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OKINAWA MARINE CONTINUES 1,000 CRANE LEGACY

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222000100 99WIWW NIINNNNNN EEENN RRRREEE2019 WINNERVOLUME 13 NO. 30 JULY 18 − JULY 24, 2019 FREESTRIPESOKINAWA.COM SUBMIT STORIES TO: OKINAWA@STRIPES.COM FACEBOOK.COM/STRIPESPACIFIC

On a rainy Sunday and in search of something to do with my fam-ily, a new cat café in American

Village crossed my mind as a great way to stay dry and entertained.

Puchi Marry, with its pink and beige façade and fancy, girly look, opened in February on the second floor of Seaside

Square building. This was my first visit to a cat café, and being a middle-aged man, I did feel a little out of the place. From the moment we walked in, how-ever, Puchi Marry’s staff was welcoming and friendly, helping me feel comfortable in this new experience.

Before we could meet the

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SHOJI KUDAKA,STRIPES OKINAWA t visit

g.

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ng w

SEE CAT

ON PAGE 8

OMIYAGEThe gift you have to keep on giving

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On June 29, 2019 Mr. Yuji Sasaki, from Okinawa, Japan, donated an ori-

gami crane made by his aunt, Sadako Sasaki, to the USS Mis-souri in Honolulu, Hawaii as a symbol of peace.

Sadako Sasaki had folded the crane while she was in the hospital fighting leukemia hop-ing the legend of 1,000 cranes could help her live. However, when it became apparent she would not, she decided to wish for world peace.

After her death, Sadako’s family dedicated the Peace Park in Hiroshima, Japan in her honor and continued to spread knowledge of the legend of 1,000 cranes.

The legend of 1,000 cranes is the idea that if a person folds 1,000 origami cranes, they may make a wish to be granted by the gods.

In 2016, U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Ismael Esconde, a cyber systems chief with 3rd Marine Regiment, went to Okinawa, Japan for the Unit Deployment Program and learned about the legend and its importance.

In Japan, Esconde wanted to show his feelings of respect to the local community by

working with Marines and sail-ors to create and donate origa-mi cranes in accordance with the legend.

“I sought to help improve relations between the Japanese and U.S. military communities by showing that we respect them and their culture,” ex-plained Esconde.

Throughout their six months in Japan, Esconde and his coun-terparts donated 1,000 cranes

each to the Hobuku Hospital, Naha City Hospital, and a local nursing home in Kin.

When tales of Esconde’s ac-tions reached Mr. Sasaki, he reached out and the two be-gan to communicate and share their passion.

“We respect each other, in what each of us represent. He carries on his family’s legacy in Japan, whereas I try to inform people of it here in the United

States,” stated Esconde. The event in Honolulu, was

actually the first time they met in person. After three years of interaction, events came full circle and Sadako’s crane will sit in the USS Missouri forever.

The two have worked dili-gently to accomplish peace, spread the joy of origami, and educate others on Sadako’s wish with the legend of 1,000 cranes.

BY 1ST LT. BRIDGET GLYNN, III MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Okinawa Marine helps maintain legacy of origami cranes

Ismael Esconde holds a crane he folded at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in 2017. Esconde uses origami as a way to make a positive impact in his local community. Photo by Sgt. Brittney Vella, U.S. Marine Corps

STRIPES OKINAWA 3JULY 18 − JULY 24, 2019 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION

Seventy-four years ago the U.S. Marine Corps under-estimated their enemy,

what they had anticipated to be a short battle against the outnumbered Japanese troops ended up as a 36-day siege re-sulting in nearly 7,000 Marines losing their lives. There was no doubt the U.S. would success-fully complete their mission, however the landing forces were not prepared for the Japanese that were well entrenched and had prepared for battle, result-ing in one of the bloodiest battles in U.S. Marine Corps history.

Iwo To has since become a memorial ground to honor all of the American and Japanese troops that died in the battle. Today, Japan and the U.S. are allies and on occasion service members are allowed to visit the island and reflect on the history. Stepping foot on an iconic battle site of World War II is a once in a lifetime opportunity that most service members do not get to experience. Marines and Sail-ors of Okinawa were fortunate enough to visit the island and learn about some of the history of that Battle.

