Festival
Pick Up Stories
Itoman Haaray; a traditional and fun eve… [CULTURE Festival]
The Itoman Haaray takes place on the May 4th of the Lunar Calendar. This day is actually June 18th 2026 of the Gregorian Calendar. Most peop...Read More
Chasing the Dragon – The Naha Haarii [Festival]
The Naha Haarii Festival will happen during Golden Week from May 3-5, 10:00 ~ 19:00 at the Naha New Port. Haarii — meaning “dragon boat” in ...Read More
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
2015.06.25
Day of Songs 2015 Concert celebrates power of music [Festival]
Organizers of the Day of Songs 2015 Concert want to make the power of song and dance the focus of the event, and to express their appreciation of Okinawan music and it’s role in hi...
2015.06.21
Nishihara Peaceful Music Festival 2015 fetes 70 years of peace [Festival]
Nishihara Peaceful Music Festival is an annual event that takes place place on June 23rd, the anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa. Nishihara was the site of some of the...
2015.06.16
Dragon Boat bell rings in Okinawa summer [Festival]
Haarii, or Dragon Boat Races, is an annual Okinawan tradition that is said to have been brought to the islands from China about 600 years ago during the Ryukyu Kingdom era. Local O...
2015.06.04
Weekend Futenma Flightline Fair promises sizzling fun [Festival]
Sizzling summer fun, food and entertainment is waiting for visitors to this year’s annual MCAS Futenma Flightline Festival Saturday and Sunday. As the June heat waves are rol...
2015.05.21
Camp Schwab opens gates for weekend festival [Festival]
Head up north this weekend to spend time at the Schwab Festival on one of the most beautiful Marine Corps camps on Okinawa. Along with fantastic beaches and scenery there will be f...
2015.05.15
Sumo, beach tug-of-war highlight Nanmin Festival [Festival]
Naminoue Shrine, one of the official shrines in the Ryukyu Kingdom, is hosting its annual spring festival this weekend. Called ‘Nanmin’ by local Okinawans, the Nanmin Festival is t...
2015.05.02
Adventure World spices up Children’s Day, Golden Week [Festival]
May 5th is Children’s Day, a Japanese national holiday and a part of the “Golden Week” in Japan. The 12th Kids Festival Adventure World is a part of the holiday excitement kids eag...
2015.05.02
Life slows as Dragon Boats speed up in Naha [Festival]
By Bill Charles Okinawa is anything but normal now as schools, banks, government offices and many businesses are shuttered this week and most of the next as Okinawans celebrate a w...
2015.05.01
Zoo festival features animals, stage shows [Festival]
Okinawa Kodomo-no-Kuni Festival 2015 opens Saturday in Okinawa City, with tens of thousands of visitors expected for the five-day event through Wednesday. The festival at the Okina...
2015.04.26
Fishery association staging Payao Festival [Festival]
Payao is a Okinawa City Fishery Association owned shop selling fresh fish at Awase Fishing Port, and it’s the focal point of a festival this Wednesday. Payao Festival 2015 takes pl...
2015.04.23
White Beach Festival chock full of races, games, food [Festival]
Jinxed by weather that’s cancelled White Beach Festivals in past years, Navy MWR is smiling at the mid-70’s temperatures and sunshine forecast for this weekend’s internationally or...
2015.04.18
Ie Island Easter Lily fields invite to annual festival [Festival]
By Bill Charles Get ready to grab the camera, pile family and friends in the car and put a trip to Ie Island on the calendar for this weekend to take in a million Easter Lilies rol...
2015.04.16
Chuko spring festival is all about Awamori [Festival]
The 9th Chuko Spring Festival is a perfect opportunity for visitors and locals to learn about Awamori this weekend, taste some, and even compete in an Awamori tasting contest in To...
2015.04.16
There’s ‘Music in the Air’ this weekend [Festival]
Seventy bands and 30 deejays are tweaking their repertoire for the year’s earliest open air summer music festival, and the best news is that it is a free open air music event. The ...
2015.04.12
Okuma Fest welcomes beach season to Okinawa [Festival]
The largest beach party of the year on Okinawa, Okuma Fest, is a mix of American and Okinawan cultures this weekend. Okuma Fest is free, and open to the entire Okinawa community at...
2015.04.10
Goats, bulls are core of Motobu Festival [Festival]
The Motobu tourism and culture festival is Saturday, and it’s a sure bet visitors will find it totally different than countless other festivals that dot the Okinawa landscape. The ...
2015.04.10
Entertainment abounds at Camp Foster Festival [Festival]
The 2015 season for Marine Corps Community Services entertainment festivals is here, firing up the organization’s energies for the Camp Foster Festival this weekend. The free festi...
2015.04.10
Ryukyu Kaiensai means massive fireworks! [Festival]
By Bill Charles Hours and hours of entertainment, including an ultra-spectacular fireworks program set to music, will join forces April 11th as Okinawa’s summer gets under way with...
2015.04.10
7th Terurin festival honors Okinawan entertainment icon [Festival]
Almost three dozen entertainers and groups are heading on stage Sunday to honor an Okinawa musical giant who died in 2005. The nine-hour concert on Chuo Park Avenue in Koza pays ho...
2015.04.02
Great Japan Beer Festival features 40+ breweries [Festival]
By Bill Charles Beer is king this weekend at Helios Pub on Kokusai Street as the brew pub hosts the Great Japan Beer Festival, bringing together more than 40 breweries and 50 diffe...
RYUKYU PRESS