EXPLORE OKINAWA
WITH MCCS TOURS+
Battle Sites Tour
May 3, 9 a.m.—5 p.m.
Adults, $23.50; Children (3—11), $13; Children (under 3), $5
Visit the Battle of Okinawa Historical Collection on Camp Kinser. Then relive the battle with a history lesson. Explore the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters and end the day at Peace Prayer Park. Bring dollars for lunch and yen for admission fees.
Sweet and Salty Tour
May 3, 9 a.m.—2 p.m.
Adults, $15; Children (3—11), $9; Children (under 3), $5
See the processes behind two of Okinawa’s traditional trades. Visit a sugarcane factory to learn how Okinawa’s brown sugar is made, then head to a sea salt refinery to find out how salt is produced. Bring yen for lunch and purchases.
Northern Highlights
May 4, 9 a.m.—5 p.m.
Adults, $35; Children (3—11), $19; Children (under 3), $5
Visit Nago Pineapple Winery, Nago Glass Factory, and the Orion Beer Factory. Then enjoy
a yakiniku-style lunch (included) at Fruits Land Garden. Bring yen for purchases.
Southern Hills Ice Skating
May 9, 11 a.m.—4p.m.
Adults, $33.25; Children (12—17), $30; Children (7—11), $21; Children (3—6), $18; Children (under 3), $5
More than just an ice skating rink, Southern Hill offers batting cages, a bowling alley, video games, and more. Bring yen for food and activities. Note: hats and gloves are required for skating.
2008-05-02
island tours - May 2
2008-04-26
Step Up to the Mic - The Lyrical Lounge
Do you want your words to be heard? Then step up to the mic at Kinser Surfside’s Lyrical Lounge on Saturday, April 26 at 8 p.m. Don’t let your heart overload or your soul suppress, pour out your perspectives for others to absorb. Let the words roll from your tongue as you share your truths, convictions, ambitions, observations, and dreams. Wax philosophically or spit verse—whatever way is your way to portray yourself, do it.
The Lyrical Lounge has been steadily attracting more poets, lyricists, and other verbal artists over the years. To supplement this growing creative voice, MCCS Entertainment has added smooth jazz accompaniment by Yemaya, a local jazz group, for your listening and poetic pleasure. So, while you speak your words, the musical background will help pave the road to your
poetic bliss. Let the ambiance of this evening captivate you while you do the same for others. Whether you are deeply philosophical or relatively simple in your words, the stage will be yours.
The Lyrical Lounge is open to all ranks and services island-wide, but only adults ages 18 and up will be admitted. Performers’ stage time will be limited to five minutes. If you’d like to strut your poetic stuff, sign up with MCCS Entertainment by emailing mccsentertainment@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org no later than Thursday, April 24.
2008-04-25
island tours - April 25
EXPLORE OKINAWA WITH MCCS TOURS+
Yotsudake Dinner Theater
Friday, April 25; 6—10 p.m.
Adults $69; Children (6—11) $35; Children (under 6) $5
Savor the flavors of Okinawan cuisine while being entertained by traditional music and dancers. Choose between lobster or chicken dinner. Tour price includes transportation, dinner, and sPublish Posthow. Bring yen for extra drinks.
Lily Festival on Ie Island
Saturday, April 26; 8:30 a.m.—5:30p.m.
Adult $32; Children (6—11) $18; Children (3—5) $11
Visit Ie Island and enjoy the view of over one million lilies at Lily Field Park. Have fun at a
variety of local performances, including drum shows, Japanese music, and Ryukyu dance. Bring yen for food and purchases.
Shuri Castle/Naha
Sunday, April 27; 9 a.m.—5 p.m.
Adults $18; Chilrren (3-11) $11; Children (under 3) $5
Tour the only standing castle on Okinawa, see Shureimon Gate, and view the ponds where boat races were held to entertain the court. After lunch on Kokusai Street, spend the afternoon at Fukushu-en Chinese Garden and Naminoue Shinto Shrine. Bring yen for lunch and purchases.
Tunnel Rats Tour
Sunday, April 27; 9 a.m.—5 p.m.