A professional military edu-cation presentation was given on the beaches by U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Evan C. Clark to the Marines and Sailors of 7th Communication Battalion, July 2, 2019. They hiked the 5km trail from the flight line to the beach, along the way were various me-morials of those who fought dur-ing this 36-day battle.

“One memorial stood out to me as especially moving,” said Clark, the training officer of 7th Communication Battalion. “There was a memorial built where U.S. and Japanese vet-erans of the Battle of Iwo Jima were brought back, where they met stands a plaque honoring their reunion.”

The plaque was made for the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima when American and Japanese veterans of the war returned to the island. They came together in friendship to honor the sacrifices of those who fought bravely and honorably.

Following the presentation, U.S. Navy Lt. Hal Jones, the Chaplain for the 7th Comm. Bn. offered a prayer and proposed a moment of silence to honor and respect all of the people that died during the events that took place on Iwo Jima.

“Any person that has served has seen pictures from Iwo Jima, particularly the raising of the flag on Mt. Suribachi,” said Jones. “But, it’s impossible to fully comprehend from just pictures as to how many bodies were here strewn all over the beach and the extreme difficulty they went through. Being here has brought a better understand-ing of what took place here.”

Both Clark and Jones said they believe the presentation to be important and beneficial to the Marines and Sailors serving their country.

“More than anything, it is a reminder of our history,” said Clark. “This is why we exist as a service. This is where we re-discover the importance of what the Marine Corps does.”

STORY AND PHOTO BY LANCE CPL. BRIENNA TUCK,

III MEF INFORMATION GROUP

‘Reminder of our history’Iwo Jima

Stripes Okinawa is A Stars and Stripes Community Publication. This newspaper is authorized for publication by the Department of Defense for members of the military services overseas. However, the contents of Stripes Okinawa are unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, including the Department of Defense or the U.S. Pacific Command. As a DOD newspaper, Stripes Okinawa may be distributed through official channels and use appropriated funds for distribution to remote and isolated

locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement of those products by the Department of Defense or Stars and Stripes. Products or services advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron.

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If you’ve ever traveled to a Japanese tourist destination, you’ve probably seen omiyage. When all the colorful, neatly wrapped packages are displayed in one shop, it can be breathtaking. Most look too lovely or adorable to eat.

But don’t be fooled – these cute bags and boxes aren’t to be taken lightly. They are part of a Japanese gift-giving custom steeped in protocol, and if you leave town, you better not come back without some.

Okay, you’re not going to get fired from your job or ousted from your apartment if you return from a trip without omiyage. But you might bruise some feelings and maybe even make an enemy or two. Luckily, learning “how to omi-yage” is a cinch, and if you follow our six steps, you’ll be buying and giving omiyage like a pro. But before we launch into our how-to section, let’s make sure you know what an omiyage is.

The simplest definition for omiyage is: Gifts you bring back to your family, friends, and co-workers upon returning from a trip.

If you break the word お土産(みやげ) down to its kanji: 土 – “earth” or “local” (pronounced tsuchi つち or do ど)産 – “product” or “delivery” (pronounced san さん)Put them together and it can literally translate to “local product.” The “local” part is an important aspect of omi-

yage, and one that separates it from “souvenirs” given in other countries: omiyage should always be products locally made in the place you visit.

For instance, if you travel from Kyoto to Tokyo, your omiyage should be something made in Tokyo (like the popular Tokyo Banana, a cream-filled sponge cake shaped like a banana). If you travel to Japan from Texas, your omiyage should be from that part of Texas, or at least from the United States. There’s even a word for popular souvenir prod-ucts associated with a region: meibutsu. Which normally translates to, “famous product,” or “specialty product.”

BY CARLA SINCLAIR AND MICHAEL RICHEY,TOFUGU.COM

The gift you have to keep on givingOMIYAGE

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WORDDuring the Edo period, when people took sacred

trips to Ise Grand Shrine, it took days or weeks to get there. These journeys weren’t cheap or easy, so vil-lages would pick a town representative to make the trip for everyone.

