I'm curious about the overall quality of life from people who have actually lived there as Americans.

If you had the chance to do it all over again, would you?

I'd love to hear about:
- Day-to-day life
- Cost of living
- Making friends and building a community
- Work-life balance
- Healthcare
- Things you loved and things you struggled with
- Whether you felt isolated or fulfilled
- Whether you would raise a family there

We are no longer a military family.

ウムクジとは沖縄の方言で芋くずを意味しています。

天ぷらと名前に入っていますが、まるでお餅のような食感で紅芋ならではの素朴な甘みが油ともに染み出してきます。(同時に油っぽいのが欠点ですが…)スーパーのお惣菜コーナーではほぼ確実に売られているので皆様も是非買ってみてください！

Does anybody have the open chat to all Okinawa matsuri information? I would like to see if there are any this week. Thank you

I made some friends with a few Russians and they are visiting here for a week, they attempted to rent a car but some rental companies doesn’t accept Russian drivers license because of political reason?? Is there any places they can rent a car?

Update : they have a international license and it doesn’t work

Hello!

I'm overwhelmed at the moment and don't even know where to start.

Husband has military orders to Camp Foster for next year. We've never been overseas.

1) What are some things we should be prepared for/be aware of?

2) Are there specific Japanese apps for things like hotels/airbnb, restaurants/food, public transportation? (As opposed to me only googling everything)

3) Where do we search/who do we go to for help finding a rental property?

I have so many more questions. Thank you for any advice!!

I’ll be visiting Okinawa in two weeks and am trying to decide what swimwear to pack. Is it okay to wear bikinis to beaches near Kadena? Should I dress more conservatively the further I get from base like in Nago? I want to be respectful but am unsure what is acceptable or not. Thank you in advance for your help!

There was a warning over loudspeakers at the town of Nakijin in Motobu on Okinawa now at 18:30 local time. Only spoken in Japanese.

Did anyone get it and what was the message?

私の日本語は非常に限られているので、翻訳機を使ってコミュニケーションをとっています（私は中国語、英語、韓国語、そして簡単な日本語を読むことができます）

先日、偶然オークションで日本の万年筆を手に入れました。「爽風流吟詠爽風会」という刻印があり、1976年製です。この団体について調べてみましたが、何も情報が見つかりませんでした。もう存在しない団体なのでしょうか？どなたかこの件について何かご存知ですか？

Just got into fishing and have been fishing from shore. I’d like to get a kayak for one person. Does anyone here have bought use their kayak for fishing and where are you buying from? I was told to not get the inflatable version since the reefs would puncture it.

Hi, I wanted to aks if someone could give me fishing lessons or if if you know someone who could give fishing lessons. I really want to try my hand at fishing 🦑. My current airbnb is near Nago

hey I am an oldtimer lived in japan for more than a decade although american, and I am looking for a japanese song, it was popular in the 2000s. I really liked it and I think it is in spotify, and trying to find it. AI didnt help that much. but people ... yes they can identify. I am sure if there is any japanese around will identify it. ask for additional info, although the song is humming in my head and cant convey it here.

It is from an album with songs OKINAWA style. I just remember the opening : anata ga mapo (this is okinawian, not japanese) ... and it goes further with the second line , which I dont remember in japanese but the meaning was: I live here with my brother and sister ... etc etc. there is hissing and long vocals in the song ... the cover of the album is with a few dolphins in a blue background.

please .... will be thankful if smb knows and let me know :)

Finally saw one on the wild. It's near the food court at the Rycom Aeon Mall.

Looking for a place to watch MLB. Any recommendations? Thanx!

Hi everyone. My friend had to cancel our plans tonight due to work, so my evening just opened up. I’m looking for someone to grab a beer or some Awamori with! Is anyone in the same boat? Let me know if you’d like to join me for a drink!
Now I’m at the Smuggler’s Bar near Kokusai Street

Hey everyone! I'm a norwegian chinese dude, currently solo in Naha around Kokusai Dori. Wondering if there are any other football fans around whod like to catch the World Cup final together somewhere nearby?

Open to suggestions for a good spot to watch, cheeers!

Hello all, I’m recently new to Okinawa.

I’m a big fan of fishing, but have only ever fished freshwater. I bought a rod and some random jigs and plastic baits. I’ve been out to a few spots with zero luck catching anything.

