Okinawa Santa Run

If you're looking for a fun, laid back event to attend around the holidays, the Okinawa Santa Run is for you.  The registration fee includes a one-size-fits all Santa suit for adults and a Santa hat for children.  The money raised goes to provide Christmas presents to children spending Christmas in local hospitals.


As with most things in Okinawa, the event is on island time.  We showed up about 1/2 and hour early to register and get ready for the run but the "run" didn't actually start until an hour after it was advertised.  This was actually fine by me as we didn't have any other specific plans until evening.


Besides, they had plenty of live entertainment to keep us occupied.  Among these were a band playing festive tunes, pop dancers, a jazz singer and many more.

I don't eat before a run so I didn't take part in devouring several of the local food venders stands.  However, the smells were divine.  There were also tents with local products for sale.

Also, participants were encouraged to walk in the "run" and enjoy American Village.  They even had incentive cards for participants to stop in various shops throughout as those shops were offering discounts and other goodies to race participants.


Parents with children in strollers were diverted from the run course or asked to turn around at one point because the course was not stroller friendly.  But there was free ice cream waiting back at the start/finish line and more entertainment lined up.

Our first Space-A Adventure

Steps to Space-A (in brief):
1.  Obtain your command sponsored letter for travel
2.  Sign up for the waitlist for your flight ASAP
3.  Show-up for role-call before the crack of dawn with ALL of your bags and EVERYONE that will be traveling with you (don't forget your passports!)
4.  Wait... Wait... Wait to see if you will actually be boarding the plane
5.  Go home or attempt another flight if they don't take you

*For more information, attend a Space-A brief or contact your Passenger Terminal*


Let the Adventure Begin!
Oh wait... that's right.  We have to make it there first, lol.
Let the attempt begin!

Day 1: Tokyo trip...

We woke the girls up at 4 am to go get on the plane. My husband's unit was scheduled to fly out that morning to Atsugi and we were going with them.

We arrived at the passenger's terminal and got checked in (bags and all) and were told we would be getting on the plane within the next hour or two as no one else was attempting to board the flight and there were plenty of seats available.  Yay!

We hung out in the playroom until we heard our names called.  Thinking it was time to board I gathered all our things and we made our way to the counter.  Unfortunately, another entire unit of Marines had showed up wanting passage to Atsugi so we would no longer be able to board our flight.  There it is... space available travel.  And now there was no longer space available for us.  Thus, My husband shipped out without us.

They put us on the top of the list for another flight to Atsugi that same day.  We spent a few more hours in the playroom and ate the breakfast I had packed.  Then found out we would not be catching that flight either.  There were no more flights to Atsugi that day, but there was one going to Yokota.

Since we were just trying to get to Tokyo and both bases are about the same distance away... sure, why not?  Sign us up for that flight.

Up until then, we would still be traveling with daddy once we got to Atsugi since their transportation to Tokyo had still not arrived.  Now, we were on our own.  I took the girls to get lunch and they fell asleep in the car.  While they napped, I went home and down-sized our luggage from 2 suitcases to 1 and lightened our backpacks.  We had a long road ahead of us and this momma knew she'd be carrying everything (if not everyone) by the end of it.  Not to mention trying to maneuver it all through public transportation.

We caught our third attempted Space-A flight to Yokota.  We were excited and happy to be on our way to Tokyo... until landing.  45 minutes of slowly lowering to plane for an extremely bumpy landing took it's toll.  2/3 girls got sick on the plane.

We picked up our luggage and cleaned up the best we could in the bathroom.  By the time we were done, we were the only people in the building except for two employees getting ready to lock up in 1/2 an hour.  After talking with the young service-member at the counter, he called us a cab to go to the train station we needed in Fussa.

So here we are in mainland (I've never been here before) at our first train station.  A mother with 2 kids just trying to get to Tokyo.  Someone forgot to mention that this far out of normal tourist areas there is literally NOTHING in English to help guide you and the station workers won't know how to communicate with you.

So... we're completely lost.  COMPLETELY LOST.  I mean, I have absolutely no clue what to do now and no way to find out in the place I am.  A very nice lady eventually offered to help us, but even she couldn't get the station worker to understand where we were trying to go and eventually had to leave.  Thank you for trying nice lady!

I ended up calling my husband, whose friend is married to a Japanese woman from Tokyo, and he sent me step by step instructions on where to go and which transfers to make.  As you can imagine, she is now one of my favorite people ever!  And I still haven't actually met her.