The villagers would hold a fundraiser and give the representative senbetsu, or the money they collect-ed, so that they would pray for them. After the repre-sentative traveled and prayed for the villagers, they brought miyage – paper amulets from the shrine – back for the village. Giving a traveler senbetsu, and then receiving omiyage from the traveler, has also become a Japanese custom.

As this custom caught on, shops began to sell local products around Ise Grand Shrine. They started call-ing these products miyage, but instead of using the original kanji, they applied the reading to the kanji, because they were “local products.” Thus, a hybrid kanji with a different reading was born.

PRODUCTS SHOULD ALWAYS BE MADE IN THE PLACE YOU VISITAt first these products were non-perishable

items, because pilgrims walking on foot needed gifts that would last several weeks. But with the rise of the railroad in Japan, sweets and foods like manjuu became more common.

Nowadays a lot of people use “omiyage” and “souvenir” interchangeably, but are they really the same? Not quite. Omiyage isn’t just a souvenir – in fact, you could say the word souvenir trivial-izes omiyage.

OMIYAGE VS. SOUVENIRBoth “omiyage” and “souvenir” imply something a traveler buys that represents the trip. But

from here the two words diverge. Here are the biggest differences:

Even the attitude behind buying omiyage differs from souvenirs. A souvenir is a way to say, “Hey, look where I’ve been! Wish you could’ve come.” Or, “Here’s that thing I knew you would want while I was at that place you like.”

The sentiment behind omiyage is similar to an apology, as in “I’m sorry I left. Please take this gift. Thanks for holding down the fort.”

Omiyage SouvenirsBought for others Bought for yourself, sometimes othersFriends and family expect omiyage Few people expect souvenirsHas a price range No price rangeHas to be from the place you visited Can be from anywhereUsually food Can be anythingMust be packaged properly Does not require packagingObligation Optional

OMIYAGE VS. TEMIYAGEAnother word used interchangeably with omi-

yage is temiyage.Omiyage and temiyage are both “thoughtful-

ness” gifts, but temiyage isn’t something you bring from your travels. Instead, it’s a gift – usually food or drink – that you “hand” to someone when you visit them as a guest. It’s a custom you see in most countries, like bringing a bottle of wine or a snack to the host of a dinner party. Except, with temiyage, there’s a list of etiquette rules:

Don’t buy anything right near the host’s house (they’ll probably be able to tell anyway).

Avoid homemade items, like cookies you baked or socks you crocheted, unless you know the person really well. If the recipient is your total bestie, it’s fine. Otherwise avoid the homemade to be safe.

If your temiyage is flowers, give them at the en-trance and not after you’ve entered the room where the event is being held.

If you’re giving anything but flowers, it’s okay to wait until you’re inside.

If your temiyage is in a bag or wrapped in furo-shiki, take it out of its packaging when greeted by the host. Otherwise it’s “hiding your heart” which is considered rude.

Fold the paper bag after you take the temiyage out, and in more formal situations, take the bag back home with you. If it’s a casual affair, you can ask the host if they wouldn’t mind throwing the bag away for you.

If you’re giving temiyage at an outdoor event, it’s okay to give your temiyage while it’s still in the bag, but make sure to do so holding the bottom and the handles of the bag so it’s easy to receive.

TOFUGU.COM

STRIPES OKINAWA 5JULY 18 − JULY 24, 2019 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION

E1 MAKE AN “OMIYAGE PEOPLE” LIST

For a smooth omiyage experience, the first thing to do is make a list of everyone you’re shopping for. This ensures you don’t accidentally forget someone, and it also prevents a panicky search at the airport five minutes before boarding time for your boss’s boss who you suddenly remembered.

The list could go on. Bottom line: you can never bring back too many omi-yage. If you end up with leftover gifts, just eat them (it’s mostly food, after all).

If you work at a large company in Japan, don’t fret about buying each and every worker an individual present. It’s okay to bring one big pack of omiyage for the workers to share (and then maybe – but you don’t have to – a separate gift for your bosses, which you give privately). For instance, it’s easy to find large boxes of individually wrapped treats at most omiyage shops in Japan. If you’re coming from another country, like the United States, buy something similar, like a box of individually wrapped Ghirardel-li chocolates. Just make sure there’s enough to go around the office.

