Ritou Fair 2015 puts outer islands in focus on three-day weekend

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Ritou Fair is a three-day annual event that showcases Okinawa’s outer island communities, their products and culture.

A three-day fair promoting the products, beauty, and tourism opportunities of Okinawa’s 18 outer islands is staged at Okinawa Cellular Stadium in Onoyama Park in Naha over the three-day weekend on Nov. 21st-23rd.

The event, called ‘Ritou Fair’ is an annual event geared to promoting the businesses and specialty products of the islands. Okinawa Prefecture, the Okinawa Prefecture Outer Island Promotion Conference and the 18 communities located on the islands sponsor the annual event.

Each of the participating 18 island communities has booths and displays to showcase locally made products, which all are also for sale. Another objective of the fair is to promote market expansion for tourism and local products through development seminars and promotions. Performers of traditional performing arts and music from each of the outer islands are on stage throughout the three-day event.

Food is an important part of any local culture, and the islands are no exception. Besides promoting their local delicacies, the food stalls at the far also engage in a Grand Prix competition during the fair. A live radio show is broadcast from the fair on Saturday from 11:35 to 13:15 featuring local musicians Aimoco, Shunichi Irei and Lagoon Blue.

All islands will showcase the best they have to offer on promotion videos and a large-screen display during the far. At a workshop booth, visitors can try their hand for free in making shell photo stands and key holders. First 50 visitors each day to come to the workshop booth can participate.

And finally, on Saturday and Sunday, parent-child pars can try their hand on brown sugar making that takes place two times each day. This experience costs ¥500.

The fair runs from 10:00 to 19:00 on all three days. There is no parking available at the Cellular Stadium but a temporary parking is available at the Naha Military Port, and a free shuttle bus runs between the parking area and the Cellular Stadium from 9:00 to 20:00.