Okinawa Hai!

CONTRIBUTED BY CHRISTOPHER DONG “I wish there was a…” I cannot tell you how many food-crazed expeditions these words have launched during my few years in Okinawa. Hometown cravings are not taken lightly in my household, sometimes days, weeks even before a suitable replacement is found. Today’s hunt had been two weeks in the making, [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY ANGI BRZYCKI Last march I was working on a project for Tohoku with a group of friends and we’d meet regularly at Naha High school. After we met for the first time, it was suggested by one of the teachers that we go out for indian curry across the street. There are a [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY ANNA TIENTER As a half-Japanese person here in Okinawa, I am blessed to have my family nearby at all times. In fact most of them are very close to Foster in the village of Kitanakagusuku. This is where the Nakamura House and the Nakagusuku castle ruins are both located. Kitanakagusuku: don’t be intimidated [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY KRISTY WELLS Being stationed overseas has its challenges. One challenge is produce selection at the commissaries. Let’s face it – everyone eats some sort of fresh produce at some point. Everyone! I close my eyes and I return to our last stateside base (and when we leave here it will have been 5+ [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY ERIN SCHALK Wadaya Food Being a newly diagnosed celiac presents many challenges, particularly when living in a foreign country. Beginning Japanese textbooks do not teach you how to say: “Excuse me, does this have wheat, barley, rye, or anything with gluten, or anything that has been cross-contaminated with gluten?” I foolishly took a [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY JESS WHEELER Hi,  my name is Jess and when I was four I was diagnosed with Celiac's disease.  This means that I have to follow a strict gluten free diet.  While this disease is somewhat rare I am by no means the only person in this boat.  Now at 31 I feel like I may be able to provide some [...]

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Recently, we received an email from Cindy asking for help regarding gluten-free options on Oki.  We don't have a post specifically about this, so thought we'd bring the question to all of our readers for help.   Hello. My name is Cindy. My husband and I were both Marines stationed on Okinawa 2001-2004. Our first son [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY MARY RICHARDSON Looking for a local shop that supplies organic food staples? Well, you’re in luck. One afternoon I was driving along in Okinawa City and noticed the Organic and Natural Market.    I stopped to check out this tiny store and found a goldmine of organic and macrobiotic diet foods, including a [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY JANNINE MYERS The festive season is quickly approaching and with it comes an atmosphere of jubilant anticipation, or for some, reservation as they ponder the number of calories they’re likely to gain! If you happen to be among those in the latter category, then this post may be of interest to you. Ever [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY DASHA GARIEPY In case you’ve ever wondered what those cheerful store clerks are chirping at you when you walk in the door, it’s “Irashaimase!” which translates to “Welcome!” I’ve been practicing this phrase over and over, much to the amusement of my Japanese host family. It sounds deceptively simple: Ee-rah-shay-mah-say. However, the “rah” [...]

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