Local traditions and culture in Okinawa

If you're in the city and exploring the different restaurant just a reminder that when you pay your bill that you're not to leave a tip. If you enjoyed your food just say "domo arigato" wich means thank you or say "derishasu" which means delicious.

liviing in Okinawa means learning another culture . one of the customs I learned is that when you move to your apartment or house it's customary to bring a gift to your neighbor this is best way to start in your adventure in Japan.

Everyone likes a buffet right? In fact, they like them so much on Okinawa that most restaurants have an eating time limit. What's that you say? Time limit? That's right...as soon as you sit down to eat, the wait staff will either start a timer at their station or one located right on your table. When your time is up, you must leave the restaurant. Generally, the smaller the place is, the less time you get. The shortest i have seen is 45 minutes and the longest I have seen is 90 minutes, but they are usually about an hour. Why the limit? For one it keeps you from eating them into the poor house and second it enables others to get in and get a chance to eat too. I don't recall seeing this custom on the mainland of Japan.

Okinawans love music. During celebrations, the delightful sound of the sanshin - a three-stringed lute that originally came from China during the Ryukyu Kingdom Era - and lots of lively dance will capture your senses. The "kachashee" is a dance that is performed by everyone at the end of a party or celebration. Small kids, teenagers, and grandparents all love to dance. You can experience Okinawan music at any festival or by visiting a "minyo" (folk music) bar with live music.

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Okinawan spiritualism is centered around ancestral worship. If you visit Okinawa, you will notice many tombs along the coastline and in the hillsides. To some people they look like sotrage bunkers, but they are not. Please do not tresspass as they are the resting places of Okinawans in the afterlife. They are also the scene of much activity during "shimi," which usually takes place in the beginning of April. During this celebration, Okinawans will gather at their ancestral tomb with lots of food and drink and have a picnic-style party after saying a few prayers!

Please try it when you come to Okinawa!
This is a special alchohol of Okinawa,kind of liquor.It's good for you to mix the Awamori with the water.So, it's strong. Alcohol rate is approximately 40%.
Taste; peculiarity of the smell,but taste is mellow.
Okinawa people like this, therefore they are longevity.
I really enjoyed it.

Junichi

This 2nd World War Memorial is dedicated to the 219 High School Girls and Teachers who were diverted from their studies from March 1945 and illegally used by the Japanese Army as nurse interns in hospital for the Japanese war wounded. Within a few months the group was on the run in the middle of the battlefield, performing clean-up work of surgeons in dank, unsanitary caves. Not permitted to surrender and near defeat, the Japanese Army finally gave an order for the group to disband. In the chaos in the midst of war battle, the lives of most of the remaining members were sacrificed thereafter.