Community
Pick Up Stories
Spotlight on Yomitan, most populous vill… [Community Okinawa Series]
By Natalie Nakamatsu Yomitan is located on the west coast of central Okinawa, bordered by Onna Village to the north, Okinawa City to the eas...Read More
Day of Naha: Immerse Yourself in the Cap… [Community]
July 8th is Naha Day in Okinawa. This special occasion originated from the use of play-on-words or rather, a play-on-numbers. Naha’s two syl...Read More
Fundraising for Fukushima, An Okinawa Ch… [Community]
Many still remember the Great 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami in northeastern Japan. Claiming over 15,000 lives and leaving many towns in...Read More
2014.09.25
Ryukyu Garden is proud of Okinawa traditions [Community]
By Jun Ikemura An Okinawa firm proud of the Ryukyu customs, culture and history is reaching out to visitors and others to promote the islands. The Kouwa-kai group is promoti...
2014.09.10
Okinawa jump starts celebrating Mexico Independence Day [Community]
In Mexico City, celebrations for Mexican Independence Day begin at 11 p.m. on Monday, but in Okinawa City the festivities are taking place Saturday night. The event site is the ‘Pa...
Sacred Kudaka “Izaiho” ritual cancelled for third time [Community]
The sacred “Izaiho” ritual scheduled to be performed this year on Kudaka Island in Nanjo City has been cancelled for the third time. The Association of Lesser Gods made the decisio...
2014.06.29
Tomodachi Works international festival slated for July 5th & 6th [Community]
The seventh in a series of events designed to bring foreigners and Japanese closer together, Tomodachi Works, is coming up next weekend to Depot Island in Chatan. The event coincid...
2014.06.12
Bulls set pace in Okinawa bullfights this Sunday [Community]
Taking in a bullfight on Okinawa is a world away from those seen on television or in Spain or Portugal, but they’re equally exciting to watch. Okinawa bullfights have two bulls goi...
2014.06.08
Ryukyu Kasuri textiles are Haebaru specialty [Community]
Ryukyu Kasuri textiles are distinctly Okinawan, with more than 600 different patterns making it a sought-after Haebaru Town product. The origin of the Ryukyu Kasuri was in the 14th...
2014.05.26
Okinawa is great source of inspiration for local artists [Community]
By David Higgins The Ryukyu Islands were involved in trading for nearly 200 years, and Okinawa was once a bustling maritime trading hub in Asia. Some of the goods Okinawan people ...
2014.05.07
Curry is Cultural Cooking Class topic [Community]
“Curry: flavorful warm ooey-gooey goodness on rice.” That’s the definition for one of the most loved dishes in Asia and a national comfort food that almost all Japanese people are ...
2014.05.07
Italian vice consul visits Okinawa [Community]
Italians requiring passports or visas, or other citizen services, normally must go to Osaka to the Italian Consulate, but this week, Italy came to Okinawa. Italian vice consul Gius...
2014.04.28
Kinser ladies’ dragon boat team is racing for cause [Community]
Boats are going in the water Saturday, being handled by a determined squad of women who this year are Dragon Boat racing for a very special cause, “Rowing for Wilson.” The 36-woman...
2014.03.31
Hamauri ritual purifies body of evil spirits [Community]
Hamauri is one of Okinawa’s oldest customs, a time when people cleanse themselves of evil spirits. On Mar. 3rd of the lunar calendar, women go to the beach to dip their hands and f...
2014.03.13
Global Village celebrates St. Patrick’s Day [Community]
Global Village in Futenma is ready to celebrate the luck of the Irish with Global Village with its annual St. Patrick’s Day Party on Saturday, two days before the actual date, in o...
2014.03.03
Ganju Eki has bridge to grant wish come true [Community]
Ganju Eki is one of the four Farmers’ Markets within Nanjo City. It offers vegetables of the season, local events information and helps visitors to plan a perfect trip in Nanjo Cit...
2014.03.02
Okinawa’s Sanshin takes center stage Tuesday [Community]
The unique and distinct sounds of the Okinawa sanshin, often called Okinawa’s guitar, are heard across Okinawa daily, but Tuesday will be honored as its special day. The sanshin is...
2014.02.20
Plaza House hosts International Festival [Community]
Plaza House Shopping Mall is the venue for the 24th Okinawa City International Festival sponsored by the Okinawa City International Association, Sunday. The day-long program starts...
2014.02.20
Tomodachi Works slated for this weekend [Community]
The 5th Tomodachi Works international friendship exchange event takes place Saturday and Sunday on the Akara Gallery parking lot at the Depot Island shopping complex. The event sta...
2014.02.07
Nuri River Sakura Festival is community event [Community]
February is the peak of the cherry blossom season in Okinawa with many communities hosting their own events. Nuri River Cherry Blossom Festival in Gushikawa, Uruma City, started as...
2014.01.30
Charity concert to benefit Philippines typhoon victims [Community]
On Nov. 8, 2013, typhoon Yolanda hit Bangon in the Philippines killing about 8,000 people, many of whom are still missing, and over 1,200 were injured and left without homes. More ...
2014.01.27
Golden Kings bus tour generates friendship exchanges [Community]
It centered on basketball, but the Japan Update ~ Golden Kings Bus Tour with Tomodachi Works proved to be a great opportunity for exchanging thoughts and ideas. Japan Update collab...
2014.01.09
Coming of Age Day is gateway to adulthood in Japan [Community]
By Bill Charles Seijin no Hi is coming up Monday, and it’s a big day for thousands of young people in Japan who turned 20 during 2013 or will through Mar. 31, 2014. Coming of Age D...
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