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DATE: March 9, 10 (Saturday and Sunday) TIME: 1 - 9 p.m.VENUE: Marine Corps Air Station Futenma

(MCAS Futenma)WEBSITE: https://www.mccsokinawa.com/

mccsoki2015/_sub2015.1.0.aspx?cid=4294998905&pglot=2147485841

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pg/2019FLF/posts/*FREE and open to all service members, their

families and Japanese citizens. Pets, outside al-cohol, glass bottles or coolers are not allowed.

*Gate 2 on MCAS Futenma will be open for pedes-trians’ access from noon to 10 p.m. on March 9 and 10.

As festival season kicks off, an Okinawa favorite is com-ing back to Marine Corps installations on the island.

The Futenma Flight Line Fair featuring displays of tactical vehicles and military aircraft such as F/A-18s, F-35Bs, and MV-22s will take place on March 9 and 10 from 1 to 9 p.m.

Flyovers and fireworks are planned for both days and musical acts Maddison Beer and Black Stone Cherry will headline the 40th installment of the festival. There will also be a car show again this year.

Attendees can also enjoy various food vendors and rides and inflatable bounce houses for the kids.

This year’s Flight Line Fair at Futenma promises to continue it’s 40-year tradition of fun for all.

kudaka.shoji@stripes.com

BY SHOJI KUDAKA,