2 MAKE AN OMIYAGE SHOPPING LIST

To further streamline your omiyage hunt, think about what kinds of gifts you’ll get for each person ahead of time. You don’t have to know exactly, that would take the fun out of the search. But if you have a general idea (food versus non-edibles, for instance), you won’t have to keep doubling back to shops you’ve already visited after realizing you should have picked up those Tokyo Bananas for him and those designer socks for her.

Deciding on food for everyone is a great plan and maybe the best way to go. Treats like cookies, candy, rice crackers, daifuku mochi, and little cakes are all great omiyage ideas. They’re popular, customary, and relatively inex-pensive. And buying something edible for everyone on your list makes your shopping simple, since fun snacks and sweet treats are what omiyage shops are known for. Plus, it’s important to give a gift that people will like. It’s hard to go wrong with a super cute box of Kumamon Butter and Chocolate cookies, or an elegant package of colorful wasanbon, a buttery sugar treat made in Kagawa prefecture. Even better, edible things go away after you eat them, meaning people won’t be stuck with tons of knick knacks littering their homes.

Still, you might want to get a special someone – like your boss or best friend at school – something outside the (candy/cookie) box. But only do this if you know what that person really likes. If this is the case, anything with a brand name will be a hit. This could be perfume, cosmetics, scarves, socks, ties, bags, hand towels, or even jewelry.

When traveling outside of Japan the most important thing is that the gift represents the country you’re visiting. For instance, my Japanese teacher, who now lives in Los Angeles, says that when she goes back to visit Japan, she brings local omiyage like Trader Joe’s cookies and Bath & Body Works candles, because the packaging looks so American. According to her, prod-ucts from Bath & Body Works are popular because they have many different kinds of soaps, creams, and candles with various scents that don’t exist in Japan. Also, Japanese people love Trader Joe’s bags, cookies, and coffee beans, because they are cute and American.

She added that if people like to drink, American wine or liquor are also popular. “Something that is not accessible in Japan is always a good idea.” She warned that the biggest blunder when coming from another country is to bring back something “made in Japan.”

3 STRATEGIZE YOUR LUGGAGE

This step might seem trivial, but don’t take it for granted. You made a gi-ant list of people you need to buy for. Where are you going to store all those omiyage after you buy them? Plan ahead.

If you’re going to Japan, leave space in your luggage for temiyage you’re bringing to hosts and friends.

If you live in Japan and travel somewhere, bring a separate duffel bag or collapsible luggage you can store in your main suitcase. That way, you can fill the extra bag with gifts for co-workers, family, and friends. If your omiyage are precious breakables (like crumbly Kumamon cookies) consider transferring your clothes and personal belongings to the soft duffel bag, and filling the now-empty suitcase with fragile presents. Or wrap your gifts in your clothes for extra protection.

When I asked my professor if Japanese people pack with omiyage in mind, she said, “Yes, people bring extra bags! When I buy omiyage, I choose things that will fit in my suitcase, but sometimes I buy too many omiyage and end up bringing an extra suitcase back.”

So before you finish packing for the trip, check your lists and try to en-vision how much room you’re going to need. Packing a foldable duffel bag inside your main suitcase might save you a trip to the luggage store while on vacation.

4 BUDGET

Fortunately, people expecting omiyage don’t expect you to spend a lot of money on them. In fact, expensive omiyage could cause embarrassment and uncomfortable feelings of obligation. On the other hand, your gift shouldn’t be dirt cheap, either. Imagine someone went on vacation and brought you back a solid gold Rolex. Then imagine someone brought you a half-eaten sleeve of Oreos. You’d feel awkward in both situations. Sticking to a budget prevents this.

According to Japan-Guide, it’s typical to spend between ¥1,000–5,000 per person, while Gift Land suggests spending ¥2,000–3,000. It depends on your budget and how well you know the person. A ¥100 shop could even do the trick for some of the people on your list. And in the end, it’s the thought (and omiyage-giving) that counts.

