Kicking it Off in Okinawa!

Kicking it Off in Okinawa!

[Music] Greetings and aloha. And as always, mahalo for tuning in to do TV right here on Hawaii News Now K5, KHNL, and on Hawaiian Airlines inflight entertainment. It was time to embark on a brand new video diary series once again, traversing Japan with non-stop travel, Team Duga TV, the KSSK FM morning crew with Michael W. Perry and Sweetie Picaro, all aboard Norwegian Cruise Line ship, the NCL Spirit. Our adventure would start in Okinawa and then connect in Tokyo with 200 plus 808 enthusiastic adventurers ready to set sail around [Music] Japan. While in Okinawa, two places the group was especially eager to visit were the Heimey Peace Museum and the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum. Both powerful tributes to those who lost their lives during World War II. The Heimey Peace Museum honors the Heimey student corpse, a group of school girls and teachers who are tragically mobilized as battlefield nurses during the battle of Okinawa. Many of them perished in the chaos of war. And the museum located near the very caves where they sought shelter offers a deeply human and emotional perspective through personal stories, artifacts, and photographs. It stands not just as a historical record, but as a quiet yet powerful call for peace. Uh we are now here at the Ihara third surgical cave. The medical treatment was impossible because they couldn’t bring any medical things to here. That’s why what they did here is just hiding in the cave and in the end of the war uh you know five days later the organized war was finished. So on the very end of the war June 18th Japanese military issued an order of uh deactivation. So after the deactivation order was issued, military no more protect girls. On the next morning, the girls had to go out of the cave and run in the rain of the shells. The girls prepare to go out around the entrance of the cave and then that morning the phosphorus shells were dropped. 80 people out of 100 people evacuees uh died in the cave and then most of them the 42 of them are the girls and teachers. Do you know paper cranes? The significance of the paper cranes Japanese people make the paper cranes wishing for recovery and peace. So, Hiroshima, Nagasaki also maybe if you have the friends or family members in the hospital, we make 1,000 paper cranes and then present to that place wishing for the recovery and the uh prosperity and peace. So, this opening is the Ihara third surgical cave. Can you imagine how to get in the cave? We need a ladder to get in. Now you can find the big white monument that was constructed 1957 by the opening of the IHara third surgical cape. The victim’s names were inscribed on this senator. [Music] Perched on the southern cliffs of Okinawa, the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum offers more than just a history lesson. It offers a space for reflection, grief, and a deep yearning for peace. Visitors are immersed in the tragic story of the Battle of Okinawa, one of the most devastating chapters of World War II. This memorial tells a story from the ground up through the voices of civilians, families, and children who were caught in the crossfire. At the heart of the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum lies the cornerstone of peace. A solemn and sweeping monument that embodies the island’s deepest hopes for healing and reconciliation. Etched onto its black granite walls are the names of over 240,000 people who lost their lives in the battle of Okinawa, regardless of nationality. Okinawan, Japanese, American, Korean, and beyond. The monument stretches outward in quiet symmetry towards the vast Pacific Ocean, offering a space where the weight of history meets the open sky. There is no division among the names, only the shared tragedy of war and the collective memory of those who perished. Standing there, one can feel the silence speak louder than words. A reminder not only of the immense loss suffered by Okinawa, but its enduring commitment to peace. The cornerstone of peace seeks understanding, compassion, and a world where such suffering never has to be repeated. Its roles are both as a memorial, a place of remembrance, and a message, a quiet plea to the world to listen, learn, and to never [Music] forget. So, the coral dying was established by the owner of this Rio sand studio. So this is very unique to here. These corals on the tables are uh picked up about four decades ago on the beaches of Okinawa. And then the corals were on the beaches by the t strong wind and waves of typhoon. Pick up your favorite coral on the table and insert the coral into the bag. Open the bag and then put in the coral. Tie the coral with the cloth by the rubber band tightly. So, please make it smooth and flat. You got four colors. Uh, purple, blue, yellow, red. So, when you would like to make the colors, please do not mix the colors on the palette on the cloth of the bag. You can make the other colors, mix the colors. But when you try to make the mixed colors like green, you always start with the brighter color that means yellow. Brighter color first. Push the cotton ball to absorb the color into the cotton bowl. Please hold the bowl by the side, not by the top. Rub the ball on the coral with the force. So you just put uh take off the rubber band and then make the gradation the next one again right after please color only white part. So please enjoy making original tote bag great souvenir omeiyag from Okinawa. You can find other stamps like shisa, lion, and the fish and Okinawa in Japanese and English as well. So, I was fortunate enough because I wasn’t paying attention when our instructor at Sikosan was explaining what to do here. I had uh some fellow sensei over here that was giving me really good advice. Kind of a shame to show this, but I mean, oh, there people are very nice. Love this group. So, what was it that you guys uh designed over here with your coral? Uh, I followed a leader over here. Meet Oh, yeah. She was your fancy, too, huh? Oh, yeah. Meet some fishes and Oh, that’s very nice. Very colorful. Oh, you can be fancy, huh? Multicolored fish. You’re good teacher. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Okay. Now, that’s just like overachieving there. I see that pure jealousy. So, moving over to our teacher, our collective teacher here. Uh, she’s working on her fifth bag. And, uh, you have like the supernova colors going on because one color wasn’t good enough like mine. Look at this yellow to orange. You got gradients of purple, blue. Very nice. You did this before? No. A lot. The first time at home, man. See your workshop? Yeah. She does. That’s not true. Very, very nice. Thank you. This is very fun. Okay, let’s see the other designs you made, too. Oh, look at that. Look at this rainbow colored fish. Very nice. So, are you done with the fifth bag or you going to go for a jacket or like a kimono? You got to design one. One more. One more. Okay. Done. Okay. Well, thank you for the instruction and the moral support. Good luck on your final design. We want to see it after. Thank you. Mahalo. So, also on my super graphic designer table of artisans here, Lisa. Lisa, what do you have on yours? I have shisas. Oh, nice. And you have multiple coral. And just so I can remember Yes. where we are. Okay. It has colors going from purple to yellow. So, in contrast, mine was just sort of green and sort of washed out. You know what I really like is how do you get from the green to the yellow? Oh, you just have to start with the yellow and then go with the the blue. Not in my case, but that came out very, very nice. There’s normally two sheets, though. That’s right. Two guardians, right? This would be available for retail on eBay. Look for Lisa’s page, Lisa 808. Good $200, $300. Yeah. Starting bid. Starting bid. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. Mahal. Thank you. You know, I’ve never done this before. I’ve been to Okinawa many times before, but I’ve never done the coral dying before. So, this is a very unique non-stop travel experience. But I see that other people might have had that experience before because look at this aquarium. And you can tell a saltwater aquarium because they’re so pretty and colorful. And then you flip it over. You have the rainbow coral and of different sizes. And then this one too on the very top. Look at that. Okay. So, how long have you been painting? How long you been doing fine arts and and whatnot? This is what we do in Germany all the time, you know. Just kidding. You got me. We are probably the least experienced people here of anybody here. I don’t think so. Everybody’s from Hawaii or from the Philippines or Japan and so on. We only moved to Hawaii 3 years ago. Well, that’s good. Congratulations. We love doing things like that. It’s No wonderful experience. I’m This is a marvel to me. Like if you look at this particular coral here, I couldn’t even figure out how to get some of the white to come through. Everything looks like a color blotch on mine. You have different gradients. You have the different colors that are all intermixing with each other. Very impressive. Do you get to try it or I You don’t want to look at mine. But it’s fun though. It’s fun. Look at these pieces of art. Folks, more to come on a special non-stop travel at the Hoga TV tour. Aloha folks. Aloha. We are in beautiful Okinawa City. We had a very full long day. Mhm. But a very fun day. And this is part of a very special non-stop travel TV KSK cruise. And we have a long time in Japan this time. So I’m really happy. But first, I have to introduce you to our very special friend, our tour guide. 18 years so far. 18 years so far. And what was it about this place that wanted you to move here and live here and that you find special about Okinawa? Actually, I married to Okinawa man. That makes it very special. Yes, that works. Yeah. We met in Tokyo and then one day he got a job in Okinawa. Gotcha. At that at his hometown and then I had no choice. Okay, let’s go to Okinawa. I followed him as a guy for 17 years so far. 17 years. Okay. What are maybe Seikko’s top things that you would like people from all over the world to know about Okinawa? Why it’s so great? Why they should come here? Wow, such a you have 17 years of experience. [Music] Karate. Oh yeah, that’s a birthplace of karate. So maybe a lot of practitioner have been visiting Okinawa. We would like to invite more karate practitioner or the people who are interested in the martial arts born in Okinawa. Have some special places in the sanctuary for the current practitioners as well. The unique culture. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Unique culture which you cannot see in you cannot see in Japan and also you cannot see anywhere else in the world. Chakuru. What does that mean? Mixed being mixed. Oh, okay. Yeah. So the Okinaman culture is a mixed culture with a Chinese culture, Japanese culture and Okinawan original culture. Well, and then after the war, we have a great influence from United States as well. What else would you say? I what I really appreciated uh and we’re hearing right now is I love the music. Uh yes, I love that. Yes, we have a lot of nice music and also the folk songs. If you go to the remote islands, you can find a totally different cultures, every island have its own language kind of dialects and then they each one of them have their songs and dance. Okay. So that should be reason number four. Mhm. So you visit the other islands and you can experience more of their traditional and very unique, right? From their banner language style to music. Wow. Diversity. Diversity. Okay. That’s good. That’s good. Now I think number five could be the food of course. Yeah. You know the Okinawan cuisine is really uh related to the longevity of Okinawan people. You might have heard of the word blue zone. Yes. Yes. Of course. And then yeah now a lot of people from overseas visit Okinawa to find out what’s the secret of longevity. Blue zone for those that may not have heard that term before is you have many people that live to 100. Right. Exactly. Mhm. And they’re still very strong, very dinky. Their mind is very sharp. And Okinawa is like a key place. Mhm. For that. Yeah. That definitely diet is very important to live longer. Yes. Okinawa people use less salt. Oh yes. Because in even in winter we can enjoy w variety of veggies. It doesn’t snow at you know from the garden. Anytime you want, you can pick up the you know the veggies, the seasonal veggies from your garden. Wow. Completely organic, right? Okay. Oh, yeah. It’s true. The combination is very important as well. Yeah. So, sometimes the combination of the combo kelp and the pork bellies the porks. Yes. Yeah. They are really a good combination. Pork around anything is really good. So, tasty at the same time very nutritious. Okay. Okay, so that’s a great segue transition to where we’re at now. Now our non-stop travel group had a long day, a great day all across Okinawa uh as guided by Sikosan. And now we’re at a very special restaurant that specializes in chabush shabu, which of course is a wonderful pork that’s found here. And I know it’s a very long name, so I’m not going to even attempt it. King Au. King is the first town which sent the immigrants to Hawaii. Oh, okay. Yes. King Town. King Au premium au is one of the premium brand beef of Okinawa King is the name of a restaurant. Where should we start? Sego song. What should we have first? Beer. No meal. You know I like the way Seiko operates. That’s a good idea. Let’s order beer. Yeah. Oh, this is why I hang out with her. Ho people like to drink. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I’m generalizing a lot of people, but I know most of my friends like to drink. Let’s Cheers. [Music] Cheers, folks. [Music] Oreo. Oreo. This is good. This is really good. Where should we start? And what are we going to start with? What do you want to start with? This is a pumpkin dumpling. It’s a piece. Swat. Oh, Vishwa. Okay. Of the taro potato. Ooh. M. And then this one is the shumai dumpling. We know shumai in Hawaii. Yeah. Shumai with a premium pork au and scallop. And scallop. Yes. Wow. So does Okinawa have likeakimas? Ah, we say amazing. Thank you, Sensei. Hi Oi. You mentioned the scallop. Mhm. Scallop and pork. Wonderful match. Wonderful match. Is there a oi in Okinawa? Masa. Masa. Okay. And this is taro potato. Taro. Taro potato. Oh, it’s very good. Feed me. Oh, the flavor is so nice. Mhm. Okay. This is belly shoulder going. Okay. Thigh. Thigh. Okay. So, which one would you like to try? Belly. Mhm. [Music] This is very high-grade. Yes. And I And I remember you’re telling the group that you don’t have to make it well done. Mhm. Mhm. No need. Okay. Long day. We get two pieces. Oh, thank you. Ooh, you do. You deserve the whole plate. That happens a lot. Yeah. Yeah. All right. All right. So, should I try miso? Up to you. Yeah, let’s do it. Mix a little melt in the broth. Ah, I see. Then, oh, this looks very promising. Hi, doz. Hi. That’s a real smile. Can’t fake that. That’s a real smile. Pure joy here. A little bit more. [Music] M. You want to cut it? It’s so tender. I see. This pork is so nice. Let’s have more. I like shoulder. You like shoulder. Okay. A new way to enjoy. A new way to enjoy it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Something only available in Okinawa, right? Really? Okay. Mhm. Shabu. Shabu. D. This is really interesting. What is this? Umi budo. Sea grape. It looks like grapes. It is called umi budo. Sea grapes. But it’s also called as green caviar. Looks like caviar. The texture. Okay. Roll that. Okay. Sea grapes. M. What is it? The um budo gives it crunch. Mhm. And a little grape pellets here explode with flavor after you chew through it. What a genius idea. Yeah. And then the natural saltiness from comes out. Yeah. Seasons the pork. Mhm. Oh my [Applause] gosh. That is amazing. We learned so much from you on our first day in Okinawa. And of course, we have so many happy like 40 non-stop travel, right, adventures here with me in Okinawa. But we have five nights here and then we’re boarding this amazing cruise all over Japan and it’s going to be a fantastic day tomorrow. So I’m looking forward to more adventures with you, more adventures with Seikos here. As always folks, mahal for watching TV. Aloha.

In Episode 1 of our NEW 2025 Doko Ga TV: Japanmania! season, our Non-Stop Travel Doko Ga TV 808 entourage kicks off an epic tour and cruise in Okinawa! Follow along as Pali Ka‘aihue and Non-Stop Travel join KSSK’s Perry and the Posse on this Japan adventure!

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