We finally got on the trains and made all the connections. 1/3 girls sick on train. AND O almost fell under the train on our last switch over and her shoe had to be rescued from the tracks.

We arrived at hotel at 11:30 pm. Everyone was settled and asleep by 12:30 am.

Today project reclaim this trip for happy fun begins! Got my shower so we're off to a good start.  grin emoticon

TCM: Eating Goat

If you are currently pregnant and overdue, Naomi-San says, "Go eat goat," which is tradition to bring about labor. The meat is very good, like a stew meat. Naomi-San says it is very similar in taste and texture to deer meat.

Goat meat benefits the heart, spleen, digestive system, kidneys, reproductive system, fights fatigue and weakness, gives strength, nourishes body and brings warmth. It is also well-known for arousing sexual desire.

TCM holds that goat meat is especially good in winter as it contains hot energy, warming and powering your system. The infusion of yang energy can help relieve blood stasis (poor circulation, menstrual irregularities). 

**Do not eat goat meat if you have high blood pressure or other cardiovascular conditions.  The locals always come across people who have high blood pressure eating goats, and say they almost felt like their veins were going to explode.  So if you have high blood pressure, goat is not recommended. **

(Info taken directly from Okinawa Natural Herb Meal FB page - words adjusted slightly.)
(Photo from https://s3-ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/okinawaclips3/ja/images/2508.jpg)

Okagesamade

There are many Beautiful Japanese phrases that cannot be translated. 美しい日本語でなかなか通訳できない言葉のひとつ『お陰様で』 の解説。"Okagesamade" (Oh-kah-gay-sa-ma-deh) is one of them.

Generally it is translated as, "thanks for asking" but the true meaning behind it is,
"With everyone's help, being in our shadow, everything is going well or everything went well" 

This phrase is used on a daily basis for answering, "How are you doing?", "How is your work?" or "How is someone's condition?" The Japanese will say "okagesamade".

This phrase encompasses gratitude for the efforts of everyone involved.  For example, a Japanese Traditional Dance Performance (Nihon-buyo).   There are many things that require attention to detail. It is not just about the performers but also the sensei's efforts in teaching and the master teacher's guidance. There are so many people involved including those doing hair and make-up, those who set-up for the event, and the guests who came to watch. Without all of these people, the performance would not have been possible.

So when asked how the performance went, the Japanese will say "okagesamade" ("with everyone's help being in our shadow, everything is going well/everything went well." ).

You can tell that this phrase has a very deep meaning but unfortunately it is translated simply as "Thanks for asking."

(Info adapted from a post by Naomi Ohara on Okinawa Natural Herb Meal's FB page.)
(Image from https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6106/6883412552_0dfd4bd8df_z.jpg)

Medical Evacuation to Tripler Army Medical Center

So you or someone you know has joined the ranks of those who need to be medically evacuated from a Pacific Duty Station.  Now what?

Well, the process is slightly different depending on your individual situation.  I'm going to try to be as general as possible in this post so that it might be helpful to you.

Recap:  Our 3 month old was diagnosed with GBS (Group B Strep) that presented as bacterial meningitis.  They were able to handle her condition on base until she started having seizures.  As Okinawa has no pediatric neurologists on base, she was sent to a Japanese PICU in Naha until she could be medically evacuated to Hawaii.

1.  Packing / Family Care Plan

Once you know that you will be evacuated, start packing immediately.  This is particularly important if you have several people to pack for.  Even if you have a scheduled flight, it can change at any time.  (This is the military after all.)  Our plane was grounded for maintenance and we ended up flying out a full day early.

Each family member is permitted 2 bags and a carry-on.  Do not ignore the weight limits for luggage on military flights because they will not allow you to go over.  Also, talk to your case manager to find out if there is a possibility that you may not be returning to your duty station.  Packing for an extended "vacation" requires a different type of packing than when you're packing for a PCS.

**It is always a good idea to pack copies of the medical records for all individuals traveling. **

Remember that pesky family care plan you were required to complete within 30 days of arrival?  Now is when it comes into play.  Did you somehow get away with not turning one in? Well now things are going to be that much harder for you.

Every care plan is family specific so it's up to you to determine what's best.  Who will your kids/pets be staying with while you're gone?   Who will watch your house so it doesn't mold?  Who's going to sell your island car for you if you aren't coming back?  There are so many things you will need to think about and take care of before you leave.

