending machines take 1000 yen bills as well.) If you have only US dollars, there is no place to change your currencies inside or near the park. 

4) Bring a small folding chair to sit on for a few hours. It should be light enough to carry around and small enough not to take up much space. (The place will be very crowded. People will be walking in the park and watching the fireworks shoulder to shoulder. Carrying a large folding chair is awkward, or worse, it may cause an injury for other people when your chair hits.) An inflatable cushion will work fine, too.

4) Bring a pair of binoculars in order to see stage shows. If you are lucky, you may find a space near the stage, but it is very unlikely.

5) Thefts/pickpockets could occur even in Japan. They know spectators are so engrossed in watching fireworks.  But, you don't want to be too worried about your valuables stolen. So, carry only necessary amount of money and take measures against thefts in advance. 

6) Use a child-harness/leash, etc., in order for your small child not to get lost. It is always a good idea to write with a permanent marker or stitch your child's full name and a contact number on the inside of his/her clothes, hat, etc. 

7) Many Japanese women enjoy wearing "Yukata" to go out for summer festivals and watch fireworks. For men, "Jinbei" is a choice. It won't hurt if you try to be like a Japanese. Why not taking full advantage of being in Japan and enjoy the exotic outfit for the occasion. 

Hydrangeas (Ajisai) in Izumi Village

Rainy season in Okinawa is over; not yet in many parts of Japan. So if you are living or visiting places other than Okinawa, you might want to visit parks or gardens with lots of hydrangeas. Ajisai, as it is known in this country, comes with many colors, especially many shades of blue.

Memorial Day of the Battle of Okinawa, June 23

66 years ago from today (June 23rd) Japanese Imperial Army's coordinated resistance against U.S. military ended as General Ushijima committed suicide in a cave in the south point of Okinawa Main Island. The area is called Mabuni, where annual Memorial Day for the victims of the Battle of Okinawa was held today. I drove about two hours from the city I live and visited Okinawa Prefecture Peace Memorial Park in which "Cornerstone of Peace" has been established in order to inscribe all of the war victims. (Currently, over 240,000 names are inscribed on monument walls like the one you see in the below photo.

What is so special about those monuments is that the prefecture tries to inscribe all the victims of the Battle of Okinawa, including those of the Allied Forces. There are many walls with inscriptions of American, British and other foreign soldiers who lost their lives in Okinawa during the battle.

Inscriptions are organized based on the victims' hometown.

Many flowers and incenses were offered. I found some candies

and sweets offered at the memorial for young victims. 

The trees planted between monument walls are locally known as

"Kobateishi Tree." (Tropical almond or Indian almond in English)

It's said Kobateishi Trees grow by absorbing tears. The trees' broad

leaves provide shades for visitors.

This round space is named as "Peace Plaza." Visitors are treated with

spectacular view of ocean from the cliff. It was so beautiful and peaceful

today. Hard to imagine this was a suicidal cliff some 66 years ago; many

victims threw themselves off the cliff as they were taught to do so rather

than being captured alive by the enemy. Very sad story.

This cone-shaped torch, named "Flame of Peace," at the center of Peace Plaza,

has been lit since June 23rd, 1995. Flames from three places including 

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were combined to lit the torch. The light blue and 

dark blue under the torch represent the map of East Asia with the torch

at the center where the message of peace starts to spread like ripples

throughout the world.

On the occasion of Memorial Day of Okinawa Battle, I meditated for

a moment watching this magnificent sight. Had a mixed feeling that

once a place of such horrific event is now providing us with this great

scenery and peace.

Roofed with Okinawa's traditional red ceramic tile, Okinawa Prefecture

Peace Memorial Museum features five permanent exhibition rooms

according to the different historical stages of the Battle of Okinawa as well

as a booth for grade school children to learn about peace. Most of the exhibited e the

panels and photos come with English translation and audio-guide service/device

 which come in English, Chinese, Korean and Spanish is available at the ticket counter.

Okinawa Pref. Peace Memorial Museum Web Sight: http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/english/index.html

Museum Leaflet in English (PDF): http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/annai/osirase/image/English.pdf

小冊子(中文) Museum Leaflet in Chinese (PDF): http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/annai/osirase/image/chinese.pdf

팸플릿(한국어) Museum Leaflet in Korean (PDF): http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/annai/osirase/image/Korean.pdf

Museo del folleto en español (PDF): http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/annai/osirase/image/spanish.pdf