okinawa hai!

This post was originally published on February 3, 2008. We’re pulling it out of the archives for you to enjoy.   Satsubun, while not a national holiday, is always celebrated on February 3rd, which is next Friday. This gives you some time to go buy some edamame, an ogre mask, and get to throwing! You may [...]

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This post was originally published on February 16, 2011.  We’re pulling it out of the archives so that all of you may have the opportunity (weather-permitting!) to attend this year’s festival, which will be running through February 5th this year.  CONTRIBUTED BY MEGAN PARKER Sunflowers make the world a brighter place – and the sunflower [...]

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This post was originally published on December 31, 2010.  We’re pulling it out of the archives for those of you who are looking for a fun evening activity that can help you keep the holiday spirit going for a little while longer.  This display will be available until February 14th. CONTRIBUTED BY MEGAN HOOSER I [...]

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This post was originally published on January 9, 2010.  We’re pulling it out of the archives so that all of you – especially our newer readers – can learn about this traditional Japanese holiday.  Seijin-no-hi is celebrated on the second Monday of January, which is January 9th this year. CONTRIBUTED BY JANNINE MYERS Happy New [...]

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This post was originally published on December 12, 2009.  We’re pulling it out of the archives for all our readers – especially our newer ones – so that you might learn about Japanese New Year’s traditions while partaking of your own.  I wish you will have a good new year! Yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai! [...]

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This post was originally published on January 1, 2010.  We’re pulling it out of the archives for all of our readers – especially our newer ones – so that you might start this new tradition yourselves.  I wish you will have a good new year! Yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai! よいお年をお迎えください。   source CONTRIBUTED BY [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY MONETTE EAMES Back in the states, I remember going to places like Macon, Ga., and Washington D.C. for their Cherry Blossom Festivals.  Then there were the other places that also had these beautiful blossoms—San Diego, L.A., Philadelphia, Seattle, New Jersey, and New York.  Last year, we were blessed to finally move to Japan, [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY MARY RICHARDSON       In addition to all the  Holiday Illuminations going on around Okinawa, the Okinawa Zoo Park is hosting a blow out holiday extravaganza this year.  From Dec 23- Dec 28, Okinawa Zoo Park has a special holiday program including dance and musical performances, super laser beam lights shows, Bingo contests, and [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY MARY RICHARDSON Having been on island for one year now, my husband and I have experienced Okinawa in all its glory during different times of year and seasons. Though there aren’t drastic transitions in the weather like we might experience in the States, the passing of time here is marked by an array of changing produce in the farmer’s markets and various local [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY JANNINE MYERS   Photos compliments of Pamela Oliveras We’ve all seen the eisa dancers, or at least heard of them, but do we know why they dance and how it all started? For those of you who don’t already know, eisa has its roots in a centuries-old Buddhist tradition whereby many of the priests [...]

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