Nostalgic Okinawa

Oxmix · 09-08-2007, 02:57 AM

Socialheart,

When I first arrived on Okinawa all new arrivals were required to attend an orientation class by an Okinawan gentleman. We were given an introduction about Okinawan history, culture and language. We were taught about what types of food were safe to eat and about which restaurants, "A" Sign "B" Sign etc. In all reality the restaurants without the signs were safe to eat at. The signs were for establishments that wanted GI business.

It was at this orientation where our Okinawan instructor told us about the Bar Districts and emphasized that we use these places for our entertainment.
The bar districts were like the "Wild West". It seemed that just about anything went. There were very few restrictions on us in these areas.

I personally liked BC Street the best. I usually went to Gate 2 Street after the bars on BC Street closed at midnight. By law all bars were suppose to close at midnight. After midnight Gate 2 Street bars operated as speakeasies with a door boy ushering you in when the coast was clear.

Regards

Ox

kilo_four-six · 09-08-2007, 03:40 AM

I was there in the early 80s when BC street was still in full-tilt sleaze mode, spent much time there until I got a "real" girlfriend. But we also went there just to hang out and party, not necessarily just for sex. There was a taco place down at the end that had the world's best tacos believe it or not, "Charlie's Tacos"? And Condition Green had their own club, really crazy place. The whole place was a helluva lotta fun. Anyway now I hear it's all cleaned up, what damn crying shame..it will always be KOZA to me.

Oxmix · 09-08-2007, 04:08 AM

Kilo,
BC Street as we knew it is no more. It is a shopping area now.

The New York Restaurant is still in operation and the inside looks much as it did in the 60's.

I know what you mean when you say Koza. I have a hard time saying Okinawa City.

Regards

Ox

DougP · 09-08-2007, 05:11 AM

Good lord the "ol' days" look like they were some good times

kilo_four-six · 09-08-2007, 06:42 AM

It's so clean! That is freakin' weird man!

Oxmix · 09-08-2007, 06:49 AM

DougP,
Yes, they were good old days. Things were inexpensive. I would walk up the hill from the company area and catch a bus from Sukiran to Kaza for a whopping $0.08.

A Taxi would cost me $1.00 for the same ride. From Koza to Kin Village was $0.28 by bus, $3.25 by taxi.
An Orion Beer, small bottle, in the bars was $0.70, $0.10 in the PX. A large bottle of Orion in the bars was $1.00

Regards

Ox

Muku · 09-08-2007, 09:16 AM

Yo guys thanks for the trip down nostaligia lane here, brings back memories for me as well.

FYI numerous Okinawan people still call it Koza too!

socalheart · 09-08-2007, 01:12 PM

That is so cool.

I like history, but most of us aren't old enough to have been adults the same time as Ox, much less children. That one picture in color of the cars going by in streaks, is that BC street back in the day? I couldn't tell by the first car on the curb. (I'm so not a car person.) They have a mini-museum just off BC street now that has those A signs and other post war stuff on display.

ryukyuboi · 09-08-2007, 07:16 PM

Nice photos. Thanks for sharing.

Karaoke Man · 09-09-2007, 03:38 AM

Charlie's Tacos is still there and still very good. Also, if anyone remembers Mickey's Yakisoba, it too has moved to BC street to make way for the Koza Music Center. Although it is smaller and cleaner than the old Mickeys, the food is still great. Only bad part is that they close down before the bars close now.

09-08-2007, 02:57 AM	#1
Oxmix Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,615 My Mood: Thanks: 1,228 Thanked 1,848 Times in 940 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 51 Times in 49 Posts Credits: 10,233,379	Nostalgic Okinawa Socialheart, When I first arrived on Okinawa all new arrivals were required to attend an orientation class by an Okinawan gentleman. We were given an introduction about Okinawan history, culture and language. We were taught about what types of food were safe to eat and about which restaurants, "A" Sign "B" Sign etc. In all reality the restaurants without the signs were safe to eat at. The signs were for establishments that wanted GI business. It was at this orientation where our Okinawan instructor told us about the Bar Districts and emphasized that we use these places for our entertainment. The bar districts were like the "Wild West". It seemed that just about anything went. There were very few restrictions on us in these areas. I personally liked BC Street the best. I usually went to Gate 2 Street after the bars on BC Street closed at midnight. By law all bars were suppose to close at midnight. After midnight Gate 2 Street bars operated as speakeasies with a door boy ushering you in when the coast was clear. Regards Ox Last edited by Oxmix; 09-08-2007 at 03:57 AM.