Just remember, stay calm and try not to worry or stress out.  What doesn't get done are the things that are less important.  Your command will be able to help you with some things.  Your awesome military friends will certainly help you with the rest.

** Marines on Okinawa who still need to complete a Family Care Plan can take the Family Care Plan class through Marine Corps Family Team Building to help them figure out what needs to be done for their family.  It's not an all inclusive class because all families are different and they don't want to keep your there all day long.  But it does go step by step over the process of what all you'll need paperwork wise to make your care plan functional (POA's, wills, etc) and different categories and topics you'll need to consider that you may not have thought of. **

2.  A flight has to be secured.

In a true emergency, they would be able to obtain one within several hours.  The patient has to be stable enough to make the 8+ hour journey.  In our case, she was in good hands so this was not necessary.  As Okinawa has a routine medical evacuation flight scheduled to leave every Thursday.  

3.  Non-Medical Attendant

The command will assign a non-medical attendant tot he patient if they are a child or in a state they will not be able to make their own medical decisions.  In the case of families, it is up  to the command who will be assigned.  They may allow the service member to go, assign another family member to be send, and/or send the entire family.  No matter how many people they send, there will only be one non-medical attendant assigned at a time.

Our command assigned my husband (the service member) to be the non-medical attendant for the duration of our daughter's hospital stay but also sent the entire family which is an exception to policy.  I was sent because I'm a breastfeeding mom and the patient was our baby.  My older daughter was sent because both of her parents were going.

Upon discharge, my husband will be returning to Okinawa to facilitate paperwork and potentially check out.  At that time, I will become the non-medical attendant and oversee all of my daughter's post-hospitalization care until we are either sent back to Okinawa or my husband "picks us up" on the way to our new duty station.

***** Important Post Update:  If additional family members are sent that are not specified non-medical attendants, ensure that they are listed on your medical evacuation orders not just the medical flight manifest.  If not, they will be required to fly space-a or you will have to purchase them a ticket in order to return to your original duty station.  No joke.  They tried to make our 4 year old Space-A home by herself.......*****

4. Medical Team Assembled

The hospital will assess the patient's individual needs and assign personnel and equipment as needed.  Each patient has their own staff attending to them.  No sharing.  That way if anything should happen during the flight they are up-to-date & knowledgeable about what they are dealing with and won't be stretched thin with multiple patients.

We had the privilege of being escorted by the Neonatal Transport Team: 18th MDOS/USNH Okinawa.  Although I hope no one ever has to use their services, know that you are in excellent hands.  They are extremely friendly yet professional and really know the in and outs of their jobs.  I especially liked how well informed they kept our family throughout the process and loved on our little one.

5.  Aero Vac Brief

All travelers are required to attend the Aero Vac "Brief" before departure.  This basically consisted of going line by line over the safety paperwork and a short description of what the flight would entail.  Then you sign your life away and shuttle off to the runway.

6.  Depart for Hawaii / Tripler Army Medical Center

Let's Recap:  

You find out you're being medically evacuated and you have to...?

That's right.

Pack / Carry Out Family Care Plan

Wait and try not to stress.

Go to a brief and leave.

The hospital takes care of everything else.

Sueyoshi Park & Shrine

Sueyoshi Forest is located in the heart of Naha city and yet you can drive right past it and not even notice that it is there.  Which is a shame really.

O and I went there to wander the forest and see the Sueyoshi Shrine.  I had heard about it on Map It Okinawa and was eager to go.  I think the amount of walking he mentioned was down-played... he said be prepared to do a lot of walking.  That's it.  What he meant was this is a HUGE park in the city and be prepared to do TONS of walking.

It's a beautiful park though.  A river runs straight through the middle of it and you can see some pretty nice waterfalls.  O is currently obsess with snails and we were able to see some huge ones on the bottom of the overgrown flaura.  There were lots of birds flitting about as well.  And O's favorite discovery were the "shiny bugs", you know, those bugs that have exoskeletons that are like opal colors.  Well, even if you don't, they were really neat.

O and I stuck to the main walking trail.  This means we didn't get off of the winding flat route once.  No stair diversions, no side routes, nothing.  Just the path that, if it weren't made of uneven rocks, I would say was the handicap accessible path.


