INSIDE INFO

Page 2

Business cards, flyers, invitations and more!

Contactprintshop.stripes.com

042-552-2510 (extension77315)227-7315

MAKE PLANS FOR FUTENMA FEST

PAGE 3

TEST YOUR SPORTSKNOWLEDGE WITH

STRIPES SPORTS TRIVIAPAGE 7

STRIPES SPORTS TRIVIA

GO SAVORY OR SWEET AT BREAKFAST SPOT

PAGE 8

Military community gathers funds to

rebuild Shuri Castle

VOLUME 14 NO.10 FEBRUARY 27 − MARCH 4, 2020 FREESTRIPESOKINAWA.COM SUBMIT STORIES TO: OKINAWA@STRIPES.COM FACEBOOK.COM/STRIPESPACIFIC

Mari Gregory presents Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki with more than $11,000 in donations for the restoration of Shuri Castle on Feb. 6. Photo by Aya Ichihashi, Stars and Stripes

BEACH!Hitthe

Pages 4-6

Torii Beach

Zakimi Beach

Wh

ite Bea

ch

Sun, surf, snorkeling await at Okinawa’s sandy beaches

A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION FEBRUARY 27 − MARCH 4, 20202 STRIPES OKINAWA

To place an ad, call DSN 645-7419stripesokinawa.com/contact

For feedback and inquiries,contact MemberServices@Stripes.com

Max D. Lederer Jr.Publisher

Lt. Col. Richard E. McClinticCommander

Joshua M LashbrookChief of Staff

Chris VeriganEngagement Director

Marie WoodsPublishing and Media Design Director

Chris CarlsonPublishing and Media Design Manager

Eric LeeAdvertising and Circulation Manager

Scott WheelerOkinawa Area Manager

Kentaro ShimuraProduction Manager

Rie MiyoshiEngagement Manager

Denisse RaudaPublishing and Media Design Editor

Publishing and Media Design WritersChiHon KimShoji Kudaka

Takahiro Takiguchi

Layout DesignersYukiyo Oda

Yuko OkazakiKayoko Shimoda

Multimedia Consultants Max Genao Doug Johnson Brian Jones Jason Lee Hans Simpson Chae Pang Yi Gianni Youn Robert Zuckerman

Graphic Designers Kenichi Ogasawara Yosuke Tsuji

Sales Support Kazumi Hasegawa Hiromi Isa Ichiro Katayanagi Yoko Noro Yusuke Sato Chae Yon Son Saori Tamanaha Toshie Yoshimizu

N AHA — A Marine Corps spouse who raised more than $11,000 through a

GoFundMe campaign gave the money to Okinawa’s governor on Feb.6 to help restore Shuri Castle, a landmark destroyed by fire Oct. 31.

More than 200 people, mostly U.S. military members and their families serving on Okinawa or who had served there previ-ously, as well as Okinawans liv-ing in the U.S., gave to the fund,

said Mari Gregory, 41. She and her h u s b a n d , Maj. Indigo

Gregory, 44, of Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., were sta-tioned at Camp Courtney, Oki-nawa, until summer 2019.

“Through the fundrais-ing, I’ve really felt how much people love Okinawa,” Mari Gregory told Stars and Stripes before the presentation. “And even if you don’t live in Oki-nawa, Okinawa still stays with you in your heart wherever you go in the world. And it’s been

demonstrated through the fun-draising that people literally from around the world donated because they want to see the castle to be rebuilt and they love Okinawa just as much as everybody else.”

Shuri Castle, which dates to the 15th century, was destroyed during World War II and rebuilt in 1992. It was considered a symbol of Okinawa’s struggle to recover from World War II.

It was reported ablaze at

2:21 a.m. Oct. 31 and burned for more than 11 hours. A total of 171 firefighters responded, but the fire consumed several buildings, including the castle’s iconic main hall, called the Se-iden.

BY AYA ICHIHASHI,STARS AND STRIPES

Published: February 6, 2020

Marine spouse raises $11K to help restore Shuri Castle

EXCLUSIVE NEWS FROM:

People watch as firefighters work a blaze at Shuri Castle in Naha. Photo courtesy of Stars and Stripes

STRIPES OKINAWA 3FEBRUARY 27 − MARCH 4, 2020 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION

O nce again, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma is going to be a stage for live entertainment, cool-looking cars, and fireworks.

Futenma Flight Line Fair is coming back to the Marine Corps facility on March 14 and 15.

