Okinawa News and Entertainment http://www.japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.japanupdate.com/i/logo.gif http://www.japanupdate.com Feed provided by JapanUpdate.com. Click to visit. http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10089 Tempura and sushi headline the menu at Suehiro’s traditional Japanese restaurant, but the proud owners emphasize there’s much more waiting guests. Traditional Japanese foods—miso soup, fish, mushrooms, seaweed, steamed rice—abound at Suehiro, which is owned and operated by the same married couple that opened the restaurant more than 30 years ago. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10081 The savory taste of chocolate is always an attention-getter, and as Valentine’s season approaches, it’s even more special at Sun Marina Hotel Spa Kupu-Kupu. Why? Cacao is at the heart of chocolate, and at the heart of cacao is endorphin, an ingredient that activates the female hormone. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10080 An unforgettable dining experience is in store at several of the Sam’s restaurants this Valentine’s Day! From now until February 15th, the Sam’s By-the-Sea in Okinawa City-Awase and Sam’s By the-Sea Naha City-Oroku ,Sam’s Anchor Inn, and Sam’s Café, will be offering select steak and seafood Valentine’s Sweetheart Specials. Sam’s by the Sea, one of the most respected seafood restaurants on island with its intimate settings and mood lighting, is the ultimate place to bring a loved one for a dinner to remember. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10090 It’s Mardi Gras season, and Jamaican artist Shade is heading in to Okinawa to perform at the Authentic New Orleans Mardi Gras Ball sponsored by Syndicate Family and Club Else on February 19th. Mardi Gras, French for ‘Fat Tuesday’, is the day before Ash Wednesday. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10082 Popular musician David Ralston will provide the entertainment February 12th as the Crow’s Nest Club sets its Sweetheart Dinner and Show. Navy MWR Okinawa officials promise a “night of fun” as Ralston performs live in concert 8 p. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10087 The crack of bats is being heard across Okinawa Prefecture as ten of Japan’s 12 professional baseball teams opened their spring training rituals this week. From Nago in the north to Miyakojima and Ishigaki in the far south of the prefecture, the ten teams are warming up for the 2010 campaign in the Central and Pacific Leagues, along with three additional teams from Korea’s professional circuit. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10092 Three days after a budding young Orix Buffaloes outfielder apparently committed suicide by jumping from his hotel on Miyakojima, club officials are paying silent tribute to his contributions to the team. Hiroyuki Oze was found by hotel staff Friday, bleeding and unconscious. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10091 The Ryukyu Golden Kings are hanging onto their Western Conference lead as the Basketball Japan League rolls into the second half of the season, but the Rizing Fukuoka is nipping at their heels. In the opening series after the All Star break, Okinawa picked up a 77-71 home court victory Saturday afternoon behind the game-high 26 points racked up by Anthony McHenry. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10088 Okinawan politicians continue to argue about where Futenma Marine Corps Air Station should move, even as Japanese leaders in Tokyo send mixed signals and the United States declares it will patiently wait for its Asian ally to make a decision in May. The assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs reminded Japanese this week that the decision to shift Futenma from Ginowan City to a sparsely populated region of northern Okinawa was a joint decision between the United States and Japan, and not something unilaterally decided upon by America’s military. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10085 A community bus service that’s been operating in Yomitan Village since last April is now facing extreme financial difficulties. The bus service, a service operated jointly by the local government and private companies, is losing money and the Yomitan Village Office isn’t quite sure what to do next. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10084 There are more than 3,600 taxi cabs operating in mainland Okinawa, and the Okinawa Prefecture Taxi and Rental Car Association is appealing to the government to slash the number by 20% The Okinawa Prefecture Taxi and Rental Car Association’s Hirotaka Matsuyama says “as a result of relaxing laws and regulations governing licensing of taxis, the number of taxis has increased dramatically and now there are too many taxicabs in mainland Okinawa.” He’s asking the prefecture to “reduce the number of taxis and make improvements in taxi driver manners and service. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10083 Motorists across Japan will soon find their wallets a bit fatter; they won’t be paying tolls on some regional expressways. All of the Okinawa Expressway will become free starting June 1st, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10079 As tourist numbers began falling in Zamami Village not too long ago, residents decided to step up and implement some new programs to lure tourists to the small island village. The tiny island located west of Okinawa’s main island relies almost exclusively on tourists for its livelihood. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10078 Jan and Gunilla Nogius say they think “Okinawa is a wonderful Island.” They’re absorbing Okinawa culture now as they sail around the world on their nine-ton yacht. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10077 The depressed state of the world economy is impacting people in many ways, but on Okinawa, a lot of changes are falling in the categories of dining out and drinking in bars. A new survey shows Okinawans are staying home more. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100 http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=10076 Ryukyu Golden Kings center George Leach teamed with Yu Okada of the Takamatsu Five Arrows in the final minute of play to rally the Western Conference to a 105-102 All-Star victory over the Basketball Japan League’s Eastern Conference Sunday in Rifu, Miyagi Prefecture. The Western Conference had trailed in the contest, with the East leading 102-99 following a layup by Wendell White with just over a minute to play. webmaster@japanupdate.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:09 +0100