Party In The USA: Okinawa Version

I received a fun email from Brenda last week about a video her son directed and edited and had uploaded to YouTube.  In the last couple of days, the video seems to have gone "viral" on FaceBook as well!  Here's the story behind the video:

CONTRIBUTED BY BRENDA JONES

This is a music video featuring Okinawa.  It was directed and edited by Josh Jones, a Kubasaki graduate who is headed to Stanford University this fall.  Both current Kubasaki and Kadena high school students and alumni star.  The kids see this video as a celebration of the island and Josh says he made it partly to have fun and subconsciously to bid farewell to a home he sees as a large part of his life.  Whether you want to reminisce about your amazing experiences there or be reassured about your future stay on Okinawa, this video is great for getting a feel for the island.  We're sure some of you will want to try and guess where each and every shot was filmed.  Sites featured in the project include areas of American Village (Mihama), the WestPac, White Beach, Plaza Pool, Torii Beach, Kubasaki High School, Yomitan, the Chinese Gardens, Shuri Castle, and Kokusai Street.  And if you're wondering, Josh is the guy who opens the video.

And if you enjoy this video, you may have fun with its less relevant but still very Okinawan predecessor:

Jahana Kippan - Okinawa Sweets

CONTRIBUTED BY EUGENE MCFADDEN

One of the greatest things about Okinawa is the way it hides all manner of little cultural treasures and experiences; if one knows where to look it is simply amazing what one can find, often in the most unlikely of places.  

One such great find sits just off Kokusai Dori, at Shobosha Dori (Fire Station Street); here lies the Jahana-Kippan shop, makers of fine and traditional Okinawan sweets.  These sweets, Kippan and Tougatsuke, have a history that dates back to the courts of the Ryukyu monarchy and are still made in the shop using traditional methods that have been preserved in the family for many generations.  The shop itself has been owned and run by the same family for five generations with the sixth generation currently in training to take over.  

Kippan itself is an orange-based sweet that works well with Japanese tea, a sweet dessert wine or even just a simple quality coffee.  It also works well as an after dinner palate cleanser.  

Tougatsuke is made from locally grown winter melons (tougan or shibui) and is very sweet.  It goes very well with coffee and can compliment a number of dishes, including cheese and pork.  The family has recently launched a green tea powder coated Tougan which is proving to be very popular. 

I love my food and must confess that when it came time to select either the Kippan or the Tougan, I simply bought both.  I nibbled the Kippan over several days with my morning coffee and the Tougan I tried with several dishes. Tougatsuke is my favorite of the sweets and I have tried it both by itself and with a variety of dishes.  I can heartily recommend serving it on crackers with a good blue cheese as the flavors work surprisingly well together.  

The staff of the shop are very friendly and are able to speak English as well as Japanese.  Husband and wife team, James and Hisano, whose family has been making sweets for 130 years, run the shop together since relocating out to Okinawa from England last year. They are usually on hand to offer a friendly welcome or just help out with directions to the shop on the phone if needed. The shop is an experience in itself with shelves adorned with Okinawan treasures and pictures of famous clients, including Princess Kiko of the Japanese Imperial Family and Yamada Yuki, the creator of the Okinawan hit TV series, Ryujin Mabuya. 

As well as a physical shop, the family also operates a website from which sweets can be ordered for delivery.  The website is in both English and Japanese and there are regular updates on their blog and Twitter accounts.  It is also possible to call the shop and place an order in English or Japanese.  

Hours:  9:30am - 7pm, Closed Sundays

Telephone: 0988673687

Payment:  Yen or USD

Directions:  The Jahana Kippan shop is located just off Kokusaidori ('International Street') in central Naha, about halfway between the City Government Offices (Shiyakusho) and the junction with Starbucks and the main covered market entrance. At the International Plaza Hotel turn right up the hill, walk past the fire station on the left and the shop is a further 50 metres up on the right hand side. If taking a taxi ask for "Matsuo Shobosha mae Jahanakippanten".   Or click here for map.

