LIFE
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

What do you do on Okinawa during the New… [CULTURE LIFE]
It’s finally the end of the year 2025, and so it’s time to ask how was your year 2026? Good memories, bad memories, each person has their ow...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
2015.08.24
Shishitou no nikumaki – Green pepper with pork [Cooking Recipe]
I’ve introduced shio-koji in this recipe corner before. Shio-koji is salt fermented rice malt and you can use it as a substitute for salt or you can use it as an ingredient in sauc...
2015.08.21
Prefectural Museum hosts exhibit of stuffed mammals and skeletons [Nature & Environment]
A large collection of stuffed animals and animal skeletons is currently on display at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum. The collection, known as the Yoshimoto collection, consists of...
2015.08.21
August is good month to chill with snakes at Okinawa World [Education]
August is the hottest month in Okinawa, and it’s also the season for haunted houses, ghost stories and anything else that gives you chills and supposedly thus alleviated the unrele...
2015.08.21
Shimairo Marche events put focus on local produce and goods [Shopping]
Various kinds of food-related events are currently very popular on Okinawa. A series of events called ‘Shimairo Marche’ are organized at various locations on the island several tim...
2015.08.17
Okinawa Food Flea cancelled due to approaching typhoon [Gourmet]
Typhoon Goni, which is expected to come near Okinawa this weekend has prompted organizers of the Okinawa Food Flea to cancel the event. The event was scheduled for this Sunday at G...
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, ...
2015.08.15
Daigakuimo – Sweet potato with sesame and honey [Cooking Recipe]
Daigakuimo is a popular snack eaten in the Kanto and Tokyo areas. A direct translation is ‘university potato’ because it used to be popular among university students in the Tokyo r...
2015.08.15
GODAC offers ocean themed classes for kids on summer break [Education]
GODAC, the Global Oceanographic Data Center, located in Henoko distinguishes itself with its active community outreach programs that include several open house events throughout th...
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...
2015.08.11
Maasuni – Fresh fish simmered in salt [Cooking Recipe]
Maasu means salt in Okinawan dialect. Maasuni is a traditional Okinawan dish of fish cooked with just salt and awamori. With this recipe, I added olive oil, parsley and mini...
2015.08.10
How to prepare for typhoon – Okinawan style [Nature & Environment]
By David Higgins If you have lived on Okinawa for at least a year, then you have probably experienced living through a typhoon. In Japan, typhoons can occur anytime between Jun. 1s...
2015.08.07
50’s Café still mixing gourmet burgers, taco rice, nostalgia [Gourmet]
By Bill Charles Anyone can make the claim they’ve got the best burgers on Okinawa, but Hayashi Oshiro knows the difference and wants to spread the word that the ONLY place for a ju...
2015.07.31
Seaside Refle Mu knows how to make customers relax [Health & Beauty]
By Junko Yamada Seaside Refle Mu is an esthetic salon specializing in aroma oil massages. It’s located right next to Chatan Sunset Beach on the first floor of Chura-yu bathing faci...
2015.07.31
Makeman Home Center Urasoe introduces Cardboard Amusement Park [Family]
As local school children are starting their summer holidays, Makeman Home Center main store on Highway 58 in Gusukuma, Urasoe, is building an amusement park in the store for childr...
2015.07.26
Shabushabu salad – Boiled pork with sesame dressing [Cooking Recipe]
I know a lot of people find sesame dressing addictive. Sorry to spoil the fun, but did you know it has a high calorific value? I love sesame dressing as well, so this is a healthy,...
2015.07.24
Japan’s largest composite pet facility open in Chatan [Family]
Pets, along with their owner, will rejoice as a new facility exclusively dedicated to the needs of our four-legged friends and family members open a brand new Okinawa Vets Park Cha...
2015.07.24
Helios Pub campaign features all local ingredients [Gourmet]
Local craft beer restaurant Helios Pub on Kokusai Street in Naha is currently conducting a special campaign called “Awatto Beer Ste” that refers to awamori, beer and steaks that ar...
2015.07.24
Top three burger joints on Okinawa [Gourmet]
By David Higgins Hamburgers are as synonymous with North America as Oktoberfest sausages are with Germany, yet one can be assured that a burger joint will usually not be too far fr...
2015.07.24
Free Japanese classes offered at Sci-Tec College Naha [Education]
The Government of Japan Agency for Cultural Affairs is organizing two free courses in Japanese language that are offered for foreigners who are trying to learn Japanese. The course...
2015.07.22
At Manga Shoko one man’s trash is someone’s treasure [Shopping]
Manga Souko is a recycle shop chain that boasts one of the largest inventories of recycled entertainment items available at any recycle store on Okinawa. They sell and buy comics, ...
