Tag: Okinawa
Ryukyu Island Lacquer Tray Gift to the State Department
Diego tree wood, lacquer Okinawa, Ryukyu, Japan. Arching above the choppy waves, the dragon on this tray emerges from his home, the ocean depths near the Ryukyu Islands. He seems fierce as he extends his three-clawed tiger paws at his side, but unlike the fire breathing terrors of European lore, this Asian dragon is benevolent …
Kadena Air Base Telephone Switch
Here are some of the local national guys who work as part of the telephone switch at Kadena air base in Okinawa. You can see the main distribution frame on the left.
National Space Development Agency of Japan Communications and Broadcasting Engineering Test Satellite
Click here to download the full NASDA Communications and Broadcasting Engineering Test Satellite text This is a pamphlet I picked up at the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) museum when I was in Okinawa, Japan. This pamphlet is about the Communications and Broadcasting Engineering Test Satellite (COMET) satellite.
National Space Development Agency of Japan H-IIA Launch Vehicle
Click here to download PDF file of the NASDA H-IIA Launch Vehicle So this is actually really cool. Around 1999 or 2000 I was in Okinawa, Japan and between Okinawa City and Nago there is a National Space Development Agency of Japan site that has some huge antenna dishes. I stopped to check them out …
Orion Beer Towel
I received an Orion Beer towel as a gift. The towel is awesome because, not only does it have a cool design with beer and a whale shark, but it is also a reminder of the time I spent in Okinawa. I don’t exactly remember the whole story from when I went and visited the …
Okinawa Expo Park and Churaumi Aquarium
Went and visited the Okinawa Expo Park and the Churaumi Aquarium that is located within the park. This was definitely something to see. The Aquarium is known for having five whale sharks in captivity in this massive tank. The size of it was very impressive. There were other nice things to see around the part …
Banyan Town Restaurant
Today I went and ate at the Banyan tree restaurant in the city of Naha in Okinawa prefecture of Japan. It was a nice novelty restaurant to eat at because the whole setting is like you up in a big treehouse. It’s pretty neat and it gives you some interesting views of the city. Here …
Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty?
Have you ever heard somebody say, “Is your glass half full or half empty?” I was in Okinawa in 2000, when I went to Airman Leadership School. It was a management school for the United States Air Force. The school seemed like a bunch of propaganda to “re-blue” you for the Air Force. In other …
Achieving Your Dreams
Reaching the stars may not be as hard as you think. I managed to reach my stars and it wasn’t even by the path I planned it to be. The main thing you always have to be in order to reach your goals is to remain focused. Without focus your goal will not be as …
Typhoon Saomoi
While stationed in Okinawa I had the privilege to sit through a many of typhoons. Here was one of the typhoons that I got to endure. These images were downloaded from the Japanese national weather service.
Sunset View From Kadena-cho Seawall
Walked down to the seawall in Kadena-cho to watch the sunset. It was quite a beautiful evening.
Okinawa, Japan – Kadena-cho Seawall After Typhoon Jelawat
Walked down to the seawall in Kadena-cho in Okinawa, Japan today after Typhoon Jelawat. Here are a few photos I took.
Waiting Out a Typhoon in Okinawa
Typhoons are a rather common occurrence in Okinawa, Japan during the months of April through November. Usually when there are typhoons you just wait it out by staying indoors as most businesses will be closed. This can be a very long and boring time. Sometimes the typhoons can even last up to a week or …
Cook Your Own Food Restaurant
I went to a “Yakiniku” restaurant in Yomitan city in Okinawa, Japan where you literally grill your own food. “Yaki” means to grill and “niku” means meat. So you go to this restaurant and choose which kinds of meat and vegetables you want and then they put some coals in the grill and bring you …
Okinawa Route 58
Driving up route 58 in Okinawa near the East China Sea and Kadena marina.
Power Machines
Drove over to the flight line with a friend on Kadena Air Base and snapped some photos of his Nissan Skyline and my Nissan Cima with some Air Force muscle in the background…and a tank.
Okinawa Dragon Boat Race
Went to watch the dragon boat races at Tomarin in Okinawa. This was a pretty neat event. There were teams with Okinawan people from different places and there were also teams from different military bases in Okinawa. It seemed as though they were building friendships through friendly competition while experiencing some of the Okinawan culture.
18th Communications Squadron Flag Football
18th Communications Squadron from Kadena Air Base playing flag football against Marines on Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan.
Jason Newsted (Former Metallica Bassist) the Unknown Story
In 1998 I was in Okinawa, Japan when I received my Metallica fan club magazine which informed me of the bands upcoming tour. It was actually happening, Metallica was coming to Japan. I knew immediately I had to get tickets. So I checked with the Metallica club to see if I could get tickets through …
Habu Sake (Snake Rice Wine)
I went to the botanical gardens in Okinawa with some friends to see a Christmas light event that was going on. While there I was walking through a gift store and saw this Habu sake. In Okinawa, “Habu” means snake and sake is Japanese rice wine. So you literally buy a bottle of wine that …
Kadena Technical Control Best in the Pacific
While stationed at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan the 18th Communications Squadron facility I worked in received a Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) best technical control facility in the Pacific award.
First Night in Okinawa
In 1996 I was new to the United States Air Force and just arrived in Okinawa a little after 11 PM, when I walked off the plane and met my sponsor for the first time. On the way driving back to base he was driving like a madman. He was cutting through traffic just to …
Welcome to Kadena Air Base in Japan
Here is an arial photograph of the flight line of Kadena air base in Okinawa, Japan.