Adults, $18; Children (7—11), $11
Join Tours+ for the tunnel tour of a lifetime. We’ll explore numerous caves that served as bunkers and shelters during WWII. Included in the tour is a stop at the Battle of Okinawa Historical Collection. Bring dollars for lunch.
2008-04-20
island tours - April 18
EXPLORE OKINAWA
WITH MCCS TOURS+
Fun Day at Marriott Resort
Saturday, April 19; 10 a.m.—4 p.m.
Adults, $45; Children (6—11), $26; Children (3—5), $11; Children (0—4), $5
Enjoy the ultimate in Okinawan beach relaxation at this resort. Enjoy the garden pool (with water slide), training room, and sauna. Bring yen for lunch and spending. Note: No children under 3 will be allowed.
Extreme Tunnel Rats
Saturday, April 19; 9 am.—5 p.m.
Adults, $18; Children (7—11), $11
Come join the explorers of Tours+ on a tunnel tour of a lifetime. We’ll explore numerous caves that served as bunkers and shelters during WWII. Included in the tour is a stop at the Battle of Okinawa Historical Collection. Bring dollars for lunch. Note: Participants should wear old clothing and sturdy, comfortable shoes and bring a hat, flashlight, and gloves. This tour is not recommended for children under 7.
Hedo Point & Kongou
Sunday, April 20; 9 a.m.—5 p.m.
Adults, $24.50; Children (3-11), $15; Children (0-2) $5
Hike among the amazing rock formations and banyan tree roots of this beautiful park. After lunch at Hedo Point, enjoy a trip to Banta precipice. Note: Hiking can be strenuous and is not recommended for individuals with health problems.
Okinawa World/Himeyuri Noto
Sunday, April 20; 9 a.m.—5 p.m.
Adults, $29; Children (3-11), $16; Children (0-2), $5
Tour Gyokusendo, then enjoy an eisa drum show, a glass-blowing demonstration, a pottery village, and an awamori shop. Also tour the reptile museum (Y600). Visit Himeyuri Noto to hear the history of the Student Nurse Corps from WWII (Y300). Bring yen for lunch, purchases, and admission fees.
2008-04-11
island tours - April 11
Okinawa: Back to the Future
Saturday, April 12; 9 a.m.—5 p.m. Adults, $18; Children (3—11), $11; Children (0—2), $5
Visit the new Okinawa Prefectural Museum and learn about the island’s past, present, and future. After enjoying the museum, we’ll visit Naha Main Place Shopping Center to enjoy lunch and the modern Japanese shopping experience. Bring yen for lunch, admission (400), and purchases.
Hiji Falls & Okuma
Saturday, April 12; 8:30 a.m.—5 p.m. Adults, $18; Children (3—11), $11;
Children (0—2), $5
Enjoy a hike to Hiji Falls and work up an appetite. After the hike, we’ll have a late lunch at Okuma. Bring yen for admission to Hiji Falls (200) and dollars for lunch. Note: Hiking can be strenuous and is not recommended for individuals with health problems.
Okinawa Highlights
Sunday, April 13; 9 a.m.—5 p.m. Adults, $18; Children (3—11), $11; Children (0—2), $5
Visit some of Okinawa’s top tourist destinations, including Zakimi Castle ruins, Bob Point, an Itoman glass blowing factory, and Peace Prayer Park. Bring money for lunch and yen for admission fees (800) and purchases.
Battle Sites
Sunday, April 13; 9 a.m.—5 p.m. Adults, $23.50; Children (3—11). $13; Children (0—2), $5
Visit the Battle of Okinawa Historical Collection on Camp Kinser. Then relive the battle with a history lesson. Explore the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters and end the day at Peace Prayer Park. Bring dollars for lunch and yen for admission fees. Note: Participants should wear comfortable, non-skid shoes and bring a hat and flashlight.
For more information, contact MCCS Tours+: Camp Foster, 646-3502 ; Camp Hansen, 623-6344 ; Camp Kinser, 637-2744
Bitterness at Sugar Loaf
Any breakthrough here would have exposed the Japanese flank to attack. Fully aware of Sugar Loaf’s strategic importance, the Japanese defended it tenaciously. The siege at Sugar Loaf began on May 12, 1945. The fighting here was desperate and the casualties suffered on both sides were high. It took eleven attempts, but on May 18, the Marines prevailed.
