CULTURE
Pick Up Stories
Golden Week, Japan’s Mega Holiday [CULTURE Family Festival]
Spring is here. And in Japan that means warmer weather, cherry blossoms, and rainy season. But, before the rainy season takes hold and shrou...Read More
Shiimi: A time to remember and honor th… [CULTURE]
April marks the beginning of one of Okinawa’s most important and sacred religious ceremonies, known locally as shiimi. This particular cerem...Read More
Okinawa’s guardian shisa has its own day… [History Travel & Beach]
April 3rd is the “Day of Shisa” in Okinawa as four (April) is “shi” and three is “san” in Japanese. The day was established in 2002 to promo...Read More
2014.04.20
Ie Island is often overlooked sightseeing spot [Okinawa Series]
By Natalie Nakamatsu Lilies, who does not love lilies? And not only one, but one million of them and although mostly white, also in yellow, pink and orange! This week we are introd...
2014.04.18
Photographer Shokyu Otsuka captures spirit of Okinawa islands [CULTURE]
Meet Shokyu Otsuka, photographer for the beautiful pictorial illustrating life in the Ryukyu Archipelago, on Sat., Apr. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Kadena Exchange and Sun., Apr. 2...
2014.04.05
Onna’s resort atmosphere creates tranquility [Okinawa Series]
By Natalie Nakamatsu Summer is right around the corner, and this year Okinawa is forecast to welcome more visitors from all over Asia than ever before, something in excess of 0.8 m...
2014.03.23
Fine arts exhibition kicks off Sunday [CULTURE]
The island’s best-known annual arts exhibition, Okiten, gets under way Sunday at the Urasoe City Gymnasium, featuring hundreds of works in a variety of creative disciplines. Advanc...
2014.03.20
Okinawa National Theatre is home of Kumiodori [CULTURE]
By Bill Charles Two pieces of the prefecture’s traditional classical performing arts, Kumiodori, a kind of Okinawan opera, are presented this weekend at the Okinawa National Theatr...
2014.03.17
Higashi Museum focuses on nature, humans and history [History]
Higashi Museum is not your usual museum as it has a library where one can enjoy a book as if the in the calmness of a forest. It has Internet access and a study hall to hold exhibi...
2014.03.14
Higashi Village: blessed with nature and scenery [Okinawa Series]
By Natalie Nakamatsu Higashi Village is well known in northern Okinawa for its scenic beauty, fresh air and abundant nature. It’s also the home to Okinawa’s best known profession...
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...
2014.02.06
Calligraphy artisan’s collection on display through Sunday [CULTURE]
Kunii Takezaki, a modern-day calligraphy teacher, is showcasing her collection at the Naha Civic Gallery on Palette Kumoji’s sixth floor through Sunday. The Calligraphy Art Collect...
2014.02.03
Sanshin is great communicator when in Okinawa [CULTURE]
By David Higgins The best-known Okinawan instrument is Sanshin, also known as the Okinawan banjo. Shamisen in Mainland Japan is its close cousin. The neck of the Sanshin instrumen...
2014.01.31
Itoman counts on lunar calendar and ocean for prosperity [Okinawa Series]
By Natalie Nakamatsu January is about to end, and although most might think there may only be cherry blossoms during this chilly Okinawa season, there is another festivity which ma...
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...
2014.01.23
Shisa are ever vigilant protectors of Okinawa [CULTURE]
By David Higgins You might have noticed that almost every entrance and gate way of a typical Okinawan house is occupied by two statues. These statues are protecting the household,...
2014.01.14
“Flowers of Edo period as seen in Ryukyu” exhibition [History]
Naha City Museum of History is having an exhibition focusing on Ukiyoe woodblock prints from the Edo and Meiji periods. In 1993, a donation of historical items from the Yokoyama fa...
RYUKYU PRESS