Even still, by the time we crossed through the forest (all parking lots are a ways away from the shrine... I think we parked at the one farthest away), we were ready for a snack and a rest.  Luckily, there was a playground and a bathroom to be found just below our chosen route.

The playground structure is completely made of wood but was in very good condition.  I was worried about splinters at first but was pleasantly surprised to find it a minimal concern.  It is obviously geared towards older children, but O (3) was doing pretty well on it.

After a little R&R, we went back up the hill to this nice monument.  I'll have to do a little research to find out what it's for.  But I really like the detail.  This basically marks the end of the winding flat trail.  Just after it is a set of stairs that leads you into the wildlife protection area.  It's unsure footing and greenery all the way to the shrine from there.

Luckily for us, they had recently swept through and cleared the paths to the shrine.  Even still, a nice Japanese man we talked to said he saw 2 mongooses while he was there and to make sure not to let O near any of the rock crevices because of the chance a habu was hiding in there.  We didn't see anything ourselves.

He also kindly escorted us up the hill as he had gotten lost himself several times trying to find the shrine and was tired.  I had O on my back, so he didn't want the same thing to happen to us.  Really, this was so thoughtful of him I can't express how grateful I was for this gesture.

Anyways, you make a right at the top of the stairs and continue straight until you find a white obelisk.  Make a left here and you'll see stones for the Sueyoshi Shrine.  Continue straight up, up, up until you see a shrine like structure on the right.  This building is where you buy shrine items.  It and the shrine were closed, but you can walk around.  The shrine itself is just past here.

Do NOT go through the stone tunnel.  If you look up, you'll see the shrine.  Take the stairs to the right of the tunnel and follow the steps up to the main shrine.

We climbed up to the shrine itself instead of stopping at the collection box.  The view from there was well worth the climb just to take it in.

We really enjoyed sitting there eating some bread and just looking out over the forest and past the city in the background.  A nice breeze coming over the hill also took the edge off the heat of the day.

By this point, it was nap time and we were still far away from the car.  Going back was much quicker since we were going down the rugged terrain and then I carried O up the winding path.  Still, juice and Anpanman cookies were a much appreciated treat at our arrival to the car.

Overall, we were hot, sweaty, sticky and tired at the end, but the beauty and peace of the morning was well worth it.  I hope you are able to visit this park sometime.

Japanese New Year - Nengajo (New Year Cards)

Features of Nengajo:

1.  Duty -

Japan has various customs where you give something to someone because it is your social duty.  Nengajo is on of these.  Basically, you should send nengajo to everyone you know.  Many people are more selective of who they send nengajo too.  However, if you receive a card from someone, you are expected to return the favor (known as a giri card).

2.  Design -

Many nengajo feature the animal from the upcoming year's zodiac.  It is believed that the years represented by the animals affect the characters of people. 

Chinese Zodiac (animals and their characteristics):

• Rat - an animal with spirit, wit, alertness, delicacy, flexibility and vitality, adaptable, clever and adorable, personable and materialistic, thoughtful, sensible, judiciously and curious, timid, lack concentration and stability, timid, obstinate and selfish
• Ox - persistent, simple, honest, and straightforward, industrious, patient, and cautious, do things steadily, tender-hearted, obstinate and poor at communication
• Tiger - brave, cruel, forceful and terrifying, tolerant, staunch, valiant, and respected, intelligent, faithful and virtuous, short-tempered, over confident and traitorous
• Rabbit - tender and lovely, gentle, sensitive, compassionate, amiable, modest and merciful, and have strong memory, soft-spoken and welcoming, homebody and hospitable, amorous and not determined, soft in appearance and stubborn inside
• Dragon -  token of authority, dignity, honor, success, luck, and capacity, lively, intellectual, energetic and excitable, magnanimous, romantic and sensitive about their reputation, ambitious, arrogant and impatient, over- confident, eccentric, tactless, fiery, intolerant and unrealistic
• Snake - malevolence, cattiness and mystery, good tempered, skilled at communicating, sympathetic, determined, intense and passionate, perceptive, jealous and suspicious, courteous   but headstrong
• Horse - energetic, bright, warm-hearted, intelligent and able, clever, kind to others, cheerful, perceptive, talented, earthy but stubborn, impatient and hot blooded, independent
• Sheep - gentle and calm, delicate and precious, tender, polite, filial, clever, and kind-hearted, wise and compassionate, worriers who are shy, pessimistic, moody, indecisive, over-sensitive, week-willed and puzzled about life
• Monkey - clever, lively, flexible, quick-witted and versatile, self-assured, sociable and innovative, with competent practical ability, jealous, suspicious, cunning, selfish and arrogant, tend to look down upon others, impatient and mouthy
• Rooster - fidelity and punctuality, deep thinkers considered to be honest, bright, communicative, ambitious, capable and warm-hearted, eccentric and have difficulty relating with others, critical, positive but selfish, caustic and too outspoken, narrow-minded and vain, refuse suggestions but would like to lecture others, arrogant
• Dog - understanding and obedient, faithful, courageous, dexterous, smart and warm-hearted, straightforward, stubborn, cold emotionally, irritable and anxious
• Pig - laziness and clumsiness, honest and frank, chivalrous and gallant, tolerant and optimistic,  kind and light hearted, loyal, hot-tempered and impulsive

