ryukyu star
the
Editor
Kathryn Strong
Visual Editor Jd Banks
1-2 Contributors 3-4 Editors’ Notes Kathryn Strong Jd Banks
Prefectural Advisors
5-6 Notes from the Kencho
Published by
7-8 PA Journal: Lord of the SDC
Contact us at
9-10 The Emperor’s Warm Welcome
Grant Minagawa Elizabeth Reuter
Okinawa Prefectural Government ryukyustar@ajet.net
Grant Minagawa Elizabeth Reuter
Grant Minagawa
Benjamin Martin
11-14 A Guide to Okinawan Wildlife Tom Becskehazy
15-16 Warmth Aaron Crawford
winter
2012 - 2013
17-20 Warmth - Photo Journal Tim Franklin
21-22 A 台風 of Love (A Typhoon of Love) Virginie Beaudoin
23-24 Full Circle Anonymous
25-27 Trains, Planes, and Boats: Cheap Travel within Japan A. Hatton
28 Where in the World is Rekio the Lion? Grant Minagawa
29-30 Soul Food - Zulu Style Kholeka Ngcobo
31-34 Recipes
Hot Cocoa by Ava Newell Cinnamon Apples by Kathryn Strong Tougan Soup by Benjamin Martin
35-36 Announcements
contributors grant m,inagawa
Grant Minagawa, ALT/Ken PA, or GrantPA for short. Grant is from Hawaii (USA) and in his third year as a JET in Okinawa. He wrote the Secret Adventures of Rekio for the Ryukyu Star. When not carrying out his Kencho sentence, he enjoys taking pictures and traveling with his little wooden sidekick.
A writer herself (urban fantasy Demon of Renaissance Drive, her first novel, is out as of November 2011), Elizabeth is a big fan of storytelling in its varied forms and has liked Takarazuka for about a decade now, which makes her feel depressingly old, so don’t mention it.
kholeka ngcobo
a. hatton
Kholeka is the eternal child goddess that knows nothing but feels everything. She dreams a lot. She wakes a lot. She is a Zulu girl in Japan.
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elizabeth reuter
anonymous
Not associated with the hacker.
A. Hatton is a Chicagoan and a 2nd-year 小学校 ALT in Motobu-cho. She ends up hopping from stone to stone a lot, and will drink -all- the coffee, if you let her.
benjamin martin
Benjamin Martin is author of the YA novel Samurai Awakening and runs the blog http://morethingsjapanese. com. He lives on Kumejima.
aaron crawford
ava newell
Aaron is a first year ALT living on Tokashiki Island. Originally from Tennessee (go Vols!), he now enjoys going to the beach, wake-boarding, running through the mountains, and drinking Orion and Jack Daniels.
A hot beverage is a must daily for Jamaicans, and Ava Newell is delighted to share a recipe this issue, preserved from her grandma’s kitchen. Hailing from the countryside, she loves to read, watch sports and try new recipes. She lives and works in Uchima, Urasoe City.
tom becskehazy
virginie beaudoin
Tom B. is a 1st year JET from Arizona, although he's been living in Okinawa since January, 2009. He loves scuba diving, hiking, and drinking beer on the beach. Or on a boat. Or pretty much anywhere, really. You can find him at Shuri HS doing bingata between classes.
tim franlin
Virginie is a 2nd year ALT teaching in Kadena Highschool and Mirai High Tech. She is from Quebec, Canada and can speak French, English, Spanish and some Japanese. Her degree is in ESL and Spanish teaching. She loves traveling, learning languages, scuba diving, painting, dancing, camping, hiking, playing violin and sanshin, cooking, etc. よろしくね。
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Tim is a first year ALT on Minami Daito in Okinawa, Japan. Heavily influenced by the scenic vistas of the United States’ Pacific Northwest, Tim’s photographic style demonstrates the dichotomy between urban landscapes and nature, by fusing the two disparate elements. His portfolio includes images from across the United States, Japan, and Canada.
want to be a contributor?
please see page 39 for details!
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from the editors
editor: kathryn strong
I have on three layers of pants and three layers of shirts; I’ve been taking my water straight from a kettle, and drinking it scalding; I can’t feel my ears, although evidence suggests that they’re still attached. Okinawa winter is finally here, and although it doesn’t bring snow, and although there are still flowers blooming, the wind off the ocean seems to blow straight through the cement walls of my apartment. It’s cold.
The wonderful thing is, I don’t care. As I’m writing this, so many weeks before you’ll read it, I can only think of one thing: In just a handful of days, my family will arrive in Okinawa. It’s that thought that lets me spring out of my warm bed every morning, to land barefoot on my frozen floor. It gets me through school days filled with unplanned teacher illnesses and improvised lessons. Like a hot compress on a strained muscle, the warmth of this imminent family reunion eases my daily frustrations. All I have to do is whisper to myself, “Just a few days more.” In this issue of the Ryukyu Star, the OkiJET Community offers an exploration of the meaning of warmth. For me, the love of my family warms me more than any hot soup or drink (although you can find recipes for those near the back of this issue). Other JETs have found warmth snuggled with a special someone, through bonds with friends and their community, as well as through ties to their own culture from home. If for you warmth means physically being in a warm place, you’ll find some tips included for getting off the island without breaking the bank within the pages as well. Our regulars are back, Tom giving us all another fascinating look at the wildlife in Okinawa, Grant contributing an introspective on the sweat-breaking task of putting SDC togeth-
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er, and Tim providing a beautiful and bright photo journal. Finally, a review of Mao Ishikawa’s protest art exhibition rounds out this issue by highlighting the incendiary nature of current island politics. Looking at this month’s submissions, it’s clear that we all have our own methods of surviving winter. However, it seems to me that just as important as staying warm is giving warmth to those around us. While any time is a good time to make a change, the start of the New Year marks a time for introspection and resolution. In their submissions, many JETs noted that closeness and connection brought feelings of warmth. A smile, a friendly word, food shared with neighbors, or even just taking the time to kick the ball around the parking lot with the kids next door are all easy things that can be done to express gratitude for all that our communities do to keep us warm, and to give back a little bit to the atmosphere that has made Okinawa our home. Of course, part of what makes Okinawa home for me is this magazine and the community around it. So many people give so many hours to put it out each season. I’d like to thank all the contributors, from those who sent something in for the first time, to the regulars whose reliable contributions form the Ryukyu Star’s backbone. I’d like to thank our PAs, Elizabeth and Grant, for endlessly forwarding emails, writing notes, and supporting all of our needs at the Kencho. A huge thanks to Jd who takes my vague notes, miscellaneous images, and text files and creates something beautiful every time. Finally, thanks to you, the reader, I hope you find a little warmth in these pages.
