JAWing On – Life on Okinawa

Friday August 26, 2005 [C (9/365) R (2/365) H (16/365) ]

August 2005 Total:
S-sunny (8/365) C-cloudy (9/365) PC-partly cloudy (9/365)
D-drizzle (2/365) R-rainy (2/365)
W-windy (3/365) LW-light winds (14/365) VW-very windy (2/365)
H-humid (16/365) SH-slightly humid (8/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S-sunny (21/365) C-cloudy (24/365) PC-partly cloudy (40/365)
D-drizzle (4/365) R-rainy (4/365) SR-scattered rain showers (9/365)
W-windy (24/365) LW-light winds (49/365) VW-very windy (3/365)
H-humid (36/365) SH-slightly humid (47/365)

Having lived on Okinawa since 1973, I have seen many changes in the type of merchandise that the island provides the mainstream tourists. Back in 1973 the mainstay of sales was aimed at the American market. After all there were few large Japanese tourist hotels; numerous American soldiers were stationed on island; and the yen rate was 365 to a dollar. The type of merchandise found in many of the “tourist” gift shops consisted of wooden products mainly from the Philippines; such as hands shaped in the peace sign formation and Hotei. Hotei is still one of the Asian Gods that Westerners confuse with Buddha. He is the fat jolly God of Contentment and Happiness, also known as the Laughing Buddha. Another of my favorite souvenirs included the brass Shisa incense burners. These type of “tourist” souvenirs are not seen as frequently as before as the focus of the island tourist industry has been redirected to the water sports industry. I still have those reminders of less complicated times on island and sometimes I miss seeing those simple, but charming, Asian goods.

Thursday August 25, 2005 [C (8/365) LW (14/365) H (15/365) ]

August 2005 Total:
S-sunny (8/365) C-cloudy (8/365) PC-partly cloudy (9/365)
D-drizzle (2/365) R-rainy (1/365)
W-windy (3/365) LW-light winds (14/365) VW-very windy (2/365)
H-humid (15/365) SH-slightly humid (8/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S-sunny (21/365) C-cloudy (23/365) PC-partly cloudy (40/365)
D-drizzle (4/365) R-rainy (3/365) SR-scattered rain showers (9/365)
W-windy (24/365) LW-light winds (49/365) VW-very windy (3/365)
H-humid (35/365) SH-slightly humid (47/365)

Wednesday August 24, 2005 [C (7/365) D (2/365) SH (8/365) ]

August 2005 Total:
S-sunny (8/365) C-cloudy (7/365) PC-partly cloudy (9/365)
D-drizzle (2/365) R-rainy (1/365)
W-windy (3/365) LW-light winds (13/365) VW-very windy (2/365)
H-humid (14/365) SH-slightly humid (8/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S-sunny (21/365) C-cloudy (22/365) PC-partly cloudy (40/365)
D-drizzle (4/365) R-rainy (3/365) SR-scattered rain showers (9/365)
W-windy (24/365) LW-light winds (48/365) VW-very windy (3/365)
H-humid (34/365) SH-slightly humid (47/365)

Weekly Hogen (Okinawan Dialect) :
English – good night
Japanese – oyasuminasai (??????)
Hogen – yukuimisooree (????????)??

Tuesday August 23, 2005 [S (8/365) LW-light winds (13/365) H (14/365) ]

August 2005 Total:
S-sunny (8/365) C-cloudy (6/365) PC-partly cloudy (9/365)
D-drizzle (1/365) R-rainy (1/365)
W-windy (3/365) LW-light winds (13/365) VW-very windy (2/365)
H-humid (14/365) SH-slightly humid (7/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S-sunny (21/365) C-cloudy (21/365) PC-partly cloudy (40/365)
D-drizzle (3/365) R-rainy (3/365) SR-scattered rain showers (9/365)
W-windy (24/365) LW-light winds (48/365) VW-very windy (3/365)
H-humid (34/365) SH-slightly humid (46/365)

Monday August 22, 2005 [S (7/365) H (13/365) ]

August 2005 Total:
S-sunny (7/365) C-cloudy (6/365) PC-partly cloudy (9/365)
D-drizzle (1/365) R-rainy (1/365)
W-windy (3/365) LW-light winds (12/365) VW-very windy (2/365)
H-humid (13/365) SH-slightly humid (7/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S-sunny (20/365) C-cloudy (21/365) PC-partly cloudy (40/365)
D-drizzle (3/365) R-rainy (3/365) SR-scattered rain showers (9/365)
W-windy (24/365) LW-light winds (47/365) VW-very windy (3/365)
H-humid (33/365) SH-slightly humid (46/365)

For those of you who didn’t have Eisa performers in your neighborhood or didn’t get the chance to see the performance, there will be another chance this weekend. First on Gate 2 Street on Friday 26 August between 7 and 10 p.m., then at the Okinawa City Athletic Park on Saturday and Sunday 27 and 28 August.

Sunday August 21, 2005 [C (6/365) D (1/365) H (12/365) ]

August 2005 Total:
S-sunny (6/365) C-cloudy (6/365) PC-partly cloudy (9/365)
D-drizzle (1/365) R-rainy (1/365)
W-windy (3/365) LW-light winds (12/365) VW-very windy (2/365)
H-humid (12/365) SH-slightly humid (7/365)

This Year�s (June 3, 2005 – June 2, 2006) Total:
S-sunny (19/365) C-cloudy (21/365) PC-partly cloudy (40/365)
D-drizzle (3/365) R-rainy (3/365) SR-scattered rain showers (9/365)
W-windy (24/365) LW-light winds (47/365) VW-very windy (3/365)
H-humid (32/365) SH-slightly humid (46/365)