okinawa hai!

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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Back in 2008 we had a regular contributor, Kaho, whose first language was Japanese.  She wrote many posts with helpful information about commonly used and needed Japanese expressions, often added to the ends of her posts about shopping.  We’re turning her “Japanese Corner” tidbits into posts of their own so that you can hopefully feel [...]

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Back in 2008 we had a regular contributor, Kaho, whose first language was Japanese.  She wrote many posts with helpful information about commonly used and needed Japanese expressions, often added to the ends of her posts about shopping.  We’re turning her “Japanese Corner” tidbits into posts of their own so that you can hopefully feel [...]

Read the full story

Back in 2008 we had a regular contributor, Kaho, whose first language was Japanese.  She wrote many posts with helpful information about commonly used and needed Japanese expressions, often added to the ends of her posts about shopping.  We’re turning her “Japanese Corner” tidbits into posts of their own so that you can hopefully feel [...]

Read the full story

Back in 2008 we had a regular contributor, Kaho, whose first language was Japanese.  She wrote many posts with helpful information about commonly used and needed Japanese expressions, often added to the ends of her posts about shopping.  We’re turning her “Japanese Corner” tidbits into posts of their own so that you can hopefully feel [...]

Read the full story

Back in 2008 we had a regular contributor, Kaho, whose first language was Japanese.  She wrote many posts with helpful information about commonly used and needed Japanese expressions, often added to the ends of her posts about shopping.  We’re turning her “Japanese Corner” tidbits into posts of their own so that you can hopefully feel [...]

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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 ERIN SCHALK This is the last in a series on learning Japanese on your own.  Click for Part I or Part II. TextFugu.com: Don’t panic!  Just because there is “fugu” in the name, doesn’t mean consuming potentially poisonous fish is necessary for furthering your Japanese studies!  TextFugu is actually a Japanese textbook – online. [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY ERIN SCHALK We are continuing a series on self-taught Japanese.  To read Part I, click HERE. Rosetta Stone vs. Mango Languages: We have all seen plenty of Rosetta Stone advertisements and know of its large price tag.  As military families, we can (thankfully!) avoid that cost by registering for an account through the [...]

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