Following last year, one of the biggest features will be a car show where gearheads on the island will proudly exhibit their unique cars. Tactical vehicles of the Marine Corps and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force will be on display as well.

Headliners are yet to be announced, but there be will lots of live music, games, and festival foods. The fun-packed festi-val will culminate with fireworks on Sunday evening.

Make plans to get out and have a good time on the Futenma flight line!

DATE: Mar. 14 and 15 (Sat. and Sun.)TIME: 1 – 9 p.m. (both days) *Open to SOFA status and Japanese citizens. *More details to be announced by MCCS

Okinawa (https://www.mccsokinawa.com/)

STRIPES OKINAWA

Futenma the place to be March 14-15

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA – Members of the lo-cal and U.S. military communi-ties attended an open wrestling tournament at the Semper Fit Gym on Feb. 1 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

Hosted by Marine Corps Com-munity Services, the event was open to participants island-wide 16 and older.

“Wrestling teaches me a lot about life and how to be a better Marine,” said Lance Cpl. Bren-nan Slater, a native from Norwich New York, and a motor transport operator with 9th Engineer Sup-port Battalion.

“In life you have to work hard to achieve what you want, and it

a unique chance to compete and build relationships with other military members.

“During the tournament I made a lot of new friends, talked to a lot of different people and just kind of rolled around and had a lot of fun,” said Slater. “The thing with wrestling and being in the Marine Corps is people who are around you have the same mindset. It’s just so easy to con-nect with them, talk to them and have a good time. The things we are provided with by MCCS are awesome, and I am very grateful to them for hosting these events.”

The mission of MCCS is to make Okinawa home by provid-ing a premium yet cost-effective menu of Quality of Life programs and services designed to meet the needs of Marines and their families.

is the same with wrestling be-cause it is just you out on the mat,” he said.

The event served to bring communities together for a day to show off one’s athletic ability and talents against participants in some friendly competition.

“MCCS holds various sport events for military person-nel, families, and civilians to strengthen the camaraderie with the opportunity to compete against one another,” said Jon Durrett, the sports coordinator for MCCS.

“Individual awards are given to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place competitors in each weight class because it gives them a sense of accomplishment,” he said.

The tournament pushed ath-letes to their limit with an op-portunity to show it off on the mat. MCCS brought the athletes

STORY AND PHOTOS BYLANCE CPL. KARIS MATTINGLY,

MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS PACIFIC

Lance Cpl. Joshya Hulse, right, an air

traffic control trainee with Headquarters and

Headquarters Squadron, competes against an

opponent during an open wrestling tournament at the Semper Fit Gym on Feb. 1, Marine Corps Air

Station Futenma.

COMICs CORNER

Maj. Kelly Attwood, an executive officer with Marine Heavy Helicopter

Squadron 466, defeats his opponent.

Tourney pushes wrestlers to their limits

A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION FEBRUARY 27 − MARCH 4, 20204 STRIPES OKINAWA

1. ANA INTERCONTINENTAL MANZA BEACH RESORT: MARCH 4: Home to water activities such as ocean park (water obstacles), sea kayaking, jet skiing, and more. MARCH 22: Water obstacles can be used for free on this day. n PARKING FEE COSTS: 1,500 yen (Free parking offered until Mar. 22) n OPEN: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Subject to change) n TEL: 098-966-1211 n WEBSITE: https://www.anaintercontinental-manza.jp/en/ n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.508345, E 127.856803; 40 minute drive from Camp Foster.

2. SHERATON OKINAWA SUNMARINA RESORT: MARCH 17: Open throughout the year. A ceremony will be held on March 17 to pray for safety. Water activities such as banana boating, snorkeling tour, zip lining are available. n PARKING FEE COSTS: 500 yen per hour (2,000 yen at most between 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.) n OPEN: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. n TEL: 098-965-2222 n WEBSITE: https://sheraton-okinawa.co.jp/en/n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.462274, E 127.811721; 40 minute drive from Camp Foster.