5 PLAN AT LEAST HALF A DAY TO SHOP

Depending on the length of your shopping list and whether you’re going the all-edible route or straying off the foodie path into the more time-con-suming “other” territory, you should set aside at least half a day to shop for omiyage (as Koichi suggests). Of course, if it ends up taking only an hour, you’ll get extra bonus time to do whatever you want. But at least you’ll be covered in case choosing flavors of Kit Kats and custard-filled cakes be-comes more complicated than you expected.

6 PRESENT YOUR OMIYAGE

And now for the big moment (drumroll): the act of giving your gift! But how to give omiyage? Actually, there are no set rules, just a few things to keep in mind.

First, make sure your gifts are wrapped. If it’s sold as omiyage in Japan, it will probably already have nice packaging, or packaging will be offered to you at checkout. But if you do buy gifts that aren’t pre-wrapped, wrap them! The wrapping is almost as important as the gift, so make sure the end result is attractive and presentable, even if you have to pay someone else to wrap it for you. If you’ve got furoshiki lying around or buy a few extra, you can use them to wrap a box or a wine bottle.

Second, when bringing a group gift of individually wrapped foods to the office, place them on a communal table that everyone can see and choose from. Individual gifts at the office should be given privately so as not to of-fend anyone.

Finally, when giving omiyage, don’t be offended if it’s not opened right away. Depending on the person and the gift, they may open it there for you and everyone to share, or they may set it aside to open later.

SEE MORE OMIYAGE ON PAGE 6

HOW TO OMIYAGEWith so many people expecting a pretty present from your journey, searching for omiyage can feel stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, hunting

for deliciously attractive goodies in colorful omiyage shops can be one of the highlights of your trip. All it takes is a little planning. So here is our simple how-to-omiyage guide to make “souvenir” shopping the enjoyable experience it’s meant to be.

A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION JULY 18 − JULY 24, 20196 STRIPES OKINAWA

ETIQUETTEWe’ve already covered some omiyage etiquette in the sections above but there are

a couple of other things you need to know:If your omiyage is for your boss or someone older than you, hold the gift with both

hands when giving it to them to show respect. In fact, it’s nice to give a gift this way to anyone.

Don’t give anything in sets of four, which is considered an unlucky number.If the recipient of your gift politely tells you, “No, thank you,” insist that they take

the gift. They expect the gift, want the gift, and expect you to push until they break down and take the gift. It’s just polite for them to decline a bit before giving in.

If you’re a foreigner, don’t think you’re off the hook and don’t have to buy omiyage. Yes, you get off easier than someone who is Japanese, but giving omiyage will go a long way toward building good relationships with the people you know in Japan. They’ll respect you more for it, and it will help remove the stigma around your for-eignness.

When presenting your gift, don’t talk about how much the recipient is going to love it, the way you might in other countries. In fact, Japanese people do the exact oppo-site, practically apologizing for the omiyage they are about to give.

THE BEST PLACES TO FIND IT IN JAPAN

One thing you’ll never have to stress about in Japan is finding omiyage. It’s everywhere. Just close your eyes, spin around a couple of times, and start walking in any direction. But if you want specifics, here are general plac-es that usually have all kinds of omiyage to choose from:

Train stations (major stations are known to have some of the best omiyage shops) Department stores (the top floor is usually toys, games, and stationery while the basement sells food) ¥100 shops (for those on a shoestring budget) Bookstores (books are fun and super cheap, but weigh down your luggage) Any tourist attraction Any street known for shopping Airports

MORE THAN AN OBLIGATIONTo omiyage newbies, this custom may seem like a pain. Having to shop for

co-workers, family, and friends every time you travel can feel like a tax on your time (and your wallet). But please understand that omiyage play a special part in Japanese society. They oil the cogs of the social machine you live and work in every day. Though you may not have a name for it, your home country has similar rules. It’s all about how we live and function together as human beings.

So keep that in mind while perusing the colorful aisles of omiyage shops in Japan. It’s not just shopping, it’s relationship strengthening. And don’t forget, what goes around comes around. Every single person who gets an omiyage from you will most likely get omiyage for you in the future.

Happy travels!