visual editor: jd banks Too many times, the word “warmth” is associated with clichéd cups of hot cocoa, flickering fireplaces, and beanie-clad people. This word, however, expresses a myriad of images that we don’t usually link with it. But, when it came to the cover of this issue of the Ryukyu Star, I was at a loss. What is “warmth” in physical form?
Fall 2012 hand drawn
After much brainstorming, I ended up with a few lackluster ideas. It was Katie who came up with this issue’s cover and steered me away from rehashed winter-theme images. In this issue’s cover, a bonfire scene on the seaside depicts both the physical form of the holidays (friends, family, gatherings, and concrete warmth) and the icy quality of the sea (winter and the unperturbed seasons). Although this cover is a great departure from the last issue, the Fall 2012 issue’s cover was an experiment in combining hand-drawn illustrations with computer graphics. The Summer 2012 cover was done with only computer graphics. Can you see the difference?
Summer 2012 computer drawn
Winter 2012 hand drawn
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notes fromthe kencho from grant minagawa and elizabeth reuter
Dear OkiJETs, We hope that you all had a refreshing winter vacation and are back and ready to tackle a brave new 2013! By the time you read this, you will most likely know if you’re reappointing for next year or not.
to those of you who are not staying
Don’t forget about the Conference for Returning JETs in Yokohama from February 25th to 27th, where speakers successfully using JET in their current careers can help point you in the right direction, should you have trouble knowing what that is. There’s a lot to do to prepare for your trip back home (or your next big move)! If you need recommendation letters, ask for them soon, before the staff rotation in April. Start compiling a guide for your soon-to-be successor. Figure out that pension thing and get rid of your extra junk. This year’s official “After JET Guide” will go up on the OkiJET homepage soon, though last year’s is still up as a huge honkin’ .doc file. Don’t forget how busy your last few months will be. If there’s something you want to do, money you want to save, people you want to talk to, now is the time. Go see sakura blossoms in Nago. Check out Tokyo and mainland Japan--if you book your hotel and plane ticket well in advance, it won’t be nearly as expensive. Cook that dinner for your co-workers. By the time May rolls around, you’ll barely remember your own name thanks to the mile-long to-do list crammed in your skull! Make the time count, and move on without regret.
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{ { “Make the time count, and move on without regrets.”
for those of you who are staying
oh, no! Get more involved! The new school year is the time to expand your role, and maybe start that new club you’ve been thinking about. Take a class or immerse yourself in the local community. Think about what you can do for the new JETs coming this summer!
• Get more involved! ls. • Set some personal goa • Renew visas. s. • Slap on some heat pack
Set some personal goals for yourself. Think about why you decided to remain and what you hope to accomplish in the new school or JET year.
かいろ
Those of you staying may need to renew your visas (which are usually for three years) or passports.
: e the CLAIR websites se se ea pl , er rm fo e hone numbers) and For th (p au). f pd 4. /0 /a en v/ re onal information bure gi agengo /t re e .jp th or ir. on la .c on w ati w w rm // http: 2.pdf (info /tagengorev/en/a/02_ .jp or ir. la .c w w w // p: htt
For the latter, you can renew via the consulate of your country. For example, the US consulate page is here: http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-passports-r enewal.html
When it seems like things are finally settling down, culture shock and homesickness can spring from the shadows without warning! If you encounter feelings of sudden depression, anger, or frustration, there is help available. Your PAs are standing by, and you can also call the Support System. The JETLINE (M to F 9:00AM to 5:45PM, (03) 5213-1729) and the AJET Peer Support Line (daily 8:00PM to 7:00AM, 050-5534-5566) are also available. We hope everyone had some happy and memorable holidays! Now it’s time to slap on some kairo/heat packs and enjoy the rest of JET 2012-2013!
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must...open... the...doors...
よろしく
the
sd ord C L of the
art by jd banks pa journal by grant minagawa
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This PA journal entry has been written as a fairy tale to make it sound more interesting than it really was. Some parts of the story may be highly exaggerated for effect.