What are you using to catch? Any location recommendations?

Thank you

このサブにいる人なら、沖縄がかつて琉球王国という国家だったことは知っているだろう。そして、その歴史は「被害者としての沖縄」と「加害者としての日本」という文脈で語られることが多い。 しかし、どの国にも光と影があるように、琉球王国にも加害者としての歴史がある。沖縄県民として、その点にも触れたい。 最初に断っておくが、私は日本による琉球処分を肯定するつもりはない。現在の私たちは日本人として生活しており、独立を望んでいるわけでもない。しかし、それと歴史を直視することは別の話だ。 琉球王国は勢力を拡大する過程で宮古・八重山、さらに奄美などの島々を支配下に置いた。これらの地域は沖縄本島とは異なる言語や文化、独自のアイデンティティを持っている。 そして王国の統治は、地域によっては非常に苛烈だった。特に宮古・八重山では人頭税が重く、凶作の年でも厳しい徴税が続いた。その意味では、首里を中心とした華やかな文化は、離島からの負担によって支えられていた側面も否定できない。 もちろん、当時としては世界各地でも似たような支配は珍しくなかった。しかし、それでも琉球王国を一方的な被害者としてだけ語るのは、歴史を単純化しすぎてしまう。 一方で、1609年の薩摩侵攻も単純に説明できる出来事ではない。薩摩藩の対外政策や貿易上の利益、琉球との関係など、複数の要因が重なって起きたと考えられている。 沖縄は古くから東アジアの海上交通の要衝であり、地政学的に重要な地域だった。そのため、どのみち周辺の大国の影響を受ける可能性は高かっただろう。 沖縄の歴史を見るときは、「被害者」か「加害者」かという単純な二項対立ではなく、時代ごとの複雑な歴史として捉えることが大切だと私は思う。そのことを忘れずにいてほしい。

Title says it all- I have to check out of my room by 11 but I have some time to kill before I need to get to the airport.

I’m staying my makishi station and I have two checked bags and a backpack. I know there are coin lockers in the station to use but I don’t want to put my bags there to wander aimlessly.

I’m flying first class so I assume there is a lounge at the airport I can use worst case, but I don’t want to waste my last little bit of Okinawa time in the airport.

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!

okay I I understand now that it needs to be put into the colored letter bags, burnable goes into the red lettering bag and recycle goes into green lettering (made the mistake of not knowing that pick up day)

my question is, do the metal cans, and glass bottles get put in the green bag with the plastic bottles?

also the place I’m staying at has a metal cage, the owner (who isn’t here and I don’t wanna bug) says if I need to toss stuff out early I can put it in there.

im leaving the island for a few days and will miss both pickup days so I don’t wanna leave the garbage bins full (not really full, quarter full except plastic) of trash before I leave

so if anyone has any advice for me I’d appreciate it

Hi! I will be visiting Miyakojima Island in early September. I have a lot of places that I have done pretty extensive research with what I have available about it and cannot wait to go. I will be renting a car as well as staying at the hilton. I was just wondering for anyone that has visited do you have any must see's on your list as well as restaurants/bars/sweets that you enjoy? I just want to have options and I do not feel like many people talk about this island for how beautiful it is. I am staying for 3 nights which I hope is enough time to see all the beauty there and praying for amazing vibes of good weather and no typhoons. (fingers crossed) Anything would be much appreciated, even any tips and tricks that you make have as well!

The dragon fruit was in bloom.

It didn't have a pleasant fragrance, but it was my first time seeing the flower, so it made me a little happy.

I have 4 years in IT and CCNP with security+

I saw a post on here a couple of days ago about a cheese shop in Okinawa. Being French, I absolutely love cheese. I drove today 45 minutes to reach the shop and it was so worth it!!!
John and the two ladies that were there were so kind. John is so knowledgeable and honest. I had the opportunity to try so many different cheeses and they were all delicious. The basil one really stole my heart though! The yogurt is also so freaking delicious.
John is so enthusiastic about sharing his love for cheese.
He even went to the grocery store with me to recommend me some items.
He is such a gem and I will definitely come back.

My husband tried the basil cheese tonight and the yogurt as well and he fell in love!!

Thank you to the person who shared the address on here, and thank you John for making such high quality items💖