09-08-2007, 03:40 AM	#2
kilo_four-six Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 48 My Mood: Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Credits: 666	BC I was there in the early 80s when BC street was still in full-tilt sleaze mode, spent much time there until I got a "real" girlfriend. But we also went there just to hang out and party, not necessarily just for sex. There was a taco place down at the end that had the world's best tacos believe it or not, "Charlie's Tacos"? And Condition Green had their own club, really crazy place. The whole place was a helluva lotta fun. Anyway now I hear it's all cleaned up, what damn crying shame..it will always be KOZA to me.

09-08-2007, 06:42 AM	#5
kilo_four-six Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 48 My Mood: Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Credits: 666	?! It's so clean! That is freakin' weird man!

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09-08-2007, 04:08 AM	#3
Oxmix Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,615 My Mood: Thanks: 1,228 Thanked 1,848 Times in 940 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 51 Times in 49 Posts Credits: 10,233,379	Kilo, BC Street as we knew it is no more. It is a shopping area now. The New York Restaurant is still in operation and the inside looks much as it did in the 60's. I know what you mean when you say Koza. I have a hard time saying Okinawa City. Regards Ox

09-08-2007, 05:11 AM	#4
DougP t(-_-t) MOD, Bitch Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: 北谷 Posts: 10,683 My Mood: Thanks: 5,761 Thanked 9,827 Times in 4,550 Posts Groans: 83 Groaned at 520 Times in 505 Posts Credits: 1,556,147,260	Good lord the "ol' days" look like they were some good times

09-08-2007, 06:49 AM	#6
Oxmix Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,615 My Mood: Thanks: 1,228 Thanked 1,848 Times in 940 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 51 Times in 49 Posts Credits: 10,233,379	DougP, Yes, they were good old days. Things were inexpensive. I would walk up the hill from the company area and catch a bus from Sukiran to Kaza for a whopping $0.08. A Taxi would cost me $1.00 for the same ride. From Koza to Kin Village was $0.28 by bus, $3.25 by taxi. An Orion Beer, small bottle, in the bars was $0.70, $0.10 in the PX. A large bottle of Orion in the bars was $1.00 Regards Ox

09-08-2007, 09:16 AM	#7
Muku Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home Posts: 10,775 Thanks: 2,619 Thanked 3,430 Times in 2,058 Posts Groans: 68 Groaned at 528 Times in 461 Posts Credits: 5,400,001,616	Yo guys thanks for the trip down nostaligia lane here, brings back memories for me as well. FYI numerous Okinawan people still call it Koza too!

09-08-2007, 01:12 PM	#8
socalheart all about the cheese Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Uruma-shi, Okinawa Posts: 5,398 My Mood: Thanks: 3,518 Thanked 1,889 Times in 1,200 Posts Groans: 46 Groaned at 141 Times in 124 Posts Credits: 1,301,091,317	That is so cool. I like history, but most of us aren't old enough to have been adults the same time as Ox, much less children. That one picture in color of the cars going by in streaks, is that BC street back in the day? I couldn't tell by the first car on the curb. (I'm so not a car person.) They have a mini-museum just off BC street now that has those A signs and other post war stuff on display.

09-08-2007, 07:16 PM	#9
ryukyuboi Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Okinawa City Posts: 1,154 Thanks: 252 Thanked 444 Times in 225 Posts Groans: 51 Groaned at 38 Times in 29 Posts Credits: 83,353,428	Nice photos. Thanks for sharing.

09-09-2007, 03:38 AM	#10
Karaoke Man Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 2 Times in 2 Posts Credits: 387	Charlie's Tacos is still there and still very good. Also, if anyone remembers Mickey's Yakisoba, it too has moved to BC street to make way for the Koza Music Center. Although it is smaller and cleaner than the old Mickeys, the food is still great. Only bad part is that they close down before the bars close now.

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