FC Ryukyu Soccer Team on Okinawa

Catch  a Soccer Game on Okinawa!

FC Ryukyu
(Website) http://fcryukyu.com/

FC Ryukyu's Logo - Source

FC Ryukyu is Okinawa’s semi-pro soccer team. FC Ryukyu represents the Okinawa Prefecture throughout Japan in the Japan Football League (JFL) games.

Where do they play?
FC Ryukyu’s home games are played at the stadium at the Okinawa Athletic Park just south of the Mihama American Village Jusco shopping center, sharing parking lots with Chula-U spa facilities. See the FC Ryukyu website for more ticketing information and current schedule.


How to catch a game:
A great venue to explore, catch a FC Ryukyu game in the Mihama area on the weekend! Game tickets are just around $10-$15 (Y1000 – Y1500) and attendees can sit in the stands or pack a lunch from Family Mart to picnic (bento) on the grassy field around the inside of the stadium! The East China Sea can be seen behind the stadium, making the venue an attractive and casual one, great for groups of friends and families!

Get in the spirit!

Japan Jersey

Come out in gear, or become a fan and grab your gear today! With jerseys, posters, accessories, towels, and stickers there’s gear for everyone! Come support the local team and make some noise! Learn a chant! FC Ryukyu has several chants to sing out during the game to cheer on your team! Join in the noise!


Use words like:  “Gan-ba-te” – ‘Good luck!’ (also, ‘try your best’) “I-kou-se” – ‘Go for it!’ and ‘Let’s go!’ “Ya-ta” – ‘Great!’ (shout this loudly with joy, especially for a goal)

To get even more supportive of FC Ryukyu, you can buy a soccer jersey or t-shirt for the team. Several shops in the local area sell FC Ryukyu clothing and items which make great gifts and unique memorabilia. You could also simply get a Japanese national soccer team jersey to support the country.

And after a warm game, grab a post-game meal at a nearby CoCo’s Curry, sushi-go-round or Family Mart!

Check out an FC Ryukyu game today!

Want more ideas for activities on Okinawa? View our Top 10 Things to Do in Okinawa post, or our Things to do In Okinawa page! 

Professional Photography on Okinawa

Exploring Photography on Okinawa

With so much to offer in the way of natural beauty, Okinawa is the perfect place to grab some incredible personal/family photos from some of the very talented artists in Okinawa. From family groupings to individual portraits, these creative artists capture the beauty of both the subjects and the pretty island!

Professional photographs are an excellent idea for graduating seniors, maternity pictures, engagements and weddings, family portraits, personalized gifts, and farewell to island memories.

Two great on-island photographers are listed here:

Kristie Coia:  http://www.kristiecoiaphotography.com/

Airin Owen:  http://airinowen.com/

Other merchandise highlighting the beauty of Okinawa in photograph includes various postcards and books available in the base exchanges and locally, as well as online. These items showcase the iconic scenes of Okinawa, both the natural beauty of the oceans, beaches and floral, and the local beauty of the Okinawan people and festivals.

The books make excellent gifts for friends departing from Okinawa, family members who have not had the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Okinawa, and personal mementos to keep the beauty of Okinawa alive.

We hope you have many opportunities to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of Okinawa, and capturing the island through photograph is one of the best ways! 

Want to find some great places for snapping photos? Check out our Beach Reviews!

Where to Buy and Sell on Okinawa

The Best Places to Buy and Sell Stuff on Okinawa and Tips for Flea Markets

Looking for a venue to buy and sell in Okinawa? Here are a few easy-to-use must-know venues for finding that new piece of furniture or equipment, selling those books you don't want to carry back to the States, or swapping out your wardrobe!
With a constant flow of military service members coming to Okinawa or leave, there is plenty of items that get sold at the flee markets or online classifieds. You can even find plenty of things in the base newspapers.

On Okinawa, things like furniture, cars, snorkeling or scuba gear and other items can often be found at a good price from a variety of sources listed below. Often someone is leaving Okinawa and just can't take everything with them that they would want, or they don't plan to use it again.

So check out the options listed below before you go our and spend big bucks on a new item.

Okinawa Yard Sales - Website

http://www.okinawayardsales.com/

This website is very much the "Craigslist" of Okinawa! Here residents on Okinawa can post items for sale and make contact with individuals interested in the offered products. Similar rules to "Craigslist" and posting on public internet forums apply: do not post personal information; beware of scams; use common sense and caution when posting, meeting, and purchasing materials.

Japan Update Classified Ads - Newspaper Classified Ads

http://www.japanupdate.com

Often along with local news, Japan Update newspaper contains a section for classified ads ranging through clothing, cars, technology, books, furniture, equipment, services, pets, and others items. The paper comes out weekly-biweekly.

Chibana Flea Market - Source JensensInJapan

Chibana Flea Market - Flea Market

For an exciting adventure of treasure hunting and great-priced discoveries, Chibana Flea Market offers buyers a varying array of products being sold by owners, often at great prices!

Sellers interested in clearing out closets before military moves or just spring cleaning can purchase a spot for $15 for the first and third weekends of the month through Kadena AB Outdoor Rec Center (http://kadenafss.com/chibana-flea-market) and follow instructions for times and setup. This venue is great particularly because of the opportunity to the local community who covet American clothing, beauty products, supplies, jewelry, and misc. materials.

A Few Essential Tips for Sellers:

- Seller slots are set up to park your car and sell out of your trunk, arrive early for a good spot and time to set up. Best spots are those that are close to entrances.

- Bring change in both American and Japanese currency - think breaking $10-$20 and Y500-Y1000.

- Only "USED" items may be sold at Flea Market. Resale of base commissary or exchange products is strictly prohibited.

- A card table, tarp and boxes help display or sort your products for easy purchase.

- Plastic bags are a courtesy to offer buyers something to put purchases into.

- Know that the first rush of people through the gate is a little wild. (Hand gestures and knowing a few Japanese phrases can make your day easier! "Do-zo" - Please (come/look); "Hi-ya-ku-en" - Y100 (one dollar); "Go-hi-ya-ku-en" - Y500 (five dollars); "A-ri-ga-to" - Thank you)

- Bartering is KEY! Be ready to bargain, bundle, or haggle with buyers so you both walk away happy.

- Bring water/snacks for yourself and anyone helping you. Okinawa summer sales can get hot.

- Avoid being asked to "hold" items for people, whether pre- or post-purchase! It is very hard to remember who asked you to hold what for them with so many people coming through. Put a name down on large items if you hold them until the end of the sale or for later arranged pickup.

- Don't put out anything you don't want to be offered a price for, and keep an eye on products - unfortunately items occasionally walk off.

Buyers:

Okinawa Travel Guide

- Take small bills - $1, $5, $10's as they are easier for sellers to break than $20's.

- Take water! Okinawa summer sales are hot!

- Know that you will need to carry your purchases to your car. Arrange with sellers how to collect large items during or after the sale.

- SOFA personnel has first pick of items by a half hour. After that, all locals (military and non) have the equal opportunity to products.

- Enjoy the adventure!
Looking for more things to do? Check out our Top 10 Things to do in Okinawa!