A long time ago, in the magical land of Mid-
dle Okinawa, there lived a funny little creature called the Grobbit. The Grobbit was very well organized, talkative, and just a little maniacal. He led a quiet life in the village of Urumacity. One day, a pall fell over the villagers. No one had any new ideas, and communication between them had become very difficult. As the Grobbit helplessly looked around in despair, he was approached by a kind, mysterious wizard, Nakayoshi the Grey. Nakayoshi the Grey told him that people across the land were being affected by an evil object known as the Situation of Debilitating Circumstances (SDC). It had been discovered by the Grobbit’s Pred, Uncle Ohta, long ago. The only way to save Middle Okinawa was to throw the SDC into the fires of Mt. Paperwork, deep in the wastes of Okinawa City. The towering piles of Mt. Paperwork were truly terrifying. The mountain was so vast and endless that stray paperwork even made its way as far as Urumacity. The Grobbit asked why no one else could carry such a heavy burden, to which Nakayoshi simply replied that no one else wanted to. After much thought, the Grobbit reluctantly agreed to carry the SDC. They journeyed to the great citadel, Kencho, where the Grobbit was to assemble a group of presenters to accompany him. When the Grobbit arrived at Kencho, he began to ask the people gathered there. Many said “no; ” while some just didn’t answer, and the Grobbit had to assume that that meant no as well. He became very frustrated; no one even tried to steal the powerful SDC away from him. No one wanted it. Eventually, a great group of presenters was assembled. The Grobbit carried his trusty clipboard, and he armed his friends with projectors, whiteboard markers, and evaluation packets. The long journey to Mt. Paperwork began. The Fellowship of the SDC had to battle many great
obstacles along the way to the ominous wasteland of Okinawa City. The Grobbit had to compile a sign-up sheet, to unlock the reply forms from all the people in the land. As paperwork fell everywhere, he struggled to stay afloat and organize it all. Late documents and complaints were ever-present dangers. As he read the papers around him, the Grobbit was constantly reminded of how much work still had to be done. Suddenly, tragedy struck. Deep in the chasms of Gikai, the wise Nakayoshi the Grey was lost! He and his magic, school-calling telephone had been invaluable to get the little Grobbit as far as he was now. But there was no turning back; the Fellowship of the SDC put their grief aside and trudged forward. As they approached Okinawa City, the Grobbit had to assign the presenters to their workshops. The Fellowship’s numbers dwindled, as they fell into positions to hold off the dazed hordes of Middle Okinawans. The weather cooled as the Grobbit raced his little scooter across the empty wastes of Okinawa City. Time was quickly running out. He began to scale the steep slopes of Mt. Paperwork. Nametags slid under each step, and fiery balls of room signs and evaluations plummeted from its dizzying heights. He finally reached the top, and the young Grobbit held the evil SDC high above the pits of fire. A terrible voice whispered distracting things into his ear, like “Just leave it the way it is,” or, “Do this again next year”. The little Grobbit was gripped by a chilling fear as he found himself wanting to call the whole thing off. In one great effort, he released his grip and the evil SDC fell into the fires of Mt. Paperwork. In an instant, there was a massive explosion and the SDC was finished! All across Middle Okinawa, a great warmth was felt as the people learned to do their jobs and work with their coworkers once again! The Grobbit was celebrated as a hero and he returned to Kencho to live out the rest of his year in peace.
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the emperor’s
warm welcome benjamin martin
On November 20th, 2012, the Emperor of Japan, Akihito, and Empress Michiko visited Kumejima as part of a four-day visit to Okinawa. Preparations were long in the making, and it was extraordinary to see how much spectacle went into a visit that lasted less than 5 hours. I was asked to help photograph on behalf of Kumejima Town and was fortunate to be able to stand with television and newspaper camera people in designated media areas.
The Emperor and his wife arrived around 10:30 on a plane from the Okinawa mainland. Upon arrival, they greeted a group of students and dignitaries and then drove to the Deep Sea Water Research Institute to tour its grounds. One of the major reasons for their visit was the proposed OTEC power plant on Kumejima. Along the way, townspeople greeted the Emperor by waving Japanese flags (a rarity in Okinawa) and shouting, “Thank you for coming,” and,
“Banzai!” After the tour, the motorcade arrived at the Town Hall just before 13:00 to rest and talk with Mayor Taira. There they discussed Kumejima’s many natural resources such as kuruma-ebi, umi-budo, and deep sea water while eating lunch. They talked so much, they didn’t have time to finish their food!
patrol boats around Kumejima during his visit along with two police helicopters. In addition to his regular guard, there were plain-clothes police at every stop and along the route, as well as regular police, bombsniffing dogs, and scores of cadets to help with traffic and crowd control during the Emperor’s procession.
Afterward, the Imperial retinue returned to the airport and waved “goodbye” to another group of students, elderly, and other well-wishers. Their airplane, while a regular JAL Express, sported two Japanese flags flying out of the cockpit until just before it took off at 15:53. Overall the police reported that 5,300 locals, out of a population of 8,554, came to see the Emperor. Aside from locals, 600 other people made the trip. I saw Fuji Television, RBC, and NHK along with several photographers in the surrounding crowd. The security surrounding the Emperor was impressive. There was at least one, and likely several, coast guard
The Emperor and Empress were warm and smiling and took the time to wave to and greet those who had come to see them. With such security and planning, it is no wonder things went so smoothly (though I think the Emperor stopped a couple times more than planned since the welcome was so great—security operatives had to scuttle back out of the way at least twice). After the Emperor left, the Governor of Okinawa, who had also attended the tour, made several positive remarks for the cameras about his impression of the day.
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a guide to
okinawa wildlife
ar Welcome back, de be e reader! Before w the gin, let us attend to ail mountains of fan m inI received after my on. augural publicati
tom becskehazy
Horrified in Haebaru writes:
To Whom It May Concern, Please excuse the vomit-flecked, tearstained letter you hold in your hands. Adverse effects of reading “A Guide to Okinawan Wildlife” include a pending divorce (my husband could no longer stand me waking up screaming in the middle of the night) and a removal of any sense of decency I once possessed.
Please cancel my subscription to the Ryukyu Star, fire your board of directors, bleach your printing presses, and destroy any and all evidence that this correspondence ever took place. Thank you, Horrified, for your honesty. Have a nice day! So, your husband decided to leave you now, did he? Why, how lonely you must be! Please (NAME WITHHELD FOR PRIVACY) know that despite my extensive biological training, my heart and mind are not mere repositories for cold, clinical thought.
No, my dear, I enjoy a simple glass of red wine as much as the next fellow, sipped by a roaring fire as I gaze into the uncherished eyes of a woman just aching to be… Ah, yes, well I’ll have the Ryukyu Star customer service department forward me your contact details, so that I may explore your feelings of resentment in a more… confidential setting. Tom B.
