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
2015.07.20
Shake no shio-koji yaki [Cooking Recipe]
Grilled salmon with shio-koji (salt fermented rice malt) There are many ways to use shio-koji. What is shio-koji? It is salt fermented rice malt and you can use it as a substitute ...
2015 Ryukyu Islands Coastal Cleanup: World O.C.E.A.N.’s 15 Clean Beach Challenge [Nature & Environment]
By E. Heinrich-Sanchez It’s time to start planning for the September-November coastal cleanup season part of the I Love Okinawa Campaign®. The main event is around the corner with ...
2015.07.18
History and nutritional benefits of natto [Gourmet]
By David Higgins Have you heard of natto? No, I am not referring to the ‘North Atlantic Treaty Organization.’ I am referring to natto, or ‘nattokinaze,R...
2015.07.14
Yakinasu and shishito – Grilled eggplant and green pepper [Cooking Recipe]
Summer vegetables! Eggplants are now in season. This is my favourite way to enjoy fresh eggplant, nasu in Japanese. Also, I want to introduce Japanese green peppers, called ...
2015.07.10
“Weekend Dive & Boating Forecast” Continues! [Nature & Environment]
By E. Heinrich-Sanchez Motivated by this simple reason, “Try to keep just one person from making a dreadful mistake.” Yesterday we were saying goodbye to Ed, wondering ...
2015.07.04
Moui no tsukemono – Red gourd pickle [Cooking Recipe]
This week, I’m introducing another seasonal local vegetable, Moui. I love living in Okinawa because you can feel the seasons through the local vegetables. If you love shopping at l...
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 ...
2015.06.27
Burger King Japan goes red [Gourmet]
Last year Burger King Japan surprised its customers by introducing black burgers on its menu. Apparently its success with the limited time black specialty inspired the chain’s plan...
2015.06.27
Akajiso Juice – Red perilla juice [Cooking Recipe]
This juice is very seasonal as you can only find red perilla leaves early summer. When I start to see red perilla leaves at markets, it makes me feel the arrival of summer. Every y...
2015.06.23
Umukujiandagii – Salty purple sweet potato cake [Cooking Recipe]
My cooking school is located in Yomitan and beniimo is a very special vegetable in this village. I did a sweet version of this cake recipe sometime in March this year. It was very ...
2015.06.21
Tida Dining Shinsaishin of Yugaf Inn serves Chinese food lover’s delight [Gourmet]
Hotel Yugaf Inn in Nago is not a part of a worldwide conglomerates that many of the large resorts on Okinawa are, its very well liked by its customers because of its nice location ...
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, ...
2015.06.19
Pizzeria da ENZO gears up for special culinary events [Living]
One of the newest Italian-style restaurants on the island, Pizzeria da ENZO serves authentic Naples Pizza and Italian-style cuisine made with local fresh Okinawan ingredients. To c...
2015.06.18
Okinawan zenzai is perfect antidote to summer heat [Gourmet]
Nothing is said to be as refreshing on a sweltering hot summer day as a bowl of Okinawan zenzai, a dish of sweet red kidney bean soup topped with lots of shaved ice. Inamine Restau...
2015.06.18
Pope Francis takes lead in fight for sustainability [Nature & Environment]
By E. Heinrich-Sanchez From the Midwest International Energy Symposium in Iowa (Oct.2014) http://midwestenergy.wix.com/mwenergysymposium#!keynote/ to the Vatican and the Asia-Pacif...
2015.06.16
Okinawa has plenty of hangover cures [Living]
By David Higgins On the island of Okinawa there are few entertainment options at night during the week and on weekends that don’t involve having a few drinks… if you are into...
2015.06.16
Umeshu – Plum wine [Cooking Recipe]
Have you tried plum wine? It is called umeshu in Japanese. It’s sweet and sour and I love drinking it with a rock of ice or with sparkling water. The plums you need to use to make ...
2015.06.16
‘Yukkanu-hi’ brings ‘Popo’ treats to Okinawan children [Gourmet]
May 4 of the Lunar Calendar is best known on Okinawa as the day of Haarii races at various fishing ports around the islands. But Harii is not only a boat race but involves many rit...
2015.06.08
Hijiki Gohan – steamed rice with hijiki seaweed [Cooking Recipe]
Hijiki seaweed is rich in calcium, potassium, phosphorus and iron. If you feel a bit adventurous with cooking authentic Japanese food, you should try this. It is quite similar to O...
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