Okinawa Hai!

CONTRIBUTED BY MUNEERAH BEE Mieko is a feisty, determined and opinionated little girl who is on a quest to meet a Kijimuna. Although she initially dismissed the rumors about its existence, the elementary school girl is now determined to look for one after she experienced a sleep paralysis (because, you know, playful Kijimunas sometimes sit [...]

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Recycle Store Exterior CONTRIBUTED BY STEPHANIE MONROE I’ve been on Okinawa about a year now, and since our arrival I’ve been lamenting the loss of one of my favorite activities: shopping the neighborhood thrift stores. Back in the states thrift stores are one of my regular stops to find unique, antique, or bargain priced items. [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY KRISTY WELLS Music Class Six months ago I found an ad on the Okinawa Yard Sales website with information regarding a new music class available on the island. Lauren Baskins had recently moved here and brought with her the amazing learning experience called Music Together. Music Together is a music and movement class [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH FORTE “Kimigayo,” (君が代) the Japanese National Anthem, is a song almost all of us hear daily. At military events and at the end of the day, the “Star Spangled Banner” follows “Kimigayo.” I remember the first time I heard it here on Okinawa. I’m sure I had heard it played before, but [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY ANGI BRZYCKI Sakura Zaka Exterior The Sakura Zaka 桜坂劇場 is one of my favorite places to go to in Naha. The movie theater shows mainly independent Japanese, American, and foreign films. The screening rooms are fairly small, similar to an old theater house. Most of the films are hard to find at the [...]

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If you want to know even more about Okinawa, I highly recommend this book. It covers so much material abouth holidays, places to see/eat/stay, as well as some historical facts. I have used this book in conjunction with the TripAdvisor App to “explore” all there is to do on the Okinawa Prefecture. In my experience, [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY SARRA MCMILLAN Perhaps you’ve seen it while strolling along Kokusai Street, the large, colourful letters adorning the side of the building, screaming “OPA”!! But have you ventured inside this huge shopping mall, investigating the world of Japanese fashion and accessories? The window shopping is a cultural experience and it is an ideal place [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY ERIN SCHALK Miyawaki Store Shortly after moving to Okinawa, I began to experience severe book withdrawal. My husband and I are not keen on recreational shopping, but while in the States, we did enjoy browsing around the local Barnes & Noble or Half Price Books during our free time. In an age of [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY MEGAN PARKER The Roads to Sata: A 2,000-Mile Walk Through Japan chronicles the 2,000-mile journey of a man who walked from one end of Japan to the other.  Author Alan Booth brings readers along on his journey while regaling tales of his days spent traversing the coastline, mountains and cities of Japan via [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH FORTE Hello! Welcome to my book club! Sit down and have some coffee cake! (I’ve never been to a real book club meeting. Can you tell?) I know you all love to read; otherwise you wouldn’t have come to this (imaginary) meeting.  So, we’re here in Okinawa (or will soon be, or [...]

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