Apologies to the legions of fans who responded with such wonderful letters, electronic mails, and gut-pierced dolls rendered in my likeness (such imaginations you readers have!) I do not possess the time or space to respond to each and every one of you. Know that I keep you in my heart, and please continue to send me your thoughts at okinawanwildlifeguide@gmail.com. And now, on to the main course! This is a special edition of AGOW that focuses on a single, rather unique form of wildlife:
The White Lightning!
aka The Albino Tiger aka Vanilla Smoke aka a 1998 Daihatsu Mira What can I say about this singular beauty that hasn’t already been said? “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” Ah, but it so closely resembles a thoroughbred mustang, muscled haunches glistening with sweat, flanks trembling with anticipation, breath clouding the cold morning air in ever-increasing bursts! Yes, The White Lightning certainly inspires such poetic musings. After seeing 146,000 miles of road, how could it not? But enough flimflammery! Science is about poking and prodding the details, so let us whip out our science-hardened pokers and prod away!
The Engine 660 ccs of raw animal power. The geniuses at Daihatsu managed to squeeze 64 horses under the hood – a feature the “rocket scientists” at NASA could learn a thing or two from.
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If you’re wondering why the car slows down when the AC is on, wonder no more! Observe:
SIDE STREET IN NAHA’S FABULOUS SHURI DISTRICT Well gee, Judy, what a ding dong darn beautiful day it is! Oh you betcha, Johnny. Golly, we’re so lucky to be JETs here in sunny Okinawa.
Focus on our hero, Johnny Jet, as he navigates the roads with his gorgeous (but platonic) friend, Judy, in his late-model Lexus…Yes, Judy, whom he secretly loves, and who secretly loves him. Will they ever confess their love for each other? You got that right, Judy. Why, just think, we could be freezing our backsides off in Hokkaido at this very moment.
Oh gosh, Johnny! Your language… It’s so… Dirty. W-well gosh, Judy, I didn’t mean to-
Pulse racing, resolve hardening…
Oh no, Johnny! I don’t mind at all! I actually like it when you talk dir- Oh, but do be careful, these streets can be ever so dangerous! Won’t you slow down?
Not to worry, Judy! I passed the Japanese Driver’s License Test. Its faithful recreation of road conditions ensures that I’ll always be-
OH GOSH
NOOOOO
OOO!
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NY JOHN T JE
JUDY
Everyone dies.
Johnny JET could have avoided the tragedy had he been behind the wheel of The White Lightning. Its patented SLOWDOWN AC© technology would have allowed him to see the approaching danger from a comfortable speed of 10-20 kph. The wunderkinds at Daihatsu also struck ecological gold by limiting the AC’s stuck-in-traffic efficiency. The AC works at 1/3 its full capacity to save you liters of gas and hundreds of yen. What else wastes precious gasoline? Extra weight, that’s what. Airbags? No thank you, too heavy. Anti-lock brakes? Nope, too heavy. A comfortable back seat? What is this, Communist Russia? Go (CENSORED) yourself! Now let’s take a step back to observe The White Lightning as a paragon of modern (1998) style and design: -Patches of rust evoke images of classic, lived-in beauty, like a fin de siècle Alpine Villa -Dents and scratches call to mind the rugged outdoors. Can’t you smell the lumberjack sweat? -Why, just look at the body’s straight, clean lines. I see a sunlit cloud! A swan gliding through early morning mist! Well, fellow biology enthusiasts, I must regretfully conclude this issue’s foray into the Okinawan wilderness. Until next time, when we will once again brave the wild coasts, untamed jungles, and haunted valleys of this, our island paradise!
JOHNNY JET
JUDY
Platonic to the end...
Comic written by Tom B. Comic drawn by Jd B.
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warmth
aaron crawford
15
Living on a small, tropical island sure has its advantages. Although I am incredibly grateful for the mostly sunny weather and the sunburn I can still get at the end of November, the weather is not the only thing that is warm. The warmth I feel takes many different forms. As cliché as it is, I believe my greatest feeling of warmth is the acceptance and friendship of so many people here on this island. Living on Tokashiki, which has a population of around 750, it is an unavoidable fact that people are going to know who I am. Since I am the only foreigner on the island (and rather tall and blond to boot), people know what days I hang my laundry and if I went running over the weekend. Despite the somewhat persistent attention I am shown, it feels good to be recognized—by everyone. When I go to the post office, I walk by the preschool only to hear a shower of “AARON-SENSEI!” The fact that even the two- and three-year-old children remember my name and face is not only surprising, but also incredibly flattering. I can’t help but smile and wave. In fact, I don’t think a day has gone by without something happening to make me smile uncontrollably. For example, in class, we learned the word “giraffe”. The teacher asked me, “Oh, like the movie, right? Giraffic Park?” Mental images flashed and the kids started laughing at me as I was laughing at the front of class. I was dying. It was great. Aside from feeling alive through laughter, I have also been particularly embraced by friends on the
island. One person has actually invited me to join his family and took me to a family reunion of sorts. Meeting his parents and grandparents and countless tanned and toothless aunts and uncles, somehow, bizarrely, I did not feel out of place. In fact, I felt right at home, even while aunts and uncles were petting my “cat hair” head. I feel a lot like an older brother to his two kids as well, which can’t help but make me happy. Though I will likely not be changing my last name to Tomisato, their family name, having a new family after just four months is incredible. Lastly, I also feel warmth through the buzz of drinking with friends. Here in Okinawa, particularly on the outer islands, alcohol has a constant presence. Though there are certainly negative health effects to drinking, there is also something to the fact that Okinawan people have one of the longest life expectancies. I believe that it’s because of the overall happiness of the Okinawan people due in part to the occasional (or frequent) drink. Drinking with my friends is a great time to practice my Japanese uninhibited and to really get to know people. Warmth can be many things. For me, it has been a combination of acceptance, attention, community, and laughter, although the weather and the alcohol certainly contribute as well. In the end, warmth takes the form of getting what we need. Living in a foreign place, I think we need friends and family. We need to feel accepted. Most importantly, we need to laugh. Preferably every day.
