Living
Pick Up Stories
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
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
Shisa get their day on Thursday [History Living]
April 3 is the “Day of Shisa” in Okinawa. Four is SHI, and three is SAN in Japanese. This is why April 3rd is the Day of Shisa. The day was ...Read More
2016.01.06
‘Happy Maririn Sunday’ craft fair in Ginowan this Sunday [Living]
A craft fair at Ginowan Marine Support Center in front of JA Yui Marche in Ginowan is scheduled to take place rain-or-shine this Sunday. About 100 vendors are scheduled to particip...
2016.01.06
Bridge maintenance could jam traffic on Expressway [Living]
NEXCO, the company operating the Okinawa Expressway announces that it’s doing maintenance and repair work on two bridges, one between Yaka and Kin and the other between Ginoza and ...
2015.12.28
Hatsumode truly rings in New Year for most in Japan [Living]
Hatsumode Japanese traditional New Year event, in which folks visit a shrine or temple for the first time right after the new year begins, which means a Friday midnight night visit...
2015.12.13
The holiday season is shining bright on Okinawa [Living]
As Santa is getting ready to check his list, on Okinawa the holiday spirit is starting to shine brightly with spectacular LED-light illumination displays popping up at different pa...
2015.12.10
Ryukyu Lantern Festival 2015 adds to charms of Murasaki Mura [Living]
Lanterns are a ubiquitous part of any fast-eastern cityscape, especially those made of paper. They have been used to decorate buildings and parks for so long time that many people ...
2015.11.30
Reopened Uchina Farm brings farm life close to visitors [Living]
Itoman City Tourist Farm was reopened as ‘Uchina Farm’ on Oct. 30 after having been closed since June 2014. The farm opened originally in 2005, and was best known for Acerola Wine ...
2015.11.20
Tsuboya pottery artisans fete their art at four-day Pottery Fair [Living]
Tsuboya pottery is known as one of the unique pottery styles, and it’s the focus of a four-day fair that is held at Tsuboya Elementary School in Naha. The fair runs from Friday thr...
2015.10.25
Living large in Japan [Living]
By David Higgins Although life in Okinawa has been pretty convenient, there is one experience that has become a bit of an annoyance over the years, and that is trying to find cloth...
2015.10.25
Japanese energy drinks give you pocket-size boost on spot [Living]
By David Higgins Have you ever experienced that sluggish feeling around 3 p.m. at the office when your eyelids and head become so heavy that you are tempted to curl up under the de...
2015.10.25
Shigira Resort has it all in one location [Living]
By far the largest resort complex in Okinawa Prefecture is located on Miyako Island, about a 45-minute flight southwest from Naha, or a three-hour flight from Tokyo. With its first...
2015.10.16
Art Aquarium exhibition in Ryubo shows plenty of “Wa” [Living]
A fantasy aquarium art exhibition is currently being held on the 6th floor of Palette Kumoji Ryubo department store in Naha. The exhibition is scheduled to run through Nov. 15th. T...
2015.09.17
When you want to get away from everyday [Living]
There hardly is a person alive who, at least once in a while, would not dream of spending time at a place where he or she is surrounded by luxury, where one’s almost every whim is ...
2015.09.17
Mofu Mofu Festival benefits stray animals [Living]
The sad fate of stray cats and dogs on Okinawa is that they end up killed by the thousands every year as the only means to control their numbers. Although there are many organizati...
2015.08.28
International party invites foreigners to share friendships without politics [Living]
One day, Hideaki Gushiken, better known as “Hide,” the host of the “International Party” series to be held for the 6th time on Aug. 29th, was working at a bar, and was ...
2015.08.25
What Okinawa souvenirs to take to friends overseas [Living]
By David Higgins Okinawa is great. Okinawa is so great that you want to share it with friends and family. Unfortunately, this is not always possible so the best you can do is to se...
2015.08.16
Umikaji Terrace is newest fun spot on Senaga Island [Living]
Senaga Island, a tiny island connected with the Okinawa main island by a causeway and located just south of the Naha Airport runway, has seen plenty of construction lately. First, ...
2015.08.12
Awase is modern, great for shopping and playing [Living]
By Jun Ikemura Almost everyone knows Koza and Goya districts outside Kadena Air Base Gate 2, mostly for their numerous entertainment venues, but Okinawa City is very big and has pl...
2015.06.29
Photography group Okinawa 6! challenges public for photo hunt [Living]
Here comes Okinawa 6!, a collective photo exhibition of a group of six non-Okinawan professional photographers (3 Japanese + 3 foreigners) living on Okinawa, focusing on the beauty...
2015.06.29
Yuino ceremony marks engagement of Okinawan couple [Living]
In Japan, when a couple gets engaged to get married it’s customary for the couple to host a special engagement ceremony called “Yuinou.” The custom dates back to the old days when ...
2015.06.21
Driving fast vs. slow; can you beat power of stoplight? [Living]
By David Higgins Does speeding really get you to your destination faster? I wonder this every time I see people speed past me in their Nissan Skyline or fear for my own life when, ...
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