Photos are also common along with common phrases and greetings.

3.  Phrases -

Phrases and Greetings are commonly used on nengajo and can be paired up with design elements as well.  The phrase or greeting you use should be adjusted to reflect the recipient and the level of respect you wish to convey.

Conventional nengajō greetings include:

• kotoshi mo yoroshiku o-negai-shimasu (今年もよろしくお願いします) (I hope for your favour again in the coming year)
• (shinnen) akemashite o-medetō-gozaimasu ((新年)あけましておめでとうございます) (Happiness to you on the dawn [of a New Year])
• kinga shinnen (謹賀新年) (Happy New Year)
• gashō (賀正) (to celebrate January)
• shoshun/hatsuharu (初春) (literally "early spring", in the traditional lunar calendar a year begins in early spring)
• geishun (迎春) (to welcome spring)

For more on writing greetings and expressions visit Writing New Year's Cards.

4.  Lottery -

Store bought cards come with a lottery number on each and every card allowing the recipient to participate in a national lottery.  Prizes vary and winning numbers are announced in mid-January.

5.  Restrictions -

If someone has died in your family that year, you send "Mourning Postcards" earlier in the year to let everyone know that they should not send nengajo out of respect for the deceased.

Sending Nengajo

Addressing and personal messages are usually written by hand or painted with an ink brush to offer the individual a chance to show off their Japanese calligraphy (書道 shodō).

Cards purchased at a stationary store or the post office have pre-paid postage within Japan.  When sending nengajo abroad, fill them out like this.  The post office guarantees delivery of nengajo on 1 January if post-marked by 25 December.

To find out more about Japan and it's customs, consider visiting the Zooming Japan Blog.  It is full of in-depth information about sites and customs.  I got the majority of my info on nengajo from them.  :D

Itoman Peaceful Illumination - "Lights of Peace"

The 15th annual Itoman Peace Illumination took place at the Itoman Tourist Farm in Mabuni, Itoman.
This year’s theme was "the prayer of light to connect people".

This is one of Okinawa’s most popular winter events, drawing some 50,000 visitors each year. The venue, located in Itoman City, which experienced a fierce ground battle at the end of World War II, is beautifully decorated with 1.3 million lights, representing the approximate population of Okinawa, and carrying the people’s hopes for peace.

A special event called Starlight Wink, in which all the lights at the venue go out for one minute, is held every evening at 20:00. There are only 400 parking spaces available at the Itoman Wine Farm. When the parking lot is full, visitors may park at the Peace Memorial Park. A free shuttle service is provided between the Peace Memorial Park and Itoman Wine Farm during the event.


Place: Itoman Wine Farm (Itoman City)
Admission: 250 yen for persons aged 16 and over, free for children under 16.
For more information: Tel: 098-840-8135 (Business and Tourism Division, Itoman City Hall)

Now that the basic event premise is set, let me briefly tell you of our experience at this illumination.  We were directed to a parking spot by security with glow sticks and then walked to the ticket tent.  We had to pass through all of the festival food and games in order to get to the actual illumination.

The illumination itself was in two main sections.  I'm calling them the circus tent and the castle area. Everything that wasn't light viewing cost extra... which was disappointing but it is what it is.



The circus tent was composed of lights hung in a tent-like structure with rides off to one side .  One could also pet or ride a horse in this section.