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warmth tim franklin
“burning�
“sun stealing clouds”
“the edges of reason” 18
“evening dip”
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“paradise”
More of Tim’s work is at: http://facebook.com/photographybytimfranklin
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a 台風of love (typhoon)
virginie beaudoin
What is this warmth I feel in my whole body? Suddenly, my heart beats ドキドキ and I amわ くわく. I am so うれしいand 元気. I can’t believe it’s true. 本当に, I never thought it would happen to me in Okinawa. I feel a 台風 of love. It gives me inspiration and motivation to follow my dreams. I feel like expressing this passion through the arts: painting, playing the violin, making pottery or writing. Sometimes, it becomes so intense that it can be a bit scary. There are definitely many questions in my head: What is going to happen next? Is he going to come to Canada when I leave Okinawa? I don’t have to answer those questions now. I just want to enjoy the moment, this thrilling excitement that warms my heart. I want to spend as much time as possible with him and share everything: every little moment of happiness and even my fears and problems. I also want to know more about his life, his feelings and dreams. I want to support him and be there for him during difficult moments. I would like to travel the world with him, to show him where I come from, and show him my language and culture. However, I know it will be difficult. It is just like cultural shock, after the honeymoon period, I may feel down, discouraged or scared. I’m aware that cultural misunderstandings or the language barrier may cause these feelings. We are from
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two opposite parts of the world: Japan and Canada. There are obviously cultural differences. We need a lot of tolerance, patience, and effort to be able to communicate our thoughts clearly in each other’s language. It doesn’t seem to be a problem so far because we are patient, openminded, and fascinated by each other’s culture. I was first hesitant about dating a Japanese guy. Unfortunately, I had heard some negative stereotypes. I thought that Japanese guys might prefer a submissive girl who does everything for them. I had heard that in Japan, it is not “ladies first”, but “men first”. How could a shy Japanese guy be attracted to a big, strong, and ambitious Western girl? I feel that it is completely different with him because he is trying to adapt to my culture as much as I am trying to adapt to his. So far, he has been a gentleman and we are both building the foundation of a strong and positive relationship based on trust and love. We try to be fair to each other and follow the give-and-take principle, ギブアンドテイク. I teach him some words in French about love, such as je t’aime and mon amour. I love it when he tries hard to pronounce a difficult word in French or English. It is adorable when he says でしょう after English words or uses other cute Japanese expressions. At first, I was amused by the number of times he would say, “I’m sorry,” or “ごめんね.” I thought that there was no need
to be sorry for every little thing. Then, I caught myself saying, “I’m sorry,” more often as well! We always laugh at my broken Japanese, but I know that I’m getting better. I would love to become ぺらぺら. I’m so glad that he is as curious as I to learn new things and improve his language skills. He has many attractive qualities: 格好いい for sure, generous, 親切, funny, 誠実, intelligent, フレンドリー, curious, 強い… Besides wanting to learn languages and travel, we have another passion in common: we both love the ocean. He loves surfing and I love scuba diving. I feel so thankful to have a partner who can follow me in crazy adventures in the water or on a dangerous, spider-filled hike that leads to a wonderful waterfall. He motivates me to stay in shape and be healthy. We go jogging together. I’m so proud of him every time he tells me that he has run 10 kilometers, even if it’s almost every day! I feel so comfortable and warm and fuzzy when we cuddle. 気持ちいい！I hope this warm feeling will last for a long time, even if we have to live on different islands for a while. I know we have to continue putting logs on the fire of passion to keep it strong. I’m looking forward to seeing him again in January. 彼に会いたい！I’m thinking about him every day and wish him the best. Even if I know he is not perfect (nor am I), he is my hero and I can be his heroine,でしょう？ Je t’aime Ryuji! 愛してる！
Dictionary ドキドキ – dokidoki (heart beat sound) わくわく- wakuwaku = excited うれしい – ureshii = happy 元気 - genki = full of energy 本当に – hontouni = really 台風 – taifuu = typhoon でしょう – deshou = don’t you agree ? ごめんね - gomenne = sorry ぺらぺら – perapera = fluent 格好いい - kakkoii = attractive, cool 親切 – shinsetsu = kind 誠実 – seijitsu = honest, faithful フレンドリー – furendorii = friendly 強い – tsuyoi = strong 気持ちいい – kimochi ii = it feels good 彼に会いたい – kare ni aitai = I want to meet him (I want to be with him) 愛してる – aishiteru = I love you
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full circle anonymous
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It was back in college when every morning with a stretch and a yawn I’d wake to the sight of you. The gentle weight of the blankets seemed static, until you altered our placid lake of comforters to turn to me and wish me a good morning and remind me that you loved me; all this before you would gently curl yourself in a determined cuddle on my left, your head nestled between my shoulder and cheek. I’d hold you and whisper simply “and I you…” I was warm. In those times I’d often hop the buses to campus, but even amid that chilled migration, measured by its tired sighs and stifled coughs, I was constantly reminded of you in every word in every note of every song on the playlist so carefully constructed, by you. The feelings those lyrics gave me: persistent… pleasant... I was warm. My classes would end and I’d hit the bricks to the library. There, the gentle bustle of studies and stories as students prepared for exams and the tantalizing reward of winter break. The minutes were years until I decided to finally stop for the night. The buses would have stopped, too, so I would walk home; my intellectual efforts rewarded by a winter of biting wind that seemed to call to me, each gust a reminder that the thin hoodie upon my shoulders didn’t cut it. But, bundled up in your words and playlist… I was warm. My previously frigid cheeks would slowly regain their color as blood rushed to them in anticipation. My smile would bloom as I neared our home. It’d be around 3 AM and I always expected you to be asleep by then, but I’d open the door to the sight of you. A gentle thud, as you returned the book you were reading to the coffee table and you’d walk over and ease your arms up around my waist, and I’d envelop you; my arms over your shoulders. I would feel the right side of my chest beat to the rhythm of your heart as our hearts filled the empty space in the other, completing a puzzle disassembled eons ago by evolution. You’d welcome me home, and tell me you missed me; all this before you would gently curl yourself in a determined cuddle on my left, your head nestled between my shoulder and cheek. I would hold you and whisper simply “and I you…” I was warm.