3. KARIYUSHI BEACH: MARCH 4: Water Land (obstacle courses) will be open on the same day. This beach is home to other activities such as parasailing, sea kayaking, jet-skiing, boat tubing and more. n ADMISSION FEE COSTS: 550 yen for 13 years old and above, 330 for ages 4 -12, free admission for 3 years old and below. n PARKING FEE COSTS: Free parking available at Okinawa Beach Resort Ocean Spa. Visitors need to inform at the location that they’ve come for the beach. n OPEN: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (subject to change) n TEL: 098-052-4093 n WEBSITE: http://www.kariyushi-beach.co.jp/ n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.531873, E 127.930195; One hour drive from Camp Foster

4. KANUCHA BEACH: MARCH 29: Water activities such as obstacles courses, parasailing, and flyboard are available. n ADMISSION FEE COSTS: 1,500 yen for 12 years old and above, 500 yen for children (ages 5-11), free admission for 4 years old and below n PARKING FEE COSTS: Included in admission fee n TEL: 0980-55-8880 n WEBSITE: https://www.kanucha.jp/en/n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.546250, E 128.077198; 20 minute drive from Camp Schwab

5. ZANPA BEACH: APRIL 1: Home to water activities such as banana boat, parasailing, flyboard and more. Discount for marine activities is scheduled to be offered on April 5. n PARKING FEE COSTS: Free n OPEN: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. n TEL: 098-958-5000 (for info on water activities) n WEBSITE: https://www.daiwaresort.jp/global/okinawa/feature/1024857/index.html (water activities) n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.435686, E 127.715952;15 minute drive from Torii station.

6. SUNSET BEACH: APRIL 10: A beach adjacent to American village. A popular spot for families and couples. This is also a good place to hold a beachside BBQ party under tent. n PARKING FEE COSTS: Free n OPEN: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Subject to change)n TEL: 098-936-8273 n WEBSITE: http://www.uminikansya.com/

n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.314209, E 127.755104; 10 minute drive from Camp Foster and Kadena Air Base.

7. IKEI BEACH: MARCH 29: A popular beach on Ikei island. Water activities such as fly board, banana boat, and boat tubing are available. This beach is open throughout the year. There will be ceremony on March 29 to celebrate the beach season’s arrival. n ADMISSION FEE COSTS: 400 yen for adult (middle school student and above), 300 yen for ages between elementary school student and 5 years. Free for 4 years old and below n OPEN: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.n WEBSITE: http://www.ikei-beach.com/ n GPS COORDINATES: N

26.388176, E 127.991146; 30 minute drive from White Beach.

8. EMERALD BEACH: APRIL 1: Adjacent to Expo Park, this beach dazzles visitors with its emerald

green and cobalt blue. n PARKING FEE COSTS: Free n OPEN: 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Apr. - Spt.), - 5:30

p.m. (Oct.) n TEL: 0980-48-2741 n WEBSITE: http://oki-park.jp/kaiyohaku/en/inst/75 n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.698680, E 127.877759; 90 minute drive from

Camp Foster.

9. CHURA-SUN BEACH:APRIL 5: A resort beach home to many events and concerts. Water activities such as

sea kayak, banana boat, and boat tube are available. There will be a beach opening ceremony on April 5 with entertainment such as Eisa dance performance.

n PARKING FEE COSTS: - 500 yen n OPEN: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (- 7 p.m. for July and Aug.) n TEL: 098-850-1139 n WEBSITE: https://churasun-beach.com/?page_id=44 n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.157011, E 127.647582; 40 minute drive from Camp Foster. Close to Naha Air Port.

10. TROPICAL BEACH: LATE APRIL: Resort beach near MCAS Futenma and a good spot to have a beach BBQ party at. Water activities such as boat tube and banana boat are available. n PARKING FEE COSTS: Free n OPEN: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Subject to change) n TEL: 090-4471-0581 n WEBSITE: http://www.ginowantropicalbeach.jp/ n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.281693, E 127.731746; 10 minute drive from MCAS Futenma.

11. UPPAMA BEACH: MARCH 29 (Subject to change): Beautiful beach on Nakijin peninsula. Water activities such as jet ski, sea kayak and boat tube are available.n FACILITY USAGE FEE COSTS: 300 yen n PARKING FEE COSTS: 500 yen n OPEN: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. n TEL: 098-056-2767 (hotel) n WEBSITE: https://www.belparaiso.com/lang/english.html n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.691507, E 127.992152; 90 minute drive from Camp Foster.

12. SESOKO BEACH: TBD: A popular beach on Motobu peninsula. This beach boasts of beautiful views of Ie Island and Motobu Peninsula. n ADMISSION FEE COSTS: Free n PARKING FEE COSTS: 1,000 yen n OPEN: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.(- 5:30 p.m. for July through Sept.) n TEL: 098-047-7000 n WEBSITE: http://www.sesokobeach.jp/ n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.650026, E 127.856139; 90 minute drive from Camp Foster.

