Festival
Pick Up Stories
Cherry Blossoms Grace Northern Okinawa [Festival]
Northern Okinawa has a unique distinction of having the earliest blooming cherry blossoms in all of Japan. Though they are different from th...Read More
Naha Base Air Festival features Japanese… [Festival]
Churashima Air festival is something special to see for those who’ve never seen a Japan Self Defense Force air show. The JASDF Naha Air Base...Read More
Courtney Holiday Festival [Festival]
Enjoy a Fun-filled Weekend! The Camp Courtney Holiday Festival will be held on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8 from 1 to 9 p.m. ...Read More
2013.11.01
Yomitan Village shows off traditional culture at weekend festival [Festival]
The summer is changing into fall, and the days are getting cooler, but Yomitan Village, which is about to become the most populous village in the nation on Jan. 1, is getting into ...
2013.11.01
Yachimun Street Festival introduces traditional pottery [Festival]
Approximately 300 years ago, the Ryukyu Administration gathered the many pottery skills and artists from all over Okinawa and set them up in the Tsuboya district of Naha City. On S...
2013.10.27
Mihama Halloween promises to be a frightful experience [Festival]
By Bill Charles Halloween is a time for ghosts, goblins and ghouls to put in appearances on Okinawa, and nowhere is that more the case than at Mihama American Village, where next T...
2013.10.25
Nakagusuku Castle Site is venue for weekend Gosamaru Festival [Festival]
The Nakagusuku Gosamaru Festival rolls into action this weekend at the Nakagusuku Castle Site on Okinawa’s east-central side, providing events, music and food. The two-day event ru...
2013.10.25
Ryukyu Kingdom traditions come alive at Shuri Castle Festival [Festival]
Ryukyuan classical dances, musical drama, ceremonies and a parade filled with pageantry are about to take place at Okinawa’s historic Shuri Castle and on Kokusai Street in downtown...
2013.10.25
Okinawa businesses put on best face Saturday and Sunday [Festival]
“Okinawa products that glue us together” is the theme for this year’s Okinawa Industrial Festival, long billed as a real-world products festival with an appeal to everyday citizens...
2013.10.17
New town mascot star at Haebaru festival [Festival]
The 1st Haerun Festival 2013 is coming up Sunday, a brand new festival being sponsored by Haebaru Town in honor of its imaginary character ‘Haerun’. Haerun was ‘born’ in April as a...
2013.10.17
Uruma City ready to party this weekend [Festival]
Okinawa’s summer isn’t over yet, at least in the eyes of Uruma City officials who are hosting the 8th Uruma City Festival this Saturday and Sunday. Uruma City Comprehensive Athleti...
2013.10.17
Kinser Festival features top notch entertainment [Festival]
Okinawa may cool a bit in October but MCCS festival season is still going on strong with Kinser Festival. This year’s festival is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 1...
2013.10.10
Granddaddy of all tug-of-wars on Sunday in Naha [Festival]
By Bill Charles Naha Matsuri, Naha Tsunahiki, the Naha Giant Tug-of-War Festival. All names for the biggest and best known of ages-old tug-of-war competitions taking place each ye...
2013.10.09
Three days of rock’n roll, fun on Torii Beach [Festival]
It’s being billed as the ultimate rock event on Okinawa, and the U.S. Army’s Torii Station officials say the Oct. 11-13 weekend on-base event this year is even bigger and better th...
2013.10.09
Futenma Festival brings spiritual aspect to folk fun [Festival]
Futenma shrine was built in 1459 at the King’s behest. For many years the shrine was known to be a place where many people came to pray, do community gatherings and was even used a...
2013.10.04
Ghouls wanted for annual Mihama Halloween Costume Contest [Festival]
Ghosts and goblins—not to mention a host of other Halloween ghouls who start coming out this time of year—are again being offered an opportunity to show off as Chatan Mihama Americ...
2013.10.04
Noguni Soukan Festival honors introduction of sweet potato [Festival]
Every year Kadena Town celebrates its great man Noguni Soukan, who, in 1605, brought the sweet potato to Okinawa from China, saving the people from starvation. The annual Noguni So...
2013.09.28
Blue Lagoon Festival focus on ocean and music [Festival]
With Typhoon Pabuk a mere speck on Okinawa’s far eastern horizon, it’s smooth sailing this weekend for the 9th Blue Lagoon Festival at 21st Century Forest in Nago City. The two-day...
2013.09.28
Nakijin combines three festivals into one [Festival]
There’s no shortage of excitement coming up this weekend as Nakijin Village stages its 4th annual Nakijin Festival, an all-in-one event that combines three different styles of acti...
2013.09.05
Seinen Furusato Eisa at Onoyama this weekend [Festival]
Sounds of Eisa with its distinctive beat of drums has been an Okinawan summer tradition since the beginning of times, and has eventually evolved into a way to promote Okinawan cult...
2013.08.29
Chatan’s 34th Eisa Festival welcomes visitors [Festival]
Chatan Town’s 34th Eisa Festival is taking place Sunday, and traditionally costumed dancers will perform for visitors from across the island. The festival is taking place at Kuwae ...
2013.08.29
Eisa and Orion Beer take centerstage this weekend [Festival]
The throbbing beat of traditional drums will be heard across Okinawa beginning tomorrow, a post-Obon dance celebration that fills the air with excitement and happiness amidst praye...
2013.08.16
Yanbaru Youth Eisa Festival runs Sunday [Festival]
A typical Okinawan Bon festival complete with sanshin, Japanese drums, singing and Eisa dance is slated for Tancha Park in Motobu on Sunday. Also known as a Lantern Festival, as or...
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