Two days after it was taken, the Japanese launched an all-out counterattack in an effort to reclaim Sugar Loaf Hill. Over the course of the week-long battle, over 2,000 American troops were killed or were removed from the fighting due to battle fatigue. The actual number of Japanese casualties remains unknown but is presumed to be much higher.
Today, Sugar Loaf Hill sits on the outskirts of downtown Naha City. It’s a short five-minute stroll from the Omoromachi Monorail Station. The hill is located across the Street from the Duty Free Shops. A Catholic Church and a family restaurant occupy its eastern slope and apartment complexes including an athletic field are located to the south. Near the top of the hill is a small marker along with a plaque.
This small plaque is all that is left to note the sacrifice and heroism that took place over 60 years ago.
Teruya Music & Charlie's Tacos
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Okinawa's Best Tacos!
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2F OKINAWAYA Bldg.
NAHA OPEN DAILY
11:00—21:00
Stop by our Chuo Park Ave. location, too!
Open Daily 1000-2100
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Take-out OK!
U.S. Dollars OK
Sorry, no credit cards.
(098)937-4627
We’re located only a short walk from KAB Gate #2
Come by today!
2008-04-09
Pedestrian Sundays on Kokusai
Everybody knows about Kokusai-dori, Naha’s famous International Street. Did you know on Sundays, from noon to 6 p.m., it’s transformed into Okinawa’s biggest shopping mall? No vehicles - just pedestrians. Street performers, kids’ games and tables occupy the middle of the road.
Walk the length of the street without having to worry about cars. Let your kids blow giant bubbles, shop to your heart’s content or find yourself a nice outdoor seat for a cup of coffee. Experience the new Kokusai.
Monument recalls wartime woes
In early 1945 the war drew closer to Okinawa. The local citizenry - thousands of people from across the island - were mobilized and placed in labor camps to build massive fortifications. Perhaps out of desperation, the military trained school boys to fight as soldiers.
The boys were given a rifle, 20 rounds of ammunition two grenades and instructed to never surrender. When their ammunition was exhausted, they had to use the bayonet. If they had no bayonet, they were to use the rifle as a club or throw rocks. One grenade was made to be thrown at the enemy and the other was for dispatching themselves.
During the waning days of the battle, boys who tried to surrender were often shot by Japanese troops before they could reach the safety of the American lines.
The monument is located on the back side of Mabuni Hill. You can walk to the monument by going a few hundred meters around the hill from the main parking area.
A piece of peace
Story and photo by Keith T. Graff
At least once a year my wife and I drive to Itoman and visit the Cornerstones of Peace. Her grandfather’s name is inscribed in granite there. He died in the line of duty during the Battle of Burma. His name is inscribed because he was from Okinawa.
On our last trip to the park, we also visited the Peace Museum. The new museum is spacious and modern. It opened April 1, 2000. That was the 55th anniversary of the start of the land campaign. The museum displays the events leading up to the battle, the suffering caused by war and how the Okinawan people rebuilt afterward.
Five rooms, each with a separate theme, constitute the main display. The first is the “Road to the Battle of Okinawa.” It follows the history of Okinawa leading up to the battle and the events that led to the final conflict.
The second is “The Progress of the Battle.” This room shows the harsh realities of the battle from an Okinawan perspective.
Rooms three and four are entitled “Battleground Hell” and “Personal Testimonies.” They focus on the suffering endured by the Okinawans.
The last room is called “Okinawa, Keystone of the Pacific.” This room is dedicated to life on the island after the battle. It has displays pertaining to refugee camps, the American administration years, the reversion movement and the current peace movement.
The Okinawa Peace Memorial Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. Admission is 300 yen for adults and 150 yen for children. Groups of 20 or more receive discounts. Visitors can check out free audio services at the counter. The device offers translations in English, Chinese, Korean and Spanish. There is a large library and a reading room available with hundreds of books on the subject of peace. No photography, smoking, eating or drinking of beverages is allowed inside. Let us all learn from history.