File photo

W hen March rolls around in Okinawa, beach season will be right around the corner.

It’s time to go surfside and celebrate the beach openings.

Some are resort-oriented while others offer a quiet environment to enjoy nature. You may say this subtropical island has several beaches open throughout the year. However, who would not want to celebrate the return of beach party fun to the island?

Let’s check out the best spring break beaches that Okinawa has to offer.

BY SHOJI KUDAKA, STRIPES OKINAWA

Okinawa’s beaches set to open soonSoak up the sun

STRIPES OKINAWA 5FEBRUARY 27 − MARCH 4, 2020 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION

6. SUNSET BEACH: APRIL 10: A beach adjacent to American village. A popular spot for families and couples. This is also a good place to hold a beachside BBQ party under tent. n PARKING FEE COSTS: Free n OPEN: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Subject to change)n TEL: 098-936-8273 n WEBSITE: http://www.uminikansya.com/

n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.314209, E 127.755104; 10 minute drive from Camp Foster and Kadena Air Base.

7. IKEI BEACH: MARCH 29: A popular beach on Ikei island. Water activities such as fly board, banana boat, and boat tubing are available. This beach is open throughout the year. There will be ceremony on March 29 to celebrate the beach season’s arrival. n ADMISSION FEE COSTS: 400 yen for adult (middle school student and above), 300 yen for ages between elementary school student and 5 years. Free for 4 years old and below n OPEN: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.n WEBSITE: http://www.ikei-beach.com/ n GPS COORDINATES: N

26.388176, E 127.991146; 30 minute drive from White Beach.

8. EMERALD BEACH: APRIL 1: Adjacent to Expo Park, this beach dazzles visitors with its emerald

green and cobalt blue. n PARKING FEE COSTS: Free n OPEN: 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Apr. - Spt.), - 5:30

p.m. (Oct.) n TEL: 0980-48-2741 n WEBSITE: http://oki-park.jp/kaiyohaku/en/inst/75 n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.698680, E 127.877759; 90 minute drive from

Camp Foster.

9. CHURA-SUN BEACH:APRIL 5: A resort beach home to many events and concerts. Water activities such as

sea kayak, banana boat, and boat tube are available. There will be a beach opening ceremony on April 5 with entertainment such as Eisa dance performance.

n PARKING FEE COSTS: - 500 yen n OPEN: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (- 7 p.m. for July and Aug.) n TEL: 098-850-1139 n WEBSITE: https://churasun-beach.com/?page_id=44 n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.157011, E 127.647582; 40 minute drive from Camp Foster. Close to Naha Air Port.

10. TROPICAL BEACH: LATE APRIL: Resort beach near MCAS Futenma and a good spot to have a beach BBQ party at. Water activities such as boat tube and banana boat are available. n PARKING FEE COSTS: Free n OPEN: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Subject to change) n TEL: 090-4471-0581 n WEBSITE: http://www.ginowantropicalbeach.jp/ n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.281693, E 127.731746; 10 minute drive from MCAS Futenma.

11. UPPAMA BEACH: MARCH 29 (Subject to change): Beautiful beach on Nakijin peninsula. Water activities such as jet ski, sea kayak and boat tube are available.n FACILITY USAGE FEE COSTS: 300 yen n PARKING FEE COSTS: 500 yen n OPEN: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. n TEL: 098-056-2767 (hotel) n WEBSITE: https://www.belparaiso.com/lang/english.html n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.691507, E 127.992152; 90 minute drive from Camp Foster.

12. SESOKO BEACH: TBD: A popular beach on Motobu peninsula. This beach boasts of beautiful views of Ie Island and Motobu Peninsula. n ADMISSION FEE COSTS: Free n PARKING FEE COSTS: 1,000 yen n OPEN: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.(- 5:30 p.m. for July through Sept.) n TEL: 098-047-7000 n WEBSITE: http://www.sesokobeach.jp/ n GPS COORDINATES: N 26.650026, E 127.856139; 90 minute drive from Camp Foster.

A lthough Torii Station may not stand out when comes to its size and the number of

servicemembers it hosts, the small Army base is home to a beachside recreational area that will leave a big smile on your face: Torii Beach.

Whether you’re a family look-ing to play in the water and picnic, or a group of friends in the mood to camp, play a little volleyball and unwind, Torii Beach is the perfect location.