The castle area had a blow-up castle in the middle and lights hanging all around.  A small animal train took riders around the castle periodically for a small fee.  O wanted to go in the castle and ride the train but we only had enough extra yen for one since she needed to be accompanied.  She chose the train (1000 yen for 2) and we rode in the monkey car.  She had so much fun.  Each car had two steering wheels for riders to pretend they were driving.  We turned and cried wee the whole way around the castle...  Unless she was petting the monkey and yelling at daddy to look at her, lol.

Blow up structures were found throughout the illumination that people posed for family pictures in front of.  You could also walk through a small conservatory building that was decorated with lights and had a mini-market for foods, crafts and trinkets inside.

Overall we really enjoyed the illumination and it was nice to be able to just let O run around as she pleased.  I think she was a little obsessed with the shark though. :D

We also paired this trip with a visit to the Peace Prayer Park Memorial Museum and a short walk around the grounds.  I think this made the trip even more worth the drive down there and filled out the evening nicely.  (And we got fantastic soba from a very sweet, little old man who runs a shop right next to the parking lot before going to the illumination.  Yum!)

Oyama Mayagama (Futenma Cat Cave)

Took the in-laws to a quick stop-off on our way to Kakazu Tadakai Park.  Oyama Mayagama is just outside of Futenma Gate 1 on 58.  If you're into local folklore, it's worth the ten minutes it takes to look around.

As all of the signs were in Japanese, I took the following info off of Okinawa Hai.

The legend of the Mayagama: 

“Maya” means “cat” in the Okinawan dialect. There is a legend that an evil spirit used to live in this cave a long, long time ago. It transformed into a cat and hid the local children. Local people beat the cat and it ran into a pot that was inside the cave. The people tied up the pot with rope so it could never escape, and they never saw it again.

In the same area, there are plaques showing the people that have lived here throughout history. The oldest picture is of the Azamabarujin people who lived about 600 to 6,000 years ago.

The men hunted wild boar while the women and children collected fruit. They caught fish, sea turtles, dugong and shells. They ate those sea animals by either boiling, cooking or just eating them raw. They commonly wore jewelry made from shells.





The picture of the village is a recreation of the same people. The food and tools were all from nature, such as, animals, dirt, stones and bones. The dwellings were 13×29 feet wide and were surrounded by stone or tree walls.

Please note that this is amidst family tombs, which are very sacred (no photos) and are private property. You will not be disturbing anyone as long as you stay around the cave ruin site.

Directions: From Foster’s commissary gate, turn left to drive south on 58 towards Futenma. There will be a stone sign for MCAS Futenma at the light, turn left and follow the road as it winds up the hill. When round the curve and you see the gate for Futenma, pull over and park on the side of the road.  You will see a picture of a cat next to some stairs on the left hand side of the road (when facing the gate).   

Hamagaa Ugan Ruins (Chatan Worship Site)

So the in-laws and I had some extra time between Christmas shopping and meeting up with Z, so we decided to check out some hidden sites I found on Okinawa Hai while the kid was sleeping in the car and they were in the PX purusing merchandise.

One of these sites was the Hamagaa Ugan Ruins.  It was a nice 5-10 minute stop right next to Kadena Gate 1.  A surprisingly peaceful spot right next to a very busy road.

The following information is from a sign posted at this prayer site:

The Hamagaa Ugan Ruins were designated as a Cultural Asset / Historic Site located within Chatan Town on March 26, 2004.

The Hamagaa Ugan is a place of worship made at the foot of a limestone rock.  It is called Shimamori Yoriage no Taki (holy name: Ishi no Oibe) in the Ryukyu-koku Yuraiki, 1713 (Historical records of the Kingdom of the Ryukyus).

A tomb of a fuedal lord is located to its east.

The worship area and a large Akou tree (Ficus superba Mig. var. Japonica Miq) are found to the south.  In the worship area, there is a small house-shaped limestone shrine with a Yosumune-style hip roof and three incense burners.

The Shimakusarasaa, a ritual held in lunar February to prevent evil from entering the community, and the Kami-Ushiimii, a ritual to pray to gods held in lunar March, were held here before the war.

The Twun no Kami and Ryuuguu Shin deities are also enshrined in the south side of the premises.

A shell mound dating from the 8th to 10th centuries is found north of the Hamagaa Ugan.  It is believed that refuse was di

scarded from the top of the hill, presenting the possibility that a worship area might have existed on the top.  Excavation of this site is considered required.  A similar ruin known as Agigitara shell mound is found in Izena Village.

