Reiwa

Cuisine:

Japan to celebrate new emperor’s birthday Feb. 23

While Americans celebrate the first President’s birthday on Feb. 17, a few days later Japan will also be celebrating their own emperor’s birthday on Feb. 23.

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Community News

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Crowds and pomp as Japan’s new emperor to be enthroned Oct. 22

Japan’s new emperor will be enthroned Oct. 22, a day declared a national holiday. Most public offices will be closed and some public transportation will be on a weekend/holiday schedule.

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Community News

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Get ready for 10 days of traffic, closures, crowds across Japan

If you’ve spent time in Japan, you know cities clear out and airports, train stations and tourist traps are all abuzz from late April to early May. It’s a time of year that presents “golden” opportunities to travel Japan – or to stick close to home and bask in an empty city free from the crowds and mayhem.

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Community News

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Did you know?: Gengo, Japan's imperial era calendar

In Japan, we follow both the Western calendar interchangeably with the “Gengo” calendar. Gengo is the name of the Imperial era for the Japanese calendar. 2019 is Heisei 31 in Japan. On April 1st, Japan revealed the new era name as the current emperor will abdicate the throne to his son at the end of this month. Beginning May 1st of this year, the...

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Food & Drink

Cuisine:

Oodles of cold noodles

This cold noodle salad is quick, light, and won’t have you spending more than five minutes in front of a stove. The prep work is easy and the final dish comes together quickly. Boiling the noodles and a quick sear are the only things that will tear you away from your other summer duties.

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Food & Drink

Cuisine: Japanese

Shirasa Shokudo serves up seafood bowls with original sauce

An old Ryukyuan legend has it that a young couple accidentally fell from the sky onto Kouri Island, becoming the first inhabitants of what we know call the Okinawan islands.

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Food & Drink

Cuisine: Thai

Get a spice of life at Jai Thai on Okinawa

Spicy Asian food always seems to hit the spot when it’s hot outside. Your sweat and the taste of hot peppers go well together.

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Food & Drink

Cuisine: Japanese

Kijimunaa near Camp Foster serves omu-taco rice

You may have heard and even sampled Okinawa’s signature so-called soul food, taco rice – south-of-the-boarder-seasoned ground beef atop rice with shredded cheese, lettuce and tomato. But, what about its cousin, “omu-taco rice”?