Located in the west part of the installa-tion, beach access from Torii’s main gate is very simple. All you need to do is go straight down the hill, make a left at the end, and you should be close to the beach’s entrance in less than five minutes. Passing by sugarcane fields, the ocean blue and white beaches come into sight. It’s beautiful and peaceful, the perfect place to get away from the daily grind. And, yes, if you can’t go without your mobile devices, WiFi

is available.Lining up along the long stretch

of white sand are cabins, a camp-ground, pavilions, a water slide fit for kids of all ages and shower and bathroom facilities. MWR Torii has you covered with any camping, grill-ing and water sport gear rentals, so it is the perfect place for beach parties

with family and friends, or unit parties.

Although events like the Torii Beach Summer Party Series and Ghost on the Beach can draw a big crowd, this secluded location always gives off

a relaxed vibe. It’s a great place to run along the shore, read a book or sit alone enjoying the peaceful view.

Just a 20-30-minute drive away from Gate 1 of Kadena Air Base, Torii Beach offers a quick getaway from the ordinary. kudaka.shoji@stripes.com

W hite Beach Naval Facility is not just for ships mak-ing port calls to replenish

their food supply and load up troops. The U.S. base is also a great place for servicemembers and families to enjoy some recreation and rejuvena-tion on Okinawa.

Located around the tip of Katsuren Peninsula, White Beach features ful-ly-furnished log cab-ins located on a bluff in the middle of the facility. The view is beautiful and the cab-ins are only a short walk to the beach. Camping trailers and tent sites located next to the beach are also available for rent. Pet lovers, there are designated “pet friendly” cabins and campers available.

As you walk around this sprawl-ing facility, the beauty of the ocean and tiny islets sprinkled off the coast draw your attention. The clean, white sandy beaches are perfect for tossing frisbees with friends, building sand castles with your kids or taking a jog.

You’ll also notice local tombs spread along the coastline of the fa-cility. Be respectful. And you may have the opportunity to come across some curious creatures because

nature is well preserved on White Beach.

For those of you looking to break a sweat, basketball and tennis courts, a softball field and swimming pool are available.

When you get hungry or need a break from the strong sunshine, take refuge at Port of Call Club. Having a fresh sandwich at Subway or spicy wings at Wingz@Beach are quick so-lutions for those who don’t feel like grilling at their campsites.

For those who run out of snacks

and drinks can count on Skoshi Mart for a quick replenishment. Plus, there are lounge chairs, game rooms with slot machines, pool tables and computer access when you need a timeout from camping.

There are places out-side the gates of White Beach that people should also check out. There is a paintball facility about a 10-min-ute drive from the gate, as well as no-table historic sites like the remains of a sugar factory located a minute away.

Located in a secluded area, is the perfect getaway for families and groups of friends. So take in the scenery, take advantage of the rec-reational facilities and rejuvenate a White Beach. kudaka.shoji@stripes.com

I f you are on the island of Okinawa, you have the opportunity to see world-class reefs in crystal clear water. And you can

explore this marvelous water world with a mask, fins and snorkel. Once you learn how to snorkel properly, it could become your fa-vorite hobby during your stay on Okinawa. I guarantee that your encounters with all the marine species will be a lifetime experience.

I’ve had opportunities to dive and snorkel in Hawaii, the Great Barrier Reef in Austra-lia, La Paz, Baja Calif. and some islands in Thailand and Indonesia. But honestly, Oki-nawa is my most favorite place to snorkel because of the amazing colorful coral and countless tropical fish. There are many easy entry spots with shallow reef areas (5 to 30 feet) and dynamic drop offs. Water visibility is extremely high and on any given day, the sky is as clear as the water.

And if you’re lucky, you’ll also have the op-portunity to swim along with turtles, manta ray and various types of reef sharks. You can literally spend hours floating over Okinawa’s endless coral heaven.

Here are a couple places I recommend for snorkeling while on Okinawa Island:★Cape Maeda, in the center of Okinawa, is

the most popular snorkeling spot on island. Many diving shops offer snorkeling tours to this area. There is a wide variety of marine life, but one of the best parts is a cave you can swim into. If you’re new to

snorkeling, this is a great place to start. It also has good facilities – bathrooms, places to eat - at the site. Swimming can be prohibited

depending upon weather. *Current status is indicated on the following website. http://www.maedamisaki.jp/en/

★Odo Kaigan, also known as John Man Beach, near the southern tip of Okinawa Island, also offers good snorkeling and is less crowded than Cape Maeda. But note that there are a limited number of free parking spots.