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cheap travel within japan trains, planes, and boats
a. hatton
It’s getting to be that time of year. You know the one. You get that insatiable itch. You have to travel. For everyone ready to scratch it, I’d like to open my totally not-creepy trench coat of within-Japan travel secrets. Let’s go! So first, let’s deal with the obvious: to get to mainland Japan, you need to get out of Okinawa. (I’m going to leave outer-island travel for some other lovely soul to write on, as I am pitifully unprepared to tackle that.) For most, this will involve getting to Naha Airport. People who live in Naha or have a way to stash their car near a monorail station without trouble are in luck since the last stop on the monorail is the airport. Woohoo! For those not so lucky (myself included), fear not! You can park at the airport for about 1000 yen a day, which is pretty reasonable for a weekend trip. Anything more than four days, though, and I would recommend the highway express bus that starts at
Nago Bus Terminal instead (this is particularly true for northern brethren!). Bus number 111 will take you directly to the airport, for the low price of around 2300 yen (or less). *Go to the Naha Bus Schedule website for the schedule of stops along the way to the airport. Be careful! The ride is about two hours from Nago, there are fewer evening buses, and the last departure from the airport is at around 6 PM. You’re finally at the airport! I hope you bought a ticket to somewhere, yeah? There are a few budget airlines you can rely on, though they all have a tiny bit of trickery to work through to keep them cheap. The first and probably most known is Skymark. Skymark has flights
*Naha Bus Schedule website: http://buta.nahabus.jp/ryukyubuskotsu/maplist.asp?BK_Hit_ BType=Keito&cmbKeito=111&keiyu_check=1&cmbRosen=1
out of Naha to Miyako, Fukuoka, Kobe, Kansai, Nagoya, Haneda, Narita and Ibaraki, with a few additional connections available from those airports. Their site is in English and pretty easy to navigate. The key is to book your tickets early! All tickets are released three months ahead of time, and the prices rise as departure dates draw closer and the number of remaining tickets grows smaller. The most I’ve ever paid for a Skymark ticket was around 13,000 yen, but cheaper fares are available. Be sure to check days around the day you want to leave – sometimes leaving a day earlier or later may save you some cash or present an available ticket where others may have been sold out. Once you’ve chosen your flight and put in your information, you can choose your payment options. I usually choose Skymark because I don’t have a credit card, and they let you pay at a convenience store with cash. Be sure you hang on to your receipt! You’ll need it to check in at the counter. Other cheap airlines include Peach, which presently flies only to Kansai and may or may not have some weird baggage fees. Jetstar is an Australianbased company recently offering flights out of Naha to Haneda and Narita. These require you to pay with a credit card. Sometimes you can get lucky with fares through ANA or JAL, so they’re worth checking, too! If you want to take the slow route, the A-Line ferry can connect you to Kyushu, Osaka, Tokyo and beyond. Before you leave the island, it may be a good idea to find a place to stay. I haven’t stayed in a legitimate hotel in a really long time, so I am of no use there. When trying to save some yen, I go the hostel route. The main difference between hotels and hostels is that most hostels are dormitory style: you sleep in a room, probably in bunk beds, with people you may not necessarily know. Most facilities have lockers or storage closets for luggage. Bathroom facilities are shared. In my experience, many hostels also have a kitchen area that guests can use. This is really helpful if you’re trying to cut back on costs! Hit a grocery store when you first get into town, and even if you just grab breakfast supplies for the length of your stay, you’ll be surprised at
how much you save. Hostels are also a great way to bond with fellow travelers. You can also ask staff about local tourist attractions – they know all the places you’re planning on going to, anyway. Hostelworld.com has never really steered me wrong. I generally read the customer reviews, check the map for proximity to train stations and attractions, and make sure rooms are available for the days I want before I Google-search the hostel itself. They will usually have a website of their own, or at least a phone number listed in their location. If you deal with the hostel directly, you don’t have to pay the Hostelworld.com fees or use a credit card. At several different places, I’ve been told if I don’t have a card, I just have to call two days before my arrival to confirm I am still planning on staying. Some of the places I would recommend are actually chains. If you stay at one branch, get stamps on a card and stay at another, you get discounts. I like J-Hoppers, (Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka and Takayama), Hana Hostel, (Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Fukuoka) and K’s House (Tokyo, Ito, Mt. Fuji, Hakuba, Kyoto and Hiroshima), though I’m sure there are more out there. I’ve heard great things about Khaosan, a Tokyo-exclusive chain. Capsule hotels like Asahiplaza in Shinsaibashi, Osaka are also pretty cheap and sort of hilarious, if not a bit claustrophobic. There’s bound to be a ゲストハウス, or guesthouse (which is what hostels are called in Japanese), somewhere near where you want to stay, just make sure to check the reviews first!
