Urasoe City English Newsletter
May 2008

Hello Everyone! I hope you are enjoying the early summer weather. In Okinawa, May and June herald the start of the dragon boat racing (haarii) season. These early summer ritual races between colorfully decorated canoes have taken place in Okinawa since the 14th century; People traditionally believed that the races ensure the safety of fishermen and sailors. Historically, Okinawan women farmed the land while men went to sea, so haarii too was the sole province of men. Nowadays, both men and women's haarii teams compete all over Okinawa. The two largest haarii competitions are listed in the Events section. And if you miss these events, there will also be haarii races in Urasoe as part of the annual Tedako Matsuri in July! -Hilary

Vaccinations for Children

Free tuberculosis vaccinations will be administered as follows:

When: 2pm-4pm Tuesday, May 13
Where: Urasoe Health Counseling Center (保健相談センター) 360-1 Nakama, Urasoe 〒901-2103
Telephone: (098) 875-2100
Who: Children ages 3-5 months.

The Health Counseling Center also administers the following vaccines: Tetanus, diptheria, pertussis (whooping cough), measles, rubella, and Japanese encephalitis. Most vaccinations are offered free of charge or at a nominal fee. Please enquire at the Center for more information.

Rabies Vaccinations

Urasoe will be providing rabies vaccinations for dogs at various locations around Urasoe on May 11 and 18. The vaccination costs ¥2,450 and a Proof of Vaccination form costs ¥550. Contact the International Relations Section to learn when and where the vaccination service will be provided. Yearly rabies vaccinations are mandatory for all dogs.

Anonymous HIV Tests

As part of the Japanese government's efforts to stop the spread of AIDS, free, anonymous HIV tests are available at Health Centers all over Japan.

Test centers in the Urasoe area are listed here. These centers offer two types of HIV test: the "regular test" and the "same day test." If you take the regular test, it will take about one week for your test to be processed. If you take the same day test, your results should be ready in about an hour. In either case, you must visit the Health Center to hear your results. Results cannot be transmitted by telephone, fax, or email.

When you go to the Health Center to be tested, you have to fill out a short form with your "name" and age. You can write anything you want for your "name": your initials, just your first name, a pseudonym, or something else entirely. The Health Center staff will copy it down, along with an ID number that you use for identification when you come to get your results.

After you complete the short ID form, the staff will ask you to fill out a longer form asking about health history, sex partners, needle use, and other standard medical questions. The form is in Japanese. If you cannot fill out the form, the staff will assist you, but it may be best to bring someone to translate for you. After filling out the forms, a nurse will draw blood and your test is complete.

If you took the same day test, you may wait for results at the Health Center. If you took the regular test, you must come back in about a week. Please bring the paper with your ID number, "name," and age on it, because without it you cannot receive your results.

Events

Events are in Urasoe unless otherwise noted in parentheses.

Naha Haarii, May 3-5, at Naha Shinko (Naha's "New Port")
Haarii, or Dragon Boat Racing, came to Okinawa from China several centuries ago, and became an important early-summer ritual to pray for the safety of fishermen. Naha's haarii one of the largest on the island.

Cooking Class - Okinawa Tofu, May 17, 10am-12pm at Recycle Plaza
Do you enjoy the rich taste of shimadofu, Okinawa's unique and flavorful tofu? If so, why not try making it yourself? Participation costs ¥300. Space is limited, so reserve your place quickly. Call (098) 861-3196 to sign up.

Friendship Seminar - Gambia, May 23, 7pm-9pm at the JICA Okinawa International Center
Come to hear Zambian JICA trainees teach about their country through a quiz, bilingual presentation, and musical performance. Entrance is free of charge.

Okinawa Times Grand Prize for the Arts Concert, May 24 and 25, 6pm-9pm at Tedako Hall
Every year, the Okinawa Times awards prizes for outstanding achievements in the arts. Come see the 2007 winners perform! Saturday's performance features traditional Okinawa music and dance and Sunday's performance showcases Western-style artists. Tickets are ¥3,000 in advance and ¥3,500 at the door. Call the Okinawa Times for more info at (098) 860-3588.

Itoman Haarii, June 7 at Itoman Port (Itoman)
Ever since the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Itoman has been known far and wide as an important fishing village. Its haarii rituals date back to those times, and are still scheduled according to the old lunar calendar to ensure the utmost ritual effectiveness.

Ryukyu Folk Dance Festival, June 28-29 at the Ginowan Shi-Ritsu Taiikukan (Ginowan)
Historically, Okinawan folk dance encompassed a wide variety of styles that differed from village to village. This event, organized by the Okinawa Times, showcases the breadth and depth of Okinawan dance traditions through performances by groups from throughout the prefecture.