STRIPES OKINAWA

Replenish and rejuvenate at White Beach

A quick getaway to Torii Beach

BY SHOJI KUDAKA, STRIPES OKINAWA

BY SHOJI KUDAKA, STRIPES OKINAWA

Grab a mask

and snorkel!

Explore Okinawa’s

marvelous water world

SEE SNORKEL ON PAGE 6

Photo by Shoji Kudaka

Photo by Aya Ichihashi,Stars and Stripes.

TEL: 098-954-1877DSN: 622-1877HOURS (RESERVATIONS DESK): Mon. - Fri. : 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.FACEBOOK (NAVY MWR, OKINAWA): www.facebook.com/

NavyMWROkinawa/FOR MORE INFO: www.navymwrokinawa.com/programs/

f9ab0b40-8bb3-4bcb-a21c-4b73b4755ea2

White Beach B

TEL: 098-962-4659DSN: 644-4659NOTE: Facilities and equipment available for use include cabins

(up to 6 people), pavilions, camp sites, bonfire pit, inflatable bouncers, ocean kayaks, grills, surfboard and more.

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/toriimwrokinawa/FOR MORE INFO: torii.armymwr.com/programs/torii-beach

Torii Beach A

Okinawa’s beaches set to open soonSoak up the sun

A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION FEBRUARY 27 − MARCH 4, 20206 STRIPES OKINAWA

SAFETY TIPS ☑ Don’t snorkel

alone.

☑ Wear a life jacket if you are not confident in the water.

☑ Check the current and times of tides before entering.

☑ Always remember the entry spot and look back often to check your location. This will

help you to recognize if the current is pushing you.

☑ If you are caught up by the current, swim parallel with the beach calmly until the

current settles.

☑ Respect the reef. One of the main threats Okinawa reefs face is damage caused by

humans. Avoiding direct contact with the reef is the first rule of snorkeling.

☑ Watch out for habu jellyfish and its poisonous tentacles.

☑ Make sure to put on lots of sunscreen.

☑ Drink a lot of water before and after snorkeling to prevent dehydration.

Here are some of the recommended spots in the Okinawa Island chain.★Yonehara Beach, Ishigaki Island: This place has an amazing

drop off at the outer edge of the reef. Please note the current is extremely strong at times, so snorkelers and divers should know what they are doing if they venture out a long way from shore. But if you do, you’ll really enjoy the drop off. In this spot I once saw 10 sea turtles in less than an hour. This beach also has a shallow inner reef area for beginner snor-kelers, but there are no lifeguards or jellyfish nets to protect swimmers. Current can be fast and it is advised to exercise caution. A camping site is located right behind the beach, which attracts many backpackers from not only Japan but around the world. It is not family oriented beach, but if you are looking for some wild beach life, this is the place.

★Nishibama Beach, Hateruma Island: Hateruma Island is the most southern island in Japan. There are so many amaz-ing snorkel spots around this island, which makes it very popular with both single backpackers and families. The water here is a beautiful emerald green. The beach offers a large inner reef for both beginners to experienced snorkel-ers. There is also a 10–15 feet drop off outside the reef for expert snorkelers to enjoy. Don’t miss watching the sunset from this beach because it will be the best sunset of your life.

It takes practice and experience to be a good snorkeler. The key is being relaxed, which only comes if you spend a lot of time in water. I recommend practicing in a pool, especially if you are bringing along children. You can all practice clear-ing your mask when water comes into it, controling your fins in the water and breathing through a snorkel properly.Listen, if you are not an experienced snorkeler, I highly

recommend taking a snorkeling tour from a local diving shop, which will provide step-by-step instructions. Even if you are an experienced snorkeler, it is good to use local snorkeling tours because guides will brief you on the local fish, landscapes and condition of the area.

When I travel to Okinawa to snorkel and dive, I will always make sure I’m aware of the high/low tides, wind conditions and currents. Respect the ocean before entering it.