Directions:

This location is at the intersection of the 58 and 23. right before Kadena Gate 1. At that intersection is a store called “Music Lab”. In the back is a parking lot, and if you park there, you can’t miss the tree. You can see the tree from 58.

If you are traveling north on 58, simply turn into the Music Lab parking lot and go to the back.

 If you are traveling south on 58, turn right at the light right past the 23. Then take your first right and drive down the road a little bit. You’ll see the back entrance of the music store and the tree on your right.

Hiking Nago Mountain

Nago Mountain is located within the Nago Castle Ruins Park. This area offers many trails, picnic/scenic view areas, camping, and more.  We were here to do some hiking.

Picture this:  2 pregnant women, a toddler, a baby, a dog and 4 other adults hiking a mountain in the middle of an 86 degrees F, 94% humidity day.  What were we thinking???  We were thinking a family friendly, beginner hike on winding, sloping trails and shade from trees that's what... well, that's what the description led us to believe anyways... WE WERE DECEIVED!

Although a fun trip with great people and an awesome workout, I hate to report that the term to describe the Nago Mountain trail should have been this:  STAIRS.  Yep, that pretty much sums it up.  Up and down stairs 98% of the time.  I haven't done that much cardio in ages!  I also happened to be one of the pregnant women helping tote around my toddler, lol.  I don't think I have ever been so happy to hit a summit in my entire life.

The view was well worth the effort, however, I honestly did prefer the view from the picnic area further down the mountain.  This area also had  a large open space for the kids to run, restrooms, and various workout/training equipment.

Between the picnic area and the trail head was also the camping grounds which looked like they'd be an excellent place to camp with a group of friends.  We may come back and try it sometime.

You'll find I am short on words for this trip.  I spent most of my time attempting to breathe, downing water, and swapping my toddler with my husband (who was also very tired by the time we got to the top).  Thus, I recommend families try some of the other available trails and go on a cooler day than we did.

Blue Seal after the hike is also a splendid treat!  Nothing like splitting an all vanilla ice cream with strawberry topping banana split with your daughter after a good workout.  ;)

Pizzakaya Mommy & Me Cooking Class

We recently attended a Mommy and Me Pizza cooking class at Pizzakaya Okinawa.  This little gem of a restaurant is located in the back right corner of American Village, just around the corner from Mihama Kids Park.

What made this class extra special is that the establishment hosted it for one of our FB mom's groups (Playdate and Adventure) absolutely free of charge.  Attendees were simply asked to bring a toy for each child attending to donate to a local Japanese orphanage.  Awesome right?

Other group members with small businesses donated party supplies, snacks and even an appearance by Sponge Bob (whom I dispise, but whatever, most of the kids enjoyed his visit).

Each of the kids got to make their own pizza.  Pre-made dough was provided that they got to smash down into a somewhat circular shape and add as much sauce, cheese and/or hotdog chunks as they wanted.

O was skeptical about touching the dough but eventually pressed it a few times, then spooned almost an entire bowl of sauce onto it, added her cheese one shred at a time until shown she could put handfuls on it, and added a few hotdogs.  She quite amused me throughout this process.  :D

While we waited for hers to cook, she ate funky flavored popcorn and stared at Sponge Bob.  She DID NOT want him to come anywhere near her!

When we got O's pizza back, the majority of her toppings had slid underneath the pizza when they sliced it due to the shear amount of sauce that was on it.  She ate the hotdogs and had mommy eat the rest, so I had to find her something else for dinner, lol.

Overall it was a good time for a good cause.  I hope they host another one of these events in the future.

Kakazu Takadai Park & Kyoto Monument

So we were headed down to Naha to visit the Tamaudun Royal Mausoleum when it started down-pouring.  So I made a split second decision to change plans and just go to the first site sign I saw instead.  It just seemed like a better idea than driving 40 minutes just to get soaked.  We could get just as wet near home, lol.  :D

We were headed South on 330 from Foster at the time.  So we turned right at the sign for Kyoto Monument and then followed two more signs to the park that housed it only a few blocks further on.

My iPhone pin lists this as the address:
901-2226 Okinawa Ginowan
4-44, Kakazu 1-Chome
Japan

We parked next to one of the many peace poles erected here on island.  A Peace Pole is a hand-crafted monument that displays the message and prayer May Peace Prevail on Earth on each of its four or six sides, usually in different languages.

