Chillin' with my buddy Alder Finn

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Greetings everyone! So here I find myself writing my first editorial for the hallowed Urasoe English newsletter. A brief introduction would probably be in order. My name is Patrick Robison, and I come from the small town of Pocatello, Idaho (U.S.A). Thanks to an incredibly effective international advertising campaign, most people automatically associate my home state with potatoes. This is strange considering that we grow mostly goya these days (just kidding). I`ll admit it though, the potatoes are good. Personally I think the scenery is even better, so if you`ve never been to Idaho, do drop in sometime…and don`t forget your hiking boots!

A little more background info for the curious: this is my third time living in Japan, and my first time on Okinawa. As a student I lived in Okazaki (Aichi Prefecture) as well as Miyazaki. After finishing my studies, I went to live and work in France for several years, followed by a half year long attempt to learn German in Berlin. I began to feel as though I would like to use my Nihongo in a professional environment, so I applied to work in Japan through the JET program. Thus I find myself employed as a Coordinator for International Relations at Urasoe`s city hall. This place is swank, from the 24-hour muzak to the 9th floor observation deck, and I feel a little unworthy at the moment. Hopefully this sensation will pass, and I`ll come out of this experience a grizzled IR veteran. I am still very much a newbie as far as the whole Okinawa thing goes, so I`ll save the analytical commentary on bingata and sanshin ballads for when I know what I`m talking about. In the meantime, feel free to drop in to city hall (4F) if you have any questions or concerns that I might be able to help you with, or if you simply want to say hi. Yoroshiku ne~ pAtRiCk

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Uchinaguchi Corner

It seems to me like living on Okinawa entails picking up a little of the local culture (or a lot!). Wouldn`t time-honored sayings in the local language be a good place to start?

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~FEATURE~

Ah, ha, ha, ha, Stayin’ Alive Stayin’ Alive

Recently I had the pleasure of attending a seminar at Urasoe`s Harmony Center on the subject of physical health among the citizens of Urasoe. According to the panelists who presented there, Okinawa used to be one of the prefectures in Japan with the highest life expectancy for both men and women, but this has changed over the last couple of decades. Okinawan women still rank consistently among the longest-living citizens of Japan (and the world while we`re at it), but male citizens have been experiencing a continuing drop in life expectancy, now ranking 26th in a national study by prefecture. If overall life expectancy has been dropping, it follows logically that the number of years male citizens are living in good health must be even lower. This is alarming for a number of reasons:

1.) Judging from the statistics, Okinawa has historically been home to one of the most healthful lifestyles in the world. This is the result of thousands of years of dietary and social evolution. Yet all of this has been eroded in less than a century!

2.) Looking at recent Okinawan history, it would be difficult to deny some correlation between the adoption of customs and foods from outside the islands with this trend toward declining life expectancy.

3.) This means that husbands on Okinawa are leaving their sweethearts behind to live out their sunset years alone. While depending on the husband this may sometimes come as a relief, in general I`d have to say, come on guys, that`s no fun! Samishii deshou!

So what can one do to ameliorate this situation? Several good ideas were presented at the seminar, which I`m happy to relay in this article. The importance of daily exercise was stressed repeatedly. For a variety of reasons, Okinawans tend to drive more than mainland Japanese, meaning that we spend less time here on Okinawa moving our bodies to get around. In exchange one needs to make an effort to burn some calories on a regular basis. The major focus at the seminar was on walking as exercise, but anything that gets people to move around is probably helpful. Swimming at one of Okinawa`s beautiful beaches, doing a little yard work, walking to the grocery store…there are a lot of options. What`s important is to find a variety of exercise you enjoy and which your body can handle. I personally enjoy riding a bicycle, which I do to and from work every day, thereby felling two birds with one stone.

Another problem addressed at the seminar was eating habits. Diet is thought to play a huge part in one`s health. Obviously slurping up instant ramen or three cheeseburgers in a row and washing them down with a diabetes-inspiring soda isn`t going to do much for you nutritionally. We all know that it can be quite a chore to try to eat healthy, especially when one is busy all day with work or school. However, with a little bit of effort it is possible to minimize one`s intake of fatty foods and refined sugar. At the seminar it was suggested to try cutting down on the amount of fried food one eats, or to watch one`s alcohol consumption (so-called empty calories). This doesn`t mean forget that magnificent tempura or those ice-cold Orions which make the hot summer bearable. It`s more a matter of alternating consumption of these foods with other selections which give your body more of what it needs nutritionally. Perhaps substitute a nice cold cup of anti-oxidant rich green tea for a beer, or some slices of locally grown pineapple for a bowl of ice cream. There are a plethora of local fruits, vegetables, and other foodstuffs to choose from which not only promote physical health but also happen to taste really darn good.

