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
2012.12.16
Ie Village welcomes visitors to Hibiscus festival [Festival]
More than 1,000 varieties of colorful Hibiscus flowers are in full bloom on Ie Island, and that’s enough for the Ie Village to host its 9th annual Hibiscus Festival. The Chr...
2012.12.07
Kitone Market serves shopping, entertainment on Saturday [CURRENT ISSUE Festival]
More than 100 stores from across Okinawa are joining forces Saturday in Yomitan Village’s Zanpa Cape for a nine-hour Kitone-Ichi, a market. The combination open air stores sale and...
2012.12.07
Santa heads lineup at Courtney Christmas Fest [Festival]
By Bill Charles The jolly man in the red suit is making his Okinawa debut this weekend at the Courtney Christmas and Holiday Festival. Christmas is just around the corner and wheth...
2012.11.30
Ginowan’s year of celebration includes Industrial Festival [Festival]
Ginowan City’s marking its 50th anniversary as a municipality this year, and is including this weekend’s 23rd Ginowan City Industrial Festival as a major event. The free festival t...
2012.11.22
Samba Festival expands to Chatan and Okinawa City [Festival]
A two-day Samba Festival gets the music moving tomorrow evening in both Chatan and Okinawa City, entertaining and performing through Saturday. Admission is free to the “Okinawa Sam...
2012.11.22
Okinawa City goes international [Festival]
By Bill Charles Okinawa City considers itself a cosmopolitan city, home to people from more than 30 countries, and this weekend the city also known as Koza is welcoming them all th...
2012.11.16
Master craftsmen unveil their work at annual Tsuboya Pottery Festival [Festival]
Tsuboya pottery is known worldwide by sculpture lovers as one of the unique pottery styles, and is being featured next week in a free downtown pottery festival. Next Thursday throu...
2012.11.16
Weekend Kitanakagusuku Festival set for Shiosai Park [Festival]
Even as the holiday season approaches, the festivals season continues, with the 27th Kitanakagusuku Festival kicking off Saturday and Sunday at Shiosai Park. The two-day festival r...
2012.11.15
Okinawa Beads Festival coming up in Urasoe [Festival Shopping]
One of the fastest growing arts and crafts in Japan is beads and dragonfly balls, and both are showcased in a three-day Okinawa Beads Festival that begins tomorrow in Urasoe City. ...
2012.11.15
Emperor and Empress visit for Healthy Ocean ceremonies [Festival]
Sunday’s ceremonies of an annual conference on fisheries promotion and marine environment protection is promising to be something more than special, as Japan’s Emperor and Empress ...
2012.11.09
Music & Art to create focus on Zanpa Jam 2012 [Festival]
It’s not until both artists and audiences get together than music and art can be complete, and the organizers of the Zanpa Jam 2012 know that better than anyone. Zanpa Jam 2012 is ...
2012.11.09
JICA promoting international cooperation with festival [Festival]
An international cooperation Exchange Festival is on tap for this weekend at the JICA Okinawa International Center, and admission is free. This year’s theme is “From Uchina to the ...
2012.11.02
Weekend Dream Festival all about kids [Festival]
Children are billed as the main actors at this weekend’s Dream Festival @ Kodomo no Kuni, but adults can be an integral part of the fun too at the many booths and on-stage events. ...
2012.10.26
Okinawa Industrial Fair exhibits at Naha’s Onoyama Park [Festival]
By Mana Komatsu It is being called the ‘Total Industrial Exhibition’ with an appeal to everyday citizens. The 36th Annual Okinawa Industrial Festival runs Friday through Sunday in...
2012.10.26
Kokusai Street, Onoyama centers of festival entertainment [Festival]
For many, the center of the Okinawa universe on Saturday and Sunday will be Kokusai Street, Okinawa’s international street that’s the focal point of a massive parade part of the Sh...
2012.10.26
Africa a theme for Nanjo City Festival [Festival]
Travel to the African continent is a part of this Saturday’s Nanjo City Festival, complete with a chance to see a special learning movie. The event taking place at Sugar Hall in Na...
2012.10.19
JGSDF Festival slated for Saturday [Festival]
Japan Ground Self Defense Force Naha Station will have an open house this Saturday from 8;15 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festival marks the 40th anniversary of the JGSDF Naha Station that w...
2012.10.19
Naha Air Base celebrates 40th anniversary [Festival]
By Bill Charles Naha Air Base, the hub of Okinawa aviation, celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend with an Air Festival, although in reality, the airport’s been serving the i...
2012.10.19
Uruma Festival invokes bullfighting, kings [Festival]
On an island filled with Eisa and tug-of-war events at community festivals, Uruma City’s always done it more exquisitely, including bullfighting events at the Ishikawa Multiple-Pur...
2012.10.12
Nanjo City Festival is rare event [Community Festival]
Nanjo city festival scheduled for this weekend at Gusuku Road Park does not get to be routine as the event is held only every four years. The weekend’s festival is only the second ...
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