Skymark: www.skymark.jp.en me.aspx Peach: www.flypeach.com/ho en/home JetStar: www.jetstar.com/jp/ ex.jsp?type=e ANA: www.ana.co.jp/asw/ind JAL: www.jal.co.jp/en/ 2355.html A-Line: japan-guide.com/e/e d.com HostelWorld: www.hostelworl J-Hoppers: j-hoppers.com Hana Hostel: hanahostel.com dex_e.html K’s House: www.kshouse.jp/in .com Khaosan: www.khaosan-tokyo .co.jp Asahiplaza: www.asahiplaza
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青春１８切符 : http://www.j apan-guide. com/e/e2362.h tml JR East: http://w ww.jreast.co.jp /e/pass/seishun18.html Hyperdia: http ://www.hyperd ia.com/en/
picture from Vivian Lost in Seoul blo
g
Okay, you have a way there and a place to stay. What about getting around? If you do end up trying out a hostel, more likely than not there will be free maps and transit information for the taking and staff to answer any questions you may have about locations or buses. Usually there are tourist passes that give things like unlimited bus rides or a free ferry pass included with purchase (like in Hiroshima, if you’re going to Miyajima). Train travel in Japan is so cool. And if you do it correctly at the right times, it can be super cheap, too. There are three specific times of the year when you can buy this magical slip of seafoam paper called the 青春１８切符, literally the “youthful 18 ticket.” Anyone can buy it, ignore the name. Anyway, it’s 11,500 yen and it enables you to ride any JR train for an unlimited period for five days. Pretty much there are five places for a stamp- one stamp means one use per person per day. You can split it various ways – like having five people use it on one day (but then all the stamps are gone!), or having two people use it for two days then going solo afterward. You’ll have to
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figure it out. But it works. You can make it from Tokyo to Hiroshima using only this ticket. But, as with everything, the tradeoff is hours of riding local, sometimes rather slow trains full of people who are just trying to commute to and from their day-to-day situations. But if you have the time to spare, it’s a pretty awesome way to see a lot of Japan by land. In order to figure out what trains you’ll need to take, find what station is closest to your lodging (Google the name and search for a nearby station, or eki駅in Japanese) and do the same for your destination (for example, Fushimi Inari in Kyoto). Enter your start and end points and the time you want to leave in Hyperdia. I’d also uncheck the shinkansen, plane, and non-JR trains if you’re using this ticket. If you’re not and you just need train directions, then no need to worry. Alternatively, there are a lot of routes out of Tokyo or Kansai that have night buses, and while I’ve heard some are cheap, I’ve never heard of anyone having a pleasant time on them. You could give it a try and report back. I hope all your journeys are awesome and easy on the wallet. Good luck!
where in the world grant minagawa
is rekio the lion?
Rekio the Lion is a cool little Shisa Ninja from Hong Kong. Our hero finds himself at the front gate of the palace of ancient kimchi eating kings! Do you know where he is?
Turn to page 40 for the answer!
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soul food kholeka ngcobo
zulu style
Earlier this year, we had a typhoon warning so they cancelled my English club and told everybody to go home. It was humid and rainy and I thought it was perfect weather to make amagwinya. My mother always makes them when it’s cold and rainy. I missed my mother, so at 5:30 PM, I began making dough.
I had been waiting to give something to the people here since my presents from South Africa had not arrived in the mail yet. So I brought them the amagwinya. I’d wanted to do that for a while, but I hadn’t been able to find the ingredients and I didn’t even know what they were called to look for them.
In about half an hour, it was done and I left it to rise. At about 9, the dough was ready and I began frying amagwinya to the sound of wailing wind and rain coming from outside.
First, I went to Koucho-Sensei and delivered the gift. This always makes me nervous because I get confused with when and how to bow and how to deliver something to a senior. Should I bow? My left hand automatically held my right arm and my knees bent in a Zulu custom for showing respect. I averted my eyes. Now I didn’t know whether I should bow (with bent knees) so I nodded my head a little. He appeared not to notice my awkwardness, although I’m certain he did. Regardless, the gift was handed over. When he tried it, he exclaimed, “おいしい!” and I felt relieved. Next, I presented the amagwinya to the staff. My coordinator called everyone to taste. One of the older ladies kindly put toothpicks in the treat so that we didn’t all stick our fingers in there and people proceeded to munch.
When I was done, I was so excited that I had to give my landlord a taste. I went downstairs, saw that the lights were on, and knocked on the door. It was dark, and I was standing under the outside light in front of the door, in the wind and rain. As soon as I knocked, their adult son answered the door. “こんばんは,”
I
“はい、 こんばんは?”
said.
Good
evening.
Yes,
good
evening?
Ｉ handed him the bowl of amagwinya, explaining in broken Japanese that they are South African doughnuts I had made. “Try them.” “Aah, plied,
yes, taking
thank you,” the bowl from
he remy hands.
I thanked him and ran back to my apartment foolishly grinning. I love this place. I overslept the next morning. I don’t remember hearing my alarm at all. When I awoke, I had a text from my base school coordinator saying that the typhoon warning had been lifted and that we were to go to work. Perhaps I had forgotten to set my alarm the night before. Regardless, being late is not good, and I was very embarrassed. I told my visiting school I was going to be late, and ran out my door. Morning, rush, traffic, school. My coordinator told me she thought I stayed away because of the typhoon warning. I didn’t argue.
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“おいしい!” they exclaimed in chorus. I smiled. Then people started to call their friends and whichever teacher was walking past our staff room to come taste this African snack. I was questioned. “Wow, how do you make it?” “Do you enjoy cooking?” “Did your mom teach you?” “What are the ingredients?” “This looks like one of our sweets.” One tannie, or as they say in Japan, おばさん, whom I admire, asked me to teach her. In the back of my head, I could see this South African beer ad. I think it’s for Hansa. In it, there is an old Japanese man at a tavern. When he tastes his beer, there’s dead silence until he exclaims “おいしい!” and everyone is happy afterwards. I was happy. I was glad I made the effort. I was glad I put smiles on people’s faces. I was glad my mom taught me how to cook and to be proud of my culture. What a great beginning!