PCS: Positive Change of Scenery, VII -- Kid Questions

Join the Howe Family as they prepare to PCS to Okinawa.  If you've missed any of their journey, you can find more here:  PCS I, II, III, IV, V, VI

CONTRIBUTED BY RJ HOWE

Sorry about the delay in updates to our ongoing PCS adventure; life threw us a bit of a change up.  My wife’s grandfather passed away and between getting her to Maine, playing Mr. Mom, soccer practice and college I just didn’t have the time to string together a few words.  My wife did bring up a good point though.  She said this was a blessing in disguise.  She was home within 24 hours of finding out her grandfather had passed away and was able to be there to support her mother and family throughout the entire process.  If he had passed away after we arrived at Kadena, it would have taken much longer to get there, if she decided to go at all.  I just wanted to thank Joelle in a public forum for understanding I couldn’t write as often recently.   So, thanks, Joelle…

I’ve been writing these journals for a bit and my kids wanted to get into the act.  So after broaching the subject with Joelle we decided a Q&A type format would be best.  I wrote out a few simple questions and asked for candid feedback.  Without any further ado, Q&A with Makayla and Alexis.

1.  You’ve been reading up on Okinawa quite a bit during the last few months.  What are you most looking forward to doing in Okinawa?  Why?

Makayla:  I’m looking forward to going to the beach!  We had a beach in Italy and we went all the time.  It was so much fun and we don’t have a beach here.

Alexis:  I want to try all sorts of different types of foods.  I really want to experience the different flavors and textures.  Except tofu…that tastes funny.

2.  What are you going to miss about being in the states?  Why?

Makayla:  I’m going to miss the mall, because if has all my favorite stores (Hollister).  I’m going to miss cable TV and I’m upset I’m not going to be able to drive when I’m 16.

Alexis:  I’m going to miss all of my friends.  I feel like they’re my sisters.

3.  What aren’t you going to miss?

Makayla:  Wind blowing dust everywhere.  

Alexis:  It’s so HOT here.  And windy and dusty. 

4.  If you could ask the Okinawa Hai readers one question, what would it be?

Makayla:  Is the on-base housing nice and will I have a big room?

Alexis:  How are the schools on Kadena?

 

Well Okinawa Hai, can you give my kids any info?

Sea Dragon - Tropical Café Bar

CONTRIBUTED BY MONETTE EAMES

So it's another toasty, summer day in Okinawa.  A day at Araha Beach and you're wanting something chilly and refreshing to accompany that ocean breeze. You're craving something sweet and cool, but you're tired of the usual shaved ice by Pirate Park.  You don't want to get another soft drink from the soda machines.  So what is there to do?  Why not try something a little out of the norm?  

Take a short walk and head north on Araha beach side walk.   Right before you go over the bridge, you will find Tropical Café Bar Sea Dragon right beside the canal.  With a little peek inside, you’ll see that there’s not much—a couple of stools and tables and barely any decorations.  When we stopped by after having dinner across the street at Jet City Burgers, it just so happened that it was Tropical Café Bar Sea Dragon’s first day of business.  When we walked in, there were a bunch of people in turquoise shirts sitting down and we thought they were customers.  However, once they saw us, they all dispersed to the counters and greeted us with smiles and bows and Konichiwas.       

The menu is simple-- Soft serve ice-cream, shave ice, or bubble tea. Snow Ice (shave ice) comes in mango, milk, or strawberry.  There was a part of the menu next to the Snow Ice flavors that seemed to be more flavors, but when we asked what they were, the man told us that they were toppings--chocolate, strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, and milk. The shave ice is not the typical shave ice that you usually get everywhere.  You know, clumps of crushed ice topped with sugary, candied syrup.  Here, the ice pieces look as if they were literally shaved with a razor.  They melt in your mouth quickly, but not before you notice that the flavor you picked has a touch of cream in it-- as if they mixed some kind of milky cream with the flavor you picked and froze it, only to take it out to shave it.  

Although we did not order toppings on our Snow Ice, they gave us mangoes on the side.  And with the prices of mangoes in Okinawa, 500 Yen for the shave ice and the mangoes was a steal!  The tapioca drink was a relaxing, fresh approach to a drink. It takes a little getting used to the first time, but it does get addicting.  However, be careful, because like my first time with the drink, I almost choked as when I slurped, a few tapioca balls snuck their way through that huge straw and into my throat!  

The people were very courteous and friendly.  This place hits the spot when you’re craving something yummy and cool after a day at Araha.  We can’t wait to go again!

Directions:  From Foster Gate 4 (Spot Gate), turn left and go straight.  You will cross 58.  At ETWS, turn left.  Turn Right at Silver Shop/ Sunflower Apartment. Or if you know where Jet City Burgers is, it’s right across.  

Hours:  Mondays- closed; Everyday- 11am to midnight

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