history

Cuisine:

More than meets the eye: 'Dead bodies are buried under cherry blossoms'

Ah, the beauty of the flowers. The parties with friends under picturesque trees. The wonderful feeling that comes with knowing spring has arrived. There’s nothing quite like cherry blossom season in...

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Travel

Cuisine:

Exploring Okinawa: Gushikawa Castle offers picturesque landscape

Not far from Cafe and Gallery Umito are the picturesque ruins of the Gushikawa Castle. There isn't much to appreciate structure-wise as there is very little left of what must have been an impressive building with a magnificent backdrop.

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Travel

Cuisine:

Exploring Okinawa: 9 historical sites foreigners should visit

Okinawa was formerly called the “Ryukyu Kingdom” from the 14th to 16th century. Nine structures and ruins symbolizing the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom are registered as “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu” World Heritage sites.

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Travel

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Exploring Okinawa: 2 caves offer glimpse into deadly WWII battle

A short drive from Murasaki Mura are two caves with historical significance: Chibichiri Gama and Shimuku Gama. These caves were used during World War II and now provide a glimpse into what happened in the early days of the Battle of Okinawa.

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Education

Cuisine:

Servicemember’s mobile museum shares stories of teenage life on the Japanese homefront

Growing up (mostly) in the continental United States, when I learned about World War II and world events, they generally happened somewhere else.

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Travel

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Exploring Okinawa: Beauty and Tragedy at Arasaki Beach

Cape Arasaki is Okinawa’s southernmost point but on my recent trip to Itoman, home of the Okinawa’s last battlefield, I put off seeing it for a different unnamed point along those cliffs to look for a special memorial.

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Travel

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My Paradise: Spend a Day on Lantau Island, Hong Kong

Lantau Island is Hong Kong’s largest surrounding island. Hong Kong actually has 250 little islands off its coast; most of them are uninhabited.

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Travel

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Military spouse retraces footsteps of late grandfather on Okinawa

As the world is becoming more internationally traveled, there are better opportunities to explore, discover, and find areas that have different meanings to different people. Knowledge of the natives’ culture and beliefs enhances a trip and makes experiencing a new part of the world a once in a lifetime opportunity. Personal pieces of paradise are...

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Food & Drink

Cuisine: Japanese

The history behind the sweet potato in Japan

In Japan and Okinawa, the beloved sweet potato is considered the taste of autumn.

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Travel

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Northern Saitama filled with history, natural beauty

Kumagaya and surrounding areas in the northern Saitama area were the center of many visitors’ attentions in 2019 due to being host to some of the Rugby World Cup games.

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Food & Drink

Cuisine:

Taste of Okinawa: Why taco rice became a favorite dish

Nothing says fast food in the south of Japan like “tako-raisu!” And 2021 marks the 37th birthday of this signature Okinawan dish, according to local lore.

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Food & Drink

Cuisine: Japanese

Taste of Japan: 8 Japanese foods even picky eaters will love

Japanese food is absolutely amazing, but it’s also completely different in taste, presentation, and texture from dishes in many Western countries.

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Food & Drink

Cuisine:

Speakin' Japanese: Delicious dinner discussion

Sushi, tempura, savory ‘okonomiyaki’ pancakes – there are so many yummy edibles in Japan that you shouldn’t miss during your stay. Sample some of this lingo the next time you’re at a local restaurant to experience some of these specialties.

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Food & Drink

Cuisine: Japanese

Why Japanese people slurp noodles

Japan is a country which has many unique cultures within it, and slurping is one of the most unusual characteristics! This can be a huge surprise when you come across it for the first time as it often is considered as a bad behavior at meal in many other countries

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Food & Drink

Cuisine:

Egyptian Kitchen: Delicious, nutritious Koshary Bowls

What is Koshary you ask? It’s Egypt’s national dish. It’s Egyptian street food. It’s Egyptian comfort food.

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Food & Drink

Cuisine:

Baking with the family: Homemade zucchini apple bread

Preheat oven to 350, combine zucchini apple ingredients in a large bowl. Spray 2 standard loaf baking containers with non-stick grease and pour the mixture.