Now, go grab your gear and hit the water.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Stripes Okinawa is A Stars and Stripes Community Publication. This newspaper is authorized for publication by the Department of Defense for members of the military services overseas. However, the contents of Stripes Okinawa are unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, including the Department of Defense or the U.S. Pacific Command. As a DOD newspaper, Stripes Okinawa may be distributed through official channels and use appropriated funds for distribution

to remote and isolated locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement of those products by the Department of Defense or Stars and Stripes. Products or services advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron.

snorkel:

Be safe

Week of 2/24/20 - 3/1/20

SUDOKU Edited by Margie E. Burke

Copyright 2020 by The Puzzle Syndicate

Difficulty: Medium HOW TO SOLVE:

Answers to Last Week’s Sudoku:

Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must

contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

1 7 96

3 2 9 83 7 5

48 4 3 74 12 9 79 3 7 1 2

2 3 6 4 1 5 7 9 85 4 9 8 6 7 3 2 11 7 8 2 9 3 6 5 49 6 5 1 7 2 4 8 33 2 7 9 4 8 1 6 58 1 4 3 5 6 2 7 96 9 3 5 2 4 8 1 74 5 2 7 8 1 9 3 67 8 1 6 3 9 5 4 2

ACROSS1 Eyes, poetically5 Get used to

10 Blue-green hue14 Castle enclosure15 Shut out16 Anagram for

"guns"17 Like some

evidence19 1987 film, "____

Kind of Wonder-ful"

20 Don't just stand there

21 Good person23 Held on to25 Well-expressed26 "Black-eyed"

legume29 Hollywood

Hawke31 Garden pests32 Bearing33 Pea's place36 Marble feature 4 Ascot fastener 39 Sports no-no's 49 24-Down is one37 Kind of candle 5 Infomercials, e.g. 41 Fortune teller 51 Field measure39 Right-minded 6 Certain believer 43 Leave 52 Metal money40 Cutting tool 7 "Waterloo" weaponless 54 Gerard Butler, 41 Rotisserie rod singers 44 Treeless plain for one42 Beat to the tape 8 Oil source 46 Charley horse, 55 Facilitate44 Not so nice 9 Like icy roads e.g. 56 A whole bunch45 Apprehensive 10 Give, as duties 47 Aussie "bear" 59 Select, with "for"46 Fleming, for one 11 Job estimate 48 Where Goodyear49 Bygone autocrat 12 Deprive of is headquartered50 Hard-to-read courage

expression 13 FBI operative53 Derby prize 18 Trusty mount57 Retirees' org. 22 Horse of a 58 Budget-minded certain color60 Farm feed 24 "Had been" or 61 Fresh, as lettuce "had said", e.g.62 Two tablets, 26 Vena ____:

maybe heart vessel63 Place for a comb 27 Columnist's page64 Basic belief 28 Brainiac65 Dinner in a pot 29 Totally drained

30 Even finishDOWN 33 Prefix with

1 Epps of "House" graph2 Went horseback 34 Cross to bear3 The Crimson 35 Disavow

Tide, familiarly 38 Band follower?

Week of 2/24/20 - 3/1/20

The Weekly Crossword by Margie E. Burke

Copyright 2020 by The Puzzle Syndicate

Answers to Last Week’s Crossword:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16

17 18 19

20 21 22

23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35

36 37 38 39

40 41 42 43

44 45

46 47 48 49

50 51 52 53 54 55 56

57 58 59

60 61 62

63 64 65

L A S T A R I A S A C K SO U C H R O M P A L O N EO D O R C O P E V A L O RT I R E S O M E P I R A T ES T E A L S L A L O M

D O L E B A R I S T AI R K B E R G E N N E A RB A A S O V E R T G E R MI S L E T I E R E D P A SS H E L L A C A R E A

F O R E S T B R E A DH O R R I D W I S T E R I AA B O U T B I O L T R O TT I T L E A N N A H O L EE T H E R T E S T A R I D

STRIPES OKINAWA 7FEBRUARY 27 − MARCH 4, 2020 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION

DID YOUKNOW?

Language Lesson

Kanji of the week

Stripes Sports Trivia

Answer

E ver visited the many department store food basements around Japan? The first of its kind was introduced about

80 years ago in Nagoya. A combination of “depato,” meaning department store, and “chika.” meaning basement, the word “depachika” was reportedly first used to describe these food basements in 2000 when Tokyu Department Store opened its own and some newspapers and TV programs used the name.

Every sport has those records that are just plain astonishing. Numbers that every time you see them, you wonder how it was possible for a player to accomplish that once, and as far as breaking it? No chance. The NFL record for sacks in a single game is seven. Yes, seven sacks, one guy. Which Hall of Fame linebacker, who was tragically killed after a car crash in 2000, holds this untouchable record?

