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
Ryubo food markets get new image, enhanced product lines [Shopping]
Ryubo Corp., a department store and supermarket operator, announced that the company would enhance the fresh food section in its stores. The company aims to boost the service and i...
2015.01.30
Flower shop staging special craft market [Shopping]
Garden Marche in flower shop “Die Farbe” is doing something unique on Sunday; it is organizing a craft market that creates a Paris-like atmosphere. The shop name, ‘Die Farbe’ means...
2015.01.28
New bridge finally links Miyako and Irabu [Living]
Nine years in the making, a new bridge connecting Miyako and Irabu Islands is set to open Saturday. The 6,500 meters bridge project was begun in 2006 to resolve problems faced by r...
2015.01.26
Science takes center stage at OIST Open Campus [Education]
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, which rides the leading edge of science in Japan and around the world, is giving back to the community Sunday, February 1st, with invit...
2015.01.26
Say it with lasting flowers for Valentine’s Day [Living]
There’s universal agreement that flowers are beautiful, and are the perfect gift for a partner, wife, colleague, or families, for any occasion. The catch is in capturing the flower...
2015.01.26
Playgrounds on Okinawa are the best hands down! [Family]
By David Higgins If there is anything Okinawa has that has North America beat, it is the incredibly elaborate children’s playgrounds in every little village, town and city. The fir...
2015.01.24
Fukushima bouncing back with products exhibition [Shopping]
For the first time since a deadly earthquake and tsunami slammed Fukushima Prefecture, recovery progress is sufficient that businesses are conducting the first ever Fukushima Prefe...
2015.01.23
Shimadofu with kimchi salad [Cooking Recipe]
Have you seen shimadofu at local supermarkets? If you shop locally I bet you have. Many of my cooking class students say they have seen it but have no clue how to use it. So, here ...
2015.01.19
New Hilton spa offers ultimate in relaxation [Health & Beauty]
Treating one’s self to the ultimate experience of cleansing and healing is a goal the Amami Spa located in the Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort wants to help with. Amami Spa, a luxury ...
2015.01.16
Umukuji Tempura – Purple Sweet Potato Tempura [Cooking Recipe]
This is one of the ways locals eat purple sweet potato for a snack. My local area, Yomitan village, is famous for producing purple sweet potatoes that don’t just have a beautiful c...
2015.01.12
Nanakusa-gayu – Seven Herb Porridge [Cooking Recipe]
The Festival of Seven Herbs is a Japanese custom of eating seven-herb rice porridge (nanakusa-gayu) in January to bring longevity and health, and is also intended to ward off evil....
2015.01.12
Looking forward to new challenges of 2015 [Nature & Environment]
By E. Heinrich-Sanchez Happy New Year! As we are busy with shinnenkai’s (New Year parties) and amidst the stories of humanity’s failing efforts to get our planet back t...
2015.01.12
Hair & Make EARTH Chatan more than ‘just pretty hair’ [Health & Beauty]
Hair and Make EARTH Chatan is a beauty shop, yet it is really much more than simple haircuts and hair treatments. Of course, Hair and Make EARTH Chatan has highly skilled beauticia...
2015.01.09
Whales ready for annual spectacular [Nature & Environment]
By Bill Charles They are big and slow, but they love to play and have fun. Humpback whales are making their annual migration to Okinawa waters, and now it’s easy for people to watc...
2015.01.04
Problems with new puppy: Crying, accidental swallowing [Family]
Our Animal Hospital 22 Group launched a new pet store named Vet’s Pet in Ameku, Naha City, this September. Located adjacent to our Animal Hospital 20, this medium-size pet st...
2015.01.04
Plan ahead when importing goods to your doorstep [Shopping]
By David Higgins I was perusing my favorite brand name clothing website and decided to make an order. I don’t normally buy clothes online as I usually just purchase local items fr...
2014.12.28
Snakes take center stage at Okinawa World New Year [LIFE]
The events being scheduled by Okinawa World for the final days of 2014 are not necessarily for the squeamish, but they’re definitely adventures. Okinawa World, also known as Gyokus...
2014.12.28
Ringing in New Year Okinawa style is all night affair [LIFE]
By Bill Charles The festive lights of the holiday season are burning brightly, but for many, the eye is on next week’s big event, celebrating the New Year. New Year’s Eve is less ...
2014.12.26
Fu Chanpuru [Cooking Recipe]
Fu chanpuru is basically fried mix vegetables, but ingredients such as goya and fu make these dishes unique to Okinawa. There are many ways to cook chanpuru and you can simply use ...
2014.12.22
Sunset Bikes understands sports bicycles [Shopping]
Sunset Bikes is a shop specializing in sports bicycles. Naoya Fujita, the owner of Sunset Bikes in Mihama, Chatan Town, considers his company the ultimate specialist on bicycles on...