We did in fact get soaked while we were here.  The rain decided to stop when we reached the park and then poured buckets on us out of nowhere as we were climbing the stairs to the observation tower.  O didn't seem to mind though, cause it allowed her to go puddle jumping, play in the river running down the observation tower stairs, and play on the playground once it lightened up again without much fuss from mommy.

There were some very nice Japanese men practicing their martial arts inside the observation tower who quickly welcomed us in out of the rain and then pointed us in the best direction to go to avoid further rain on the way back to the car once it let up. The sun came out before we got back to our car, so we decided to explore some more.  They had moved their practice outside then.

The view from the observation tower was amazing once the rain cleared up.  You could see a long way off in every direction.  All the way down to Naha and clear up to Zanpa.  The view of Futenma Air Base was particularly impressive.

 
Playgrounds:

There were two playgrounds at this park.

On the right side there was a playground for older children.   It mostly consisted of ropes and different climbing bars.  There were also several concrete slides and a teeter totter.

The other playground was for the younger kids.  A typical plastic playground with slides, smaller climbing obstacles, and hand coordination games.  There was also a swing set and a small picnic pavilion.

Kyoto Monument

This monument is located between the observation tower and the Tochka.  All descriptions were in Japanese, but you could tell people still offer up prayers and offerings here.  After a little searching on the web, I found out that it is called the Kyoto Monument because it was presented as a gift by the city of Kyoto to honor the Japanese people who lost their lives here.

History of Kakazu Takadai Park:

The following descriptions are directly from signs around the park...

The Battle at Kakazu Ridge Park:

On April 1, 1945, the US Armed Forces landed on Okinawa.  Kakazu Ridge was the sight of some of the bloodiest fighting during the battle of Okinawa.  Japanese troops staunchly defended the ridge to try to keep the US Forces from taking Shuri.  The Americans finally overcame the Japanese and forced them to Urasoe, Nishihara, Shuri, and further south.
The people of Kakazu took refure in the caves, such as in Teragama and Chidefuchagama.  Some Kakazu residents escaped to the southern part of the island and some remained in Kakazu.  Half of all Kakazu residents died during the fighting.
In this park and around Kakazu, there are several sites that serve as reminders of what took place here, including the caves the civilians used to take refuge in.  There is also Miga - a cistern used by Japanese soldiers for drinking water.  Tochka - a pillbox used to defend Kakazu Ridge, and a wall riddled with bullet holes which is an indication of just how fierce the fighting was.  The Tower of Kakazu is a memorial to the people of Kakazu who died in the fighting at Kakazu Ridge.


The wall of bullet holes:

During pre-war Kakazu, many houses and the roads were in a grid system.  This was a quiet village, surrounded by fields, but the sounds of the Japanese boots, who were stationed nearby were now echoing in the village.
An intense battle unfolded in Kakazu where the US Forces had landed.  The inhabitants and many houses that had survived for so long, sustained great damage from the battles.
Kakazu became a battlefield, the bullets and the bombs poured like showers from the Japanese and US Forces.  The wall of bullet holes tells how fierce the battle was.



Jinchi-go (Underground bunkers):

The Japanese Forces were stationed in Kakazu and built up underground bunkers around the Kakazu Ridge and the neighboring region.
The construction of the bunkers seems to have started from the summer of 1944..  Not only soldiers but also Kakazu inhabitants and many other people from neighboring regions, including elderly men and women, were pulled into the construction, which continued daily from morning to evening.
The bunkers were dug out of limestone and square shaped.  There are many impressions from pit sprops used to shore up the sidewalls to prevent cave-ins.  These underground bunkers were especially innumerable as the headquarters of the Japanese Forces were on Kakazu Ridge.







Tochka:

Tochka is a Russian military term, describing "Point" or "Hub" and an important defensive position during the battle.
The Tochka is made of concrete, has a maximum thickness of one-meter, and three adults can be inside of the two meter, square space.  For the Hiyaragawa river in the north, there are two gun ports in the Tochka and the Japanese Forces used them to fire riffles or machineguns at the attacking US Forces.
There are uncountable bullet holes in the Tochka.  The reinforcing bars are visible and it shows us evidence of an intense battle.  The opening part on the backside is only for the Japanese soldiers to go in and out.