CULTURE
Pick Up Stories
Itoman Haaray; a traditional and fun eve… [CULTURE Festival]
The Itoman Haaray takes place on Sunday, May 4th of the Lunar Calendar year. This day is actually June 6th 2019 of the Gregorian Calendar. M...Read More
Kitanakagusuku Village boasts excellent … [Okinawa Series]
By Natalie Nakamatsu Kitanakagusuku Village, once part of Nakagusuku Village with a rich and long history, is located in the Nakagami Distri...Read More
Koinobori fly through Golden Week in hon… [CULTURE Festival]
Koinobori, or carp streamers, are flying in many places on Okinawa during the Golden Week. Originally appeared as symbols for the Boys Day, ...Read More
2016.02.09
Drinking and driving is no way to go on Okinawa [Community]
By David Higgins Although the annual holiday season and all the celebration is now over, and all the partying and drinking that usually goes with it, it’s also a good...
2016.02.05
‘Year of the Monkey’ begins in Okinawan fishing communities [Community]
Legend has it that Buddha asked all animals to meet him on the Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one, and announced that people born in each animal’...
2016.02.04
Geien invites public to English language kumiodori workshop [Community]
Mini theater Geien in Oroku, Naha, is a place where independent performers can find a stage to show their talent. According to its owners, it was created as a place where front lin...
2016.01.14
Muuchii’s big lunar day is celebrated Sunday [CULTURE]
Muuchii is the day that in Okinawa is traditionally considered as the beginning of the winter. It’s December 8th according to the lunar calendar, which by the Gregorian calendar th...
2016.01.02
‘Operation Save Noa’ reaches fundraising target [Community]
Officials at NGO ‘Operation Save Noa,’ an organization set up to support one-year-old girl Noa Onaga who suffers of a severe case of dilated cardiomyopathy and needs to get an imme...
2015.12.17
Itoman Peaceful Illumination sends greetings of peace to world [Community]
The 17th Itoman Peaceful Illumination continues the tradition as one of the longest running annual illuminations on Okinawa. Now in progress running through Jan. 3rd, the display i...
2015.12.08
Fisherina area in Chatan aims to become Mecca for marine leisure [Community]
The west-coast areas of Chatan Town are some of the most relaxing resort areas on Okinawa with a large international community. Especially Mihama district is very active and urban ...
2015.11.30
Pictures of ‘Spring’ reflect Japanese erotica through the ages [History]
By David Higgins Reflect if you can how people used to view pornography just 10 years ago, when the Internet had a dial-up connection, and we used to have to wait for pictures to s...
2015.11.20
Pointillist collaboration exhibition at Shuri Kannondo temple [CULTURE]
One of the best known and most popular artists in Okinawa, pointillist Kiyota Oshiro, is holding his newest art exhibition at Shuri Kannondo temple that is one of the most famous a...
2015.11.17
Nanjo showcases best of residents’ gardens [Community]
Twice a year Nanjo City organizes an increasingly popular special week-long event, when public can walk through and tour private gardens in the city. The fall event begins Saturday...
2015.11.13
Video mapping show at Nakagusuku Castle re-enacts Legend of Gosamaru [History]
The most famous lord in Okinawan history is without doubt Gosamaru, a 15th century chief of first the Zakimi Castle and later the Nakagusuku Castle. Legends and stories of his life...
2015.11.09
Artists and artisans of Nanjo City put their skills on display [Community]
A weeklong art festival in Nanjo City takes place from Nov. 14th through 23rd with the whole city as the setting for the festival. Besides being one of the largest municipalities b...
2015.10.30
Shuri Castle Festival shows splendor of Ryukyu Kingdom [CULTURE]
One of the three main festivals of the year commemorating the life of the Ryukyu Kingdom area is set to begin on Saturday, Oct. 31st, on the grounds of Shuri Castle. The Shuri Cast...
2015.10.19
Discovery Nanjo seeks to attract U.S. military to local businesses [Community]
By Jun Ikemura Team Discovery Nanjo is a trade association that consists of over a dozen businesses in Nanjo City in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island. The team member bus...
2015.10.14
OIST presents Baroque Night [CULTURE]
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) is sponsoring a concert of baroque music in its restaurant in the OIST main building on Friday, Oct. 30, starting at 19:00. Admis...
2015.10.05
POPs to perform smash-hit musical comedy [Community]
The Pacific Okinawa Players introduce their next production as the wildly funny and entertaining Broadway smash musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, October 15th-24...
2015.09.21
Shurijo celebrates harvest with ‘Chushu-no-Utage’ [History]
Chushu-no-Utage (Mid-Autumn Harvest Celebration) is one of the seven banquets that during the Ryukyu Kingdom Era were organized to show hospitality to ‘sapposhi’ envoys of the empe...
2015.09.21
Viva Mexico party to celebrate Mexican Independence Day [Community]
The Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on Sep. 16th. It commemorates the day in 1810 when Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest in the small town of Dolores, Guanajuato, rang the...
2015.09.07
Weed has long history in Japan but now best avoided [History]
By David Higgins Although I am not an advocate or user of cannabis, especially since living in Japan for the past 10 years, I was quite intrigued with Japan’s history of marijuana ...
2015.09.04
September 3 is designated as Day of Kumiodori [CULTURE]
The Japan Memorial Day Association has designated the Sep. 3 as the Day of Kumiodori, which is the traditional Okinawan narrative dance. Sep. 3rd was selected as number 9 (Septembe...
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