Research carried out by various organizations on the Okinawan way of life would seem to suggest that a sense of community is also a crucial factor in determining lifespan. Apparently feeling as though one belongs in a certain place and/or is appreciated as a member of a village, town, or social group can have a large influence on a person`s mental health. If you are feeling cut off from the people around you, maybe it`s time to try participating in an activity group (the Urasoe International Relations Association or the Harmony Center could undoubtedly help you with this) or volunteer. Making an effort to spend quality time with one`s family and friends is also a way to nurture this sense of belonging and create meaningful human relationships. People seem to be for the most part social animals, and no matter how independent we might think we are there, we have a need for companionship in one form or another. I hope this little article might be of some use to you in your day-to-day life. There are so many resources available on the Internet for this sort of thing that one can often feel overwhelmed looking about. The key is to focus on what interests you, and on what you can do without having to change your entire life in one fell swoop. This about wraps up my health tirade for the day…have fun, and perhaps I`ll see you walking around town one of these days!

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Events and Important Dates

September 6th: Okinawan/American High School Student Manga Contest
10am-7pm, Urasoe Public Library, Audio-Visual Room
Japanese manga has become a world-famous phenomenon. Teams of 3-5 students from Okinawan high schools and US military base high schools will compete to see who can produce the best amateur manga during a set period of five hours and thirty minutes. The contest will be followed by a celebration for the participants. For applications or information, please contact the Okinawa Consulate General of the United States at 876-4211 (extension 6636)

September 7th, 14th, and 21st: Salsa Dance Class for Beginners
7-9pm, JICA Okinawa International Center
Swaying in times to Latin rhythms, try out all the basic salsa steps. Bachata, Merengue, and Salsa will be covered. The class is free, though one must be a registered member of the Urasoe International Relations Association, which entails an annual fee of 1,000 yen. Please register ahead of time, as the class is limited to 40 participants. Call 876-1234 for info (ext. 2612)

September 13-15th: Shurijo Castle Mid-Autumn Festival
Shurijo Castle Park, Shuri (off of route 29)
Held annually on August 15 of the lunar calendar, the event reproduces the Mid-Autumn Banquet, one of seven banquets held to entertain envoys from China. Ukanshin odori and Kumiodori (classical dances) are performed under the harvest moon. Check out Shurijo Castle's events page.

September 14th: Itoman Great Tug-of-War
Itoman city, Itoman Rotary, Route 331
HEAVE HOOO! Check out this here link for details!

September 15th: Respect for the Elderly Day: Take a moment to thank our senior citizens for their contributions to society and all their hard work.

September 20th: Friendship Seminar, Brazil
2-4pm, JICA Okinawa International Center Nirai Hall (3F)
This year marks the hundredth anniversary of Okinawan immigration to Brazil and Argentina! Why not celebrate by coming to learn about this fascinating South American nation? The bilingual presentation will involve a quiz, some introduction to traditional arts and crafts, a slideshow, and so much more! Entrance is free.

September 23rd: Autumnal Equinox: Honor your ancestors! Get our your scarf and mittens (yeah right…)!

October

October 11-13th: 38th Naha Festival
Kumoji intersection of Route 58
This might possibly be the world's biggest tug-of-war. Obviously I'm going to be there, how about you? More information here.

October 13th: Exercise Day
This is an official national holiday, so you have no choice but to get off the Playstation and go running or something. If you're not into running, maybe ping pong would be a good alternative.

October 14th: Basic Cheesemaking Class
2-4pm Urasoe Central Community Center Kitchen Classroom (2F)
The first session of my international cooking class in cooperation with the UIRA. Not only will we make a basic unripened cheese from scratch (well o.k., we won't be milking the cows, forgive me), we'll also try different cheeses from around the world while I give a presentation about the joys of cheese culture. Class participation is limited to 20 people, and costs 500 yen for registered members of the UIRA (1000 yen annual fee). Call 867-1234 (ext. 2612) for details or the UIRA at 879-3010 to sign up.

October 16th: French Cooking Class
10am-1pm Urasoe Central Community Center Kitchen Classroom (2F)
The second UIRA-sponsored international cooking class, this time we will create a simple French meal to accompany the cheese we made during the October 14th session (if you couldn't attend the first class, no problem! I plan to make extra cheese). We will bake French bread and whip up a mean French onion soup, though other dishes may be added if time permits. Participation is limited to 20 people and costs 500 yen for UIRA members (1000 yen/year). Venez cuisiner avec nous, on va s`amuser bien! Call 867-1234 (ext. 2612) for details or the UIRA at 879-3010 to sign up.

October 24-November 3rd: Shuri Castle Festival
10am - 5pm, Shuri Castle, International Street in Naha
This festival spans over three separate days and encompasses several events. The main attraction (October 28th) is a re-enactment in parade form of a royal procession of the Ryukyu Kingdom. This tradition dates back to the era when the court at Shuri Castle would receive dignitaries from China. For more information, check out this link.

October 25th: Halloween Party
10am-1pm Urasoe Central Community Center
BOO HA HA! In an effort to introduce the joys of this devilish fall holiday to Japan, the UIRA and I will be putting on a rocking party for the wee little ones (and their parents!). We will make caramel apples, become zombies, read scary stories, and hold an extremely official costume contest. Transforming into a werewolf during the party is not only allowed, it's encouraged. Participation is limited to 30 people and costs 200 yen for registered UIRA members (1000 yen/year).

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