Living
Pick Up Stories
Shimenawa, sacred New Year rice straw fe… [Living]
“Shimenawa,” literally a “closing rope” is a decoration mostly seen at Shinto shrines to mark holy places where spirits reside. A variation ...Read More
Okinawa Expressway Renewal Work Starts J… [CURRENT ISSUE LIFE Living]
NEXCO, the company operating the Okinawa Expressway announces that Expressway renewal works start from January 6th to April 28th in 2026 bet...Read More
June 1st is day dedicated to Okinawa's K… [Living]
June 1st is the day of “Kariyushi” wear. “Kariyushi” is an Okinawan word meaning “harmony” or “happiness.” It has also come to m...Read More
2016.10.17
Scams in Japan target elderly, people hungry for quick cash [Living]
By David Higgins Most people think of Japan as a peaceful, safe and honest place, but, as any other country, it has its share of scammers, crooks and fraudsters. Lately, there has ...
2016.10.16
Okinawa Soba has its special day on Oct. 17 [Living]
A bowl of soba is to an Okinawa resident what a hamburger is to an American, fast food that about everyone craves for at least once a week. Those, who are new to the island will in...
Okinawa Total Living Show this weekend in Ginowan [Living]
The 30th Okinawa Total Living Show, a comprehensive exhibition on everything related to housing and living started today, Friday, at Okinawa Convention Center in Ginowan. The event...
2016.10.03
Japanese Manga is fun way to understand local culture [Living]
By Lily Kuwae Japanese manga is a cultural export from Japan that has spread in countries throughout the world. Even the word “manga” itself has been adopted into English language ...
2016.08.21
H.I.S. Beach Park offers watery fun on Toyosaki Churasun Beach [Living]
Churasun Beach in Toyosaki is the largest man-made beach on Okinawa. It’s famous for its spectacular sunsets, and relaxed resort atmosphere. The beach is also home to the newest an...
2016.07.24
Ryubo pottery exhibition “Maigyo” showcases works of Hideyoshi Kinjo [Living]
Anyone interested in Okinawan pottery knows the name of Jiro Kinjo. He was a pottery artisan who became the first Okinawan to have the title living National Treasure bestowed on hi...
2016.06.26
¥1,000 gets you ‘senbero’ – a couple of cold ones and snack [Living]
By Jun Ikemura Summer is just around the corner, and that means days are getting much longer! So, what is your favorite thing to do in the summer? As most people know, Okinawan peo...
2016.06.20
Hana-block is Okinawa’s original wall art [Living]
By Jun Ikemura For foreigners, or even visiting mainland Japanese, the most striking feature in Okinawa is the use of concrete for almost anything. Most buildings here are made of ...
2016.06.03
Ikuko Matsukawa spreads special message with her choir groups [Living]
Music has a way of opening up one’s soul to a world filled with a wide variety of moods via various tempos and styles that resonate from countries around the world. Ikuko Matsukawa...
2016.05.28
Election time on Okinawa means plenty of noise [Living]
By David Higgins This summer, an election will be held for the Okinawa Prefecture Assembly so I would advise that you begin to brace yourself now for the onslaught of propaganda no...
2016.05.19
Fukumi Shimura’s naturally dyed kimonos on exhibit [Living]
By Miki Shioda Fukumi Shimura is one of Japan’s premier textile artists, who is especially known for her use of natural dyes that create different colors depending on the season an...
2016.05.09
Yui Yui Yuirail: It all begins at Naha Airport Station [Living]
Yui Rail is the only rail transportation system on Okinawa. It is now running only within Naha City area, but an extension to Urasoe City is currently under construction and schedu...
2016.03.09
Okinawa handicrafts on stage at Plaza House through weekend [Living]
An annual popular four-day Okinawa City Craft Fair opens today and runs through Sunday at the Plaza House Shopping Center, featuring 64 area studios and stores that exhibit locally...
2016.03.07
Kotatsu warms whole body from bottom up [Living]
The Japanese Kotatsu should be directly translated into English as “Snuggly Electric Table Blanket” because that is exactly what it is. In Okinawa, having a kotatsu in your home is...
2016.02.29
Japanese old candies offer taste for adventurous [Living]
By Davig Higgins With an ongoing quest for adventure in my life, I’m always interested in trying something new. Or, in this case, something old. Waiting in line to pay my bill at a...
2016.02.23
Noritake Kinashi’s art works on exhibition at Prefectural Museum & Art Museum [Living]
Noritake Kinashi, best known as a popular comedian and multitalented entertainer in Japanese TV, is also an avid painter in his private time. An exhibition of his more than 300 wor...
2016.02.23
‘Pieces of Peace – World Heritage Exhibit Built with Lego Bricks, Part 3’ comes to Urasoe Art Museum [Living]
When Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen began to make wooden toys in 1932 in his workshop in Billund, Denmark, and named his fledging company ‘Lego,’ he likely could not...
2016.02.23
Farming festival teaches what’s medicine of life [Living]
‘Nuchi gusui’ is an Okinawan expression meaning ‘life’s medicine’ as eating good food, chatting with friends and having a good, relaxed time in general is essential of a human’s we...
2016.02.12
Feb. 14th is day dedicated to romance and sweets [Living]
February 14, Valentine’s Day, is considered world over a day when romance blooms and lovers whisper sweet nothings to each others’ ears. Seemingly, there is no one in the entire wo...
2016.02.07
Dog poop and stray cats are nuisance at Sunabe Seawall [Living]
By David Higgins I feel very blessed to live along the Sunabe Seawall. It’s a great place to escape for a stroll after work to relieve some of the days’ accumulated stress. D...
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