Derrick Thomas

Tsuki/Getsu, Gatsu (Moon/Month)月Don’t worry.

Shinpai shinaide.

A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION FEBRUARY 27 − MARCH 4, 20208 STRIPES OKINAWA

Scientists believe that pancakes — in one form or another — may have been eaten as far back as prehistoric

times, so it’s hard to find a fresh take on the universally adored food item.

Look no further than Mother Coffee in Kitanakagusuku, Okinawa. The small cafe has taken its affinity for Dutch baby pan-cakes and infused them with something truly unique.

Dutch baby pancakes are baked in per-sonal-sized cast iron skillets, which gives them the appearance of a giant Yorkshire pudding or a popover. They are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and come sizzling, topped with an assortment of sweet or sa-vory options.

Combine that with fresh and locally sourced ingre-dients, gourmet coffee and a rustic, artistic ambiance, and you might have the perfect foil to the overpriced, corporate coffee chain.

Mother Coffee opened in 2015 in what looks like old U.S. military housing. Less than a mile as the crow flies from Camp Foster, the quiet Zukeran neighborhood has afforded it much camouflage and made it one of the area’s best-kept secrets.

The owner, Sakura Uetatsu, said she was a fan of pancakes growing up and had an idea to cook them in skillets. A few

years ago, she began to ex-periment.

She liked how the Dutch baby pancakes rose up on the skillet sides in the oven, and the Mother Cof-

fee staple was born.On the sweet side of the menu, plain

with powdered sugar starts at $6.31. The cafe also serves a berry pancake for $7.23, which comes with different types of ber-ries and ice cream, as well as sweet potato or apple caramel for $8.17.

All of the savory skillets cost $8.17. Mother Coffee offers sausage and veg-etables, macaroni au gratin, sweet chili teriyaki, thick cut bacon and vegetables

and potato and mochi with spicy cod roe. These skillets come with either soup or salad.

The bacon skillet was quite nice. The thick cut bacon was not too fatty, had the right amount of seasoning and came wrapped up in the cake’s warm embrace. The heaping helping of lettuce and differ-ent types of peppers inside made me at least feel as though I was eating healthy, even if I wasn’t. A thimble of Japanese salad dressing came as a welcome com-plement.

Mother Coffee also offers a breakfast plate from 8-11 a.m. for $6.30. It comes with a large perfectly toasted piece of white bread with butter, a hardboiled egg

and salad, with jam and sea salt on the side and a beverage. Patrons can choose from coffee, tea, juice or milk.

You can’t run a cafe with coffee in the name and not offer a stellar brew. Mother Coffee has all the options you would find at a corporate chain — hot and cold, and then some.

The iced caramel macchiato was tall and tasted as good as it looked — frothy and not too sweet. Raw brown rock sugar was available if I wanted it. It was well worth the $6.03.

Mother Coffee also offers its own blend of coffee for $4.45, a Mother latte for $5.10 or a flavored latte for $5.38. A caramel or strawberry mocha will set you back $6.03. A cappuccino costs $5.10.

The cafe also offers an array of teas, ranging from $2.78 to $5.38, and various fruit juices for $2.78. They offer an ice cream and melon soda for $5.38, banana milk for $5.56, blood orange juice for $4.36 and even adult coffees laced with brandy for $6.49.

Unlike the owner, I was never a huge fan of pancakes, and eating sweets for breakfast is not really my cup of tea. How-ever, by offering savory Dutch baby pan-cakes as well as using fresh ingredients, Mother Coffee has raised the bar for qual-ity breakfast and put the corporate coffee chains on notice.burke.matt@stripes.comTwitter: @MatthewMBurke1

EXCLUSIVE NEWS FROM:

LOCATION: 588 Zukeran, Kitanakagusuku, Nakagami District, Okinawa 901-2317DIRECTIONS: Located less than a mile

from Camp Foster’s Firehouse Gate (Gate 3) as the crow flies. Take a right out of the gate onto

Route 130, then a left onto 330. After a quarter mile, take a left at the intersection after Kame Soba Kitanaka Branch. Mother Coffee will be on your right. Parking is limited, so carpool if meeting friends.

HOURS: Open every day except Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PRICES: Affordable. Skillet sets start at $6.31. All under $8.17.

DRESS: CasualTEL: 098-923-3723ONLINE: mothercoffee.net

fresh take on savory pancakes

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MATTHEW M. BURKE,STARS AND STRIPES

Published: October 10, 2019

Mother Coffee offers hot,