Many cities also have near-famous one-stop shops that are known for their assortments of non-edible Japanese goods, so I’ll list a few here.

TOKYOOriental Ba-

zaar, located in Harajuku, has been around since 1916 and is one of the most popular omiyage stores in Japan. It’s got three sto-ries of everything from books and stationery to kimono and antiques, but no food here. Prices are moderate.

Nakamise in Asakusa, is packed with omiyage (and tourists). You can definitely get all your shopping done here, just be ready to push your way through hordes of families and amateur photographers.

Ameyoko is a traditional shitamachi (downtown) in Ueno, posi-tioned conveniently near Ueno station. The name is short for Ameya Yokochou, which means “candy shop alley.” It used to be the place to go for candy shops in the postwar period, but now it’s home to little storefronts selling clothing, jewelry, chocolate, and dry goods.

OSAKAUmeda is

Osaka’s gigantic shopping district, besides Namba, Osaka’s other gi-gantic shopping district. Umeda is in the north and Namba is in the south, and between the two is Shinsaibashi, a 650 yard long shopping arcade. Between these three destinations, you’ve got shopping arcades, department stores, and underground shopping to fuel all your omiyage needs. You might even need to buy an extra suitcase just to store all the goods you’ll be giving away.

KYOTOKyoto Handi-

craft Center, lo-cated right near the Heian Shrine, is a mega store, split into two buildings, filled to the brim with just about anything you can think of: woodblock prints, dolls, washi pa-per, books, Japanese cosmetics, ornamental swords, pearls, T-shirts, and all kinds of sweets. They even have workshops where you can learn traditional crafts. And best of all, they’ll ship overseas so you don’t have to buy that extra suitcase.

Teramachi Street Shopping Arcade just off Shijo street has ev-erything you need and more. There are mostly clothing stores here, but with 170 shops to choose from, you’ll definitely find omiyage, big or small, for everyone on your list.

BIG-CITY BUYS

OMIYAGE: Of course there’s proper etiquetteCONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

STRIPES OKINAWA 7JULY 18 − JULY 24, 2019 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION

ACROSS1 Long way off5 As well9 Cathedral topper

14 Garage service15 Gladly, old-style16 Judge's shout17 Skin softener19 FDR affliction20 Spooky21 Like some

bookstores23 Oversee24 Kind of tea26 Astronomer's

concern28 Nudge, as

memory30 Lab fluids32 Animal pouch33 Egyptian bird35 Firearms

science40 Hunter's feast42 Banderas of film43 Good thing to 2 Get angry 36 Loafer's lack 51 Control ____

keep in an inter- 3 Indigenous 37 Beyond words 52 Run the showview Australian 38 "Bye now" 53 Stable sound

45 Enlarge, as a 4 Piece of history 39 "___ Like It Hot" 55 Bay windowhole 5 1996 Olympics 41 Gardener's 58 Mild expletive

46 Sedona maker torch lighter purchase 60 Scheme47 Salacious look 6 Substitution 44 Africa's largest 61 E-mail option49 Antagonist word nation 63 Furry friend50 Tori of TV 7 Like some 48 Drilling grp. 65 Ground cover54 Urban garden massages 50 Scaly dry skin

spot 8 Frequently56 Arrived 9 Set of instruc-57 Swamp stalk tions, briefly59 Animal snares 10 Bodyguard, e.g.62 Open, as a 11 Slacker

toothpaste tube 12 Jockey's 64 Cantankerous handful66 Superman 13 Lose ground?

portrayer 18 Wranglers 67 Copter's fore- alternative

runner 22 Exhume68 Pizazz 25 Suave69 Group of ships 27 Expansive70 Player's cards 28 Bee Gees hit 71 Libraries do it "____ Talkin'"

29 Do as toldDOWN 31 Fly off the

1 Sheltered, handlenautically 34 Some time off

The Weekly Crossword by Margie E. Burke

Copyright 2019 by The Puzzle Syndicate

Answers to Last Week’s Crossword:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16

17 18 19

20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31 32

33 34 35 36 37 38 39

40 41 42

43 44 45

46 47 48 49

50 51 52 53 54 55

56 57 58 59 60 61

62 63 64 65

66 67 68

69 70 71

A C M E A V A I L R A F TT H E N D I N G O A C E RT I N T D A I L Y S A R IA N T I C S L O A T H I N GR O A C H V I O L I N

L E A D I N S D E C A YR A N R O L E M A S A L AA D O P T E E P I L S N E RG A T H E R V I E W D E NS M E A R P I N N A C E

R E P E A T V A L V ED I V I D E N D D E R A I LA C E S A M U S E A B B AT O N E C A C H E F R E TA N T E E N T E R E A S E

DID YOUKNOW?