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recipes
tougan soup
hot cocoa
s le p p a n o m a n cin
e l y t s a c i a m a j , a o c ot co
h
ava newell 6 minutes Preparation time: s Servings: 2 mug
Ingredients 3 cups of water a powder 2 teaspoons coco ilk 4 tablespoons m gar 2 tablespoons su nilla 1/2 teaspoon va eg amon and nutm nn ci , lt sa of h nc Pi ptional) Marshmallows (o
a boil. to Method flame and allow pot and bring to l e al th m er /s w an lo , ep ly uc nt sa ater. Stir ge 1. Pour water in tmeg to boiling w nu d an on am lt, cinn 2. Add cocoa, sa utes. boil for two min e. en itable for you th d boil for a minut su an t r os Sti m r. re ga tu su ra d pe to the tem 3. Add milk an ntents to adjust co e th w lo al e, 4. Extinguish flam allows. sh with marshm ni ar G . ug m e rg pour into a la w! t cup of cocoa, no
a ho Have yourselves
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These are so easy to make, I don't know if this even merits the name “recipe�. They taste like the inside of an apple pie, and are the perfect after school snack or dessert on a cold day.
hot cocoa
tougan soup
cinnamon apples kathryn strong
cinnamon apples
Preparation tim e: 7 minutes Servings: 2 Ingredients 1 large apple 2 tablespoons brown sugar, p acked 1 teaspoon lem on juice a generous dash of cinnamon a pinch of nutm eg
Method 1. Cut the apple in half and rem ove the core, th enough that th en slice as thin e apple is almo ly as possible (t st tr a ry to aim for th n sl u ce nt) 2. Put slices in in a container wit h a lid (tupperw the lid and toss are is great) an until the apple d add remainin s a re g ingredients. C e ve n ly coated 3. Transfer app lose le slices to a m ic ro w av e safe bowl an soft and have ju d cook until th iced (4-5 minu e apples are be tes at 1000 watt ginning to get s).
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mlon in the cucu e m e rg la a is , elon in most stores, wn as winter m it o d n n k fi o n ls a a c , u n o a Y g Tou wa. ’s my take on opular in Okina re p e is H t . a ig b th y so il m re ey a ber fa ldest winter in half since th o t c u e c th ld so rm s a e w m p, to someti s or meats. hy tougan sou le lt b a e ta h e g d e n v a s te u ri r favo a delicio substitute you to e e fr l e e F evenings.
hot cocoa
tougan sou
tougan sou
p
benjamin m
artin
Preparatio n time: 20 minutes Servings: 4 generou s bowls Ingredien ts 10 cups w ater 1/2 touga n (winter melon) 1 onion
2 Japanes e leeks (ne gi) sliced 2 burdock roots (gob o) sliced 1 carrot
1 pack of mushroom s (enoki) 1 tsp salt 2 tsp garli c powder 1 tsp pepp er 1 packet h on dashi 1 chicken boullion c ube (optio nal)
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p
cinnamon a
pples
photos by benjamin martin
hot cocoa
tougan soup
les
p cinnamon ap
d ’ t n o c p u o s n a g tou bouiland (optional) i, sh a d s, e ic sp Add Once heat it to a boil. d n a r e at w e lon to th rdock and ng, add the bu ili o b is r e at w the r, stireat. Let simme h ce u d re d n a carrots, d t 3 minutes. Ad u o b a r fo , lly a ring occasion ing to simmer, stirr e u n ti n o C . n a the toug utes. Add another 3 min r fo , lly a n o si a occ s, r a few minute fo r Sti s. m o ro the mush an Once the toug s. n io n o e th d and then ad e leeks. nslucent, add th a tr r a e p p a to begins nsugan turns tra to e th ce n O . Reduce heat d enjoy. lucent serve an
Method nd slicing bles, cleaning a ta ge ve r u yo Prepare tips: Here are some s. ce ie p ze si e it nd them into b led, washed, a e e p e b to s d e e start Burdock root n in starch, it may h ig h is it ce n Si e for then sliced. Slice at an angl g. n tti cu r e aft y to brown quickl eks in a ieces. Cut the le p p u kic p to r nter larger, easie small hollow ce a s a h n a g u To r. If similar manne in cucumbers. d n u fo se o th ilar to to with seeds sim ply cut it in half m si , n a g u to le o h you have a wh ve the skin wit o m re n e th d n eds, a even remove the se elon into thin, m e th t u C . e if a peeler or a kn make e same pace. To th at k o co y e rips pieces so th e melon into st th g n tti cu st ge ut it easier, I’d sug re slicing it abo fo e b e id w rs timete about five cen ter thick. a half centime
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announcements OkiJET Website
For the last year the OkiJET webteam (led by Loren) have been hard at work. Check out the new and improved website at okijet.net.
JET Book Trading Club
If your bookcases are looking as barren as the trees outside your windows, consider turning the entire island into your library by joining the Okinawa JET Book Training Club on Goodreads.com. We freely trade already-read paperbacks, so you’ll have something to read between issues of The Ryukyu Star.
Next Theme: Spring to Life
With the sakura blooming, the end of winter is just around the corner. How do you mark the end of the cold and come out of hibernation? Spring is a time of rebirth. It can be expressed through redoubled efforts with the most difficult students; finally, this year, keeping those New Years Resolutions; or simply by throwing off the cloak of sleep and getting out and exploring, whether a new country or a new side-street in your town. What are you doing this spring?
Call for Contributors
Have something to share with the community? We'd love to put it out there. The Ryukyu Star is accepting submissions for the spring issue through March 8th, 2013. All forms—articles, photographs, maps, recipes, comics, games, poems, etc. are welcome an encouraged! Email any contributions to ryukyustar@ajet.net.
Contact us
Comments? Questions? Your feedback is always welcome. Feel free to contact us at ryukyustar@ajet.net.
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Calendar
January 1 – New Y ears Day 11 – Ken Jet Reapp oin 12 – Com ing of Age tment Deadline Da 19 – Start of Sakura y Festivals February 11 – Nati ona 25-27 – A l Foundation Day fter JET C onferenc e March 8 – Ryuky uS 20 – Vern tar Submission De al Equino adline x April 29 – Show a Day (Sta rt of Gold en Week)
is d rl o W e th in re e h W wer s n A ? n io L e th io k e R yeongbokGwanghwamun, G l, South Korea gung Palace, Seou
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