April 15 2007 ITU World Cup Triathlon and Ishigaki triathlon. http://ishigakijima-triathlon.jp/
Okinawan Bull Fighting
March 18, 25, April 1 Okinawan Bull Fighting also known as tougyu or ushi-ourase is different from Spanish or Mexican bull fighting. In the case of Okinawan bull fighting the bulls fight each other with the help of human handlers.
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Okinawa Beach Opening
Not that the beaches of Okinawa are ever closed but official openings that are covered by the Japanese news media are:
Azama Sansan Beach Festival
March 24 Nanjo City
Naminoue Beach Official Opening
April 1 Naha City
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Heart to Heart Charity Event
Heart to Heart Charity Event
April 8,Sunday Laguna Gardens Hotel
Special Dinner with Fashion show and Entertainment. A charitable event for underprivileged children presented by Casting Office Lona and the Independent Progressive Group
Formalwear/ Party Dress Required.
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Shopping in Naha
Kokusai Dori
The English translation for Kokusai is “International” and Kokusai Dori is Okinawa’s most famous shopping street. It runs for many blocks between Route 29 at one end and the Ryubo Department store at the other end. It is lined with restaurants and shops and is almost always busy. Most of the stores stay open very late and the street has an exciting energy. As in any international city there are the usual souvenir and T Shirt shops but there are many stores selling goods unique to Okinawa.
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Shopping Shintoshin Distsrict
10 years ago there was virtually nothing in the Shintoshin area. The land having been home to U.S. military housing that was razed and left vacant. When the land was returned to the original owners a stylish modern shopping district blossomed. There are two enclosed malls in this area, the upscale DFS mall (duty free shopping) and the two level Naha Main Place Mall. Bookshops, hotels and restaurants of all sorts are plentiful in this district. The monorail connects Shintoshin to other parts of the city via the sleek Omoromachi station just beside the entrance to the DFS mall.
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Byron Jones Intro to Ryukuan Music
Hello All,
I will be contributing a series of entries on Okinawa; many of which have to do with Ryukyuan/Okinawan Music. Anyone familiar with music from Okinawa soon realizes that for such a small island, there sure is a wide breadth of music. One primary goal of this research is, to share with you, the depth of the indigenous lyrical poetry, called `Ryuka`, as well as the various beats and melodies of the taiko, Sanshin, and beyond… My name is Byron Jones.
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Sonohyan-utaki Ishimon
Sonohyan-utaki Ishimon or the Sonohyan Utaki Stone Gate is what is left of the Sonohyan Utatki (sacred site). It was here that king prayed before departing Shuri castle. The utaki and much of the gate were destroyed during WW II. The restored stone gate is still considered a spiritual spot and Okinawans still come occasionally to pay reverence and beseech the spirits. A world heritage site, this gate is located between Shureimon Gate and the entrance to Shuri Castle.
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Shureimon Gate
Shureimon at the entrance of Shuri Castle Park is often used as the symbol of Okinawa. This gate was build during the reign on King Sho Shin in the 16th century.
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Tama Udun Royal Mausoleum
Tama Udun is the royal mausoleum of the Shuri kings of the second Sho dynasty, built in 1501 by King Sho Shin to house the remains of his father, King Sho En.
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