2008-04-01
Camp Kinser helps local homeless get back on their feet
Kaori Tanahara
Inspired by the humanitarian spirit of one local non-profit organization, Camp Kinser has been giving a helping hand to Okinawa’s homeless for more than a year.
As a part of its community relations effort, Camp Kinser regularly donates food and clothes to the Promise Keepers, an Urasoe City-based non-profit organization which provides local homeless people food, shelter and rehabilitation programs, according to David Evans, deputy commander, Camp Kinser.
Once or twice each week, the NPO goes aboard Camp Kinser to collect donations from the commissary. Donations include bread, snack foods, candies, bottled water and soft drinks that either have limited shelf-life or are excess stock.
Individuals and families, especially those who are about to leave Okinawa, also donate non-perishable food and clothes.
Promise Keepers has been collecting food and clothing for local homeless individuals since 2000, according to Shoryo Yamauchi, a group spokesperson.
“Donations from Camp Kinser average about three tons a month and comprise about 70 percent of all the food we provide for the homeless,” he said. Other donations come from local businesses, churches, and individuals, according to Yamauchi.
Donated food and drinks are first provided to about 55 homeless persons who live temporarily at the organization’s shelter. The remaining items are taken to seven different public parks, including Naha’s Yogi Park, where NPO volunteers feed an average of 300 homeless people every weekend.
Camp Kinser’s first donation was in October 2006. That was one month after Yamauchi met Evans at an annual charity concert the Promise Keepers hosts at Yogi Park to support the homeless and raise awareness of their plight among Okinawans.
There, Yamauchi told Evans about the organization and its goals.
When Evans learned that the NPO was in constant need of donations, he sought to get the entire camp involved.
“Our camp has always tried to help our community and our neighbors,” said Evans. “I thought this was a good opportunity to help out the Okinawan community and build on our relationship
to make it even stronger.”
Evans first talked to Col. Paul Greenwood, the camp commander at the time, about the NPO. Greenwood agreed that the organization was one the base should support. After that, Evans appealed to the camp’s tenant agencies. “All have been very supportive of donating to the
organization,” he said.
Yamauchi said the number of the homeless on Okinawa increases each year. “We sometimes have difficulty getting new supporters,“ he said. “We really appreciate the camp leadership’s understanding and quick responses to our requests.”
“Many who participate in our program get back on their feet,” said Yamauchi. “One piece of bread can turn around a person’s life,” he added. The people we feed all know where their food comes from and that the Marine Corps on Okinawa is reaching out to them.”
2008-03-21
Honoring Okinawa’s wartime fallen
Of all the Battle of Okinawa sites that U.S. servicemen and servicewomen stationed here might want to see, I strongly recommend the Himeyuri Monument in Itoman. It is a sacred site dedicated to the memory of 194 school girls who died during the battle.
Their ages ranged from 15 to 19. They had all passed rigorous examinations in order to gain admission into prestigious schools. Many of them hoped to become teachers upon graduation. They were commissioned into service to work as nurses in March 1945. Many went to work in field hospitals. Often they left the safety of the shelters to fetch water and supplies. The working conditions were at best horrendous.
The vast majority of the girls died after the Star Lily Corps was unexplainably dissolved in June 1945. They were told they were on their own and ordered to evade capture at all costs even if it meant taking their own lives.
The Himeyuri Monument was built on April 7, 1946. A museum was built in 1989 to further commemorate the tragedy and dedicated to the girls’ memory. Many artifacts that belonged to the girls as well as pictures of them before the battle are on display.
To get there take Highway 331 south through Itoman, past Cape Kyan and toward Peace Prayer Park. Watch for the signs. The monument is located on the left side. Plenty of parking is on the right. Admission is 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for high school students and 100 yen for those in junior high and elementary school. The park is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year round.
For folks that lack personal transportation, taking in a base-sponsored battle-site tour is a great way to experience and learn. Most tours include stops at Kakazu Ridge, General Buckner’s Monument, the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters, Mabuni Full and Peace Prayer Park, where the fighting came to an end.
