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June 25, 2015 • mccsokinawa.com
okinawalivingweekly Matsuri Season
Family Fun Nights
From top left: Thomas Alan Smilie, Wavebreak Media Ltd/bigstock.com
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s the temperature heats up, so too does the matsuri calendar. Cities, local municipalities and even small neighborhoods host matsuri around the island. Matsuri, or festivals, are an important cultural tradition on Okinawa. While they are held throughout the year to celebrate various holidays and seasons, there is no better time to experience an Okinawan matsuri than the long days of summer. Matsuri are marked by food stalls, games, traditional entertainment and live music. Large-scale matsuri often conclude with a fireworks display. It’s a great place to sample local food favorites like yakisoba (fried noodles), taiyaki (fish-shaped cakes) or yakitori (skewered chicken).
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Festival-goers also have a chance to experience eisa dancing. Eisa is a traditional Okinawan folk dance that includes men and women dressed in traditional costumes singing, chanting and drumming, often accompanied by sanshin (a three-stringed instrument). To many, eisa is the sound of Okinawa. One of the biggest eisa events on Okinawa is the annual 10,000 Eisa Dance Parade on Kokusai Street in Naha. Eisa dancers cover a mile-long stretch of the street for an impressive display. To learn more about Okinawan matsuri, check out the July issue of Okinawa Living Magazine or contact MCCS Tours+ for details on upcoming matsuri tours.
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CCS has Independence Day weekend events lined up for people of all ages (read more on p. 3 and 9)—even the kids. Come celebrate our nation’s birthday with the whole family at a special, star-spangled Family Fun Night. The Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster and Tengan Castle on Camp Courtney will boast a buffet of kid-friendly food in addition to food for the parents on July 1 and 2 from 5 to 9 p.m. The event also has arts and crafts, family-friendly movies and prize giveaways. This buffet is $7.95 for adults, 3.95 for children 5 to 11 and FREE for children under 5. For more information, visit mccsokinawa. com/clubs or call your nearest participating club.
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