Language Lesson

Kanji of the week

Stripes Sports Trivia

Answer

Answers to Last Week’s Sudoku:

According to Japanese tradition, you are supposed to present certain kinds of money in certain

envelopes when you attend a wedding, funeral or memorial service. For a wedding, wrap crisp and new, unfolded bills in a red and white envelope. For a funeral or any memorial service, enclose rather old and not clean bills in a black and white envelope. Red and white for weddings, black and white for funerals – now, don’t forget!

Mushi/chuu (insect)

Congratulations!

Omedeto gozaimasu!

SAY MY NAME! When it comes to getting hits in the 1990s, no one did it better than yours truly. Not even Rafael Palmeiro, who the Cubs ditched in favor of me. After my time with the Northsiders, I played for the Diamondbacks and even got myself a shiny World Series ring. I went on to join the team’s broadcast booth. Who am I?

Mark Grace

A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION JULY 18 − JULY 24, 20198 STRIPES OKINAWA

cats, we washed our hands and received a briefing on the café rules and fees. Once inside the very spacious and clean café, we could see cats of different breeds and each with different personalities. I spotted about 20 cats including Bengals, Ameri-can Curls, Persians, Munchkins and more. Some were sprawled out and dozing off on sofas. Some were chasing after ribbons twirled by another customer or peeking curiously at us from the top of cat trees. Though there were many sofas, tables and cat trees, the area had plenty of room for both cats and humans to move freely.

Many of the cats were taking it easy and the café was pretty peaceful. The mood quickly changed the second a Puchi Marry employee brought out the wet cat food (300 yen) we bought to feed the cats. As soon as they realized it was snack time, about 10 of the cats surrounded us. A few tried to jump on us or stood on their rear paws like meerkats. It quickly became somewhat of a scene as the cats tried to bite on the spoon, refusing to let go, when we tried to feed them.

The food really brought out each cat’s character. The aggres-sive ones kept chasing us and the shy, modest cats looked on wist-fully from a distance. When we tried to feed the quieter, tame ones, the naughty ones tried to intercept the spoons we were using. But it was fun. The active ones knew enough not to cross the line from being cheeky to be-ing violent, and thus, no catfights occurred over food.

Soon, the food was all gone, and the peace returned to the room. Some of the cats went back to their sofas or trees, while oth-ers played with toys. Spending their day in a clean and fancy room and being well taken care of, really made the cats seem to be in no mood to get too wild.

We spent 30 minutes with the cats. Being captivated by their cuteness, we forgot to en-joy the unlimited soft drink bar included with the admission. As I expected, we had a lot of fun playing with Puchi Marry’s cute and playful cats. I left impressed with the peaceful mood and the spacious area the cats get to en-joy. All in all, it was a great way to relax and learn to be as calm as the cats were on a rainy after-noon.

Puchi Marry is a chain of cat cafes with locations also in Yoko-hama, Kyoto and Sendai.kudaka.shoji@stripes.com

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Puchi Marry Cat Café GPS COORDINATES: N 26.316674,

E 127.755755 (2nd floor of Seaside Square of American Village)

HOURS: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Last admission at 9:30 p.m.)

FEE: 950 yen (30-minute admission plus soda fountain).

*No food is sold or allowed on the premises.

*200 yen per 10 minutes will be added after 30 minutes.

*Weekday free-time (no time-limit) admission is available for 2,300 yen, and Holiday free-time (no time-limit) admission is available for 2,500 yen. Both include cat food.

TEL: 098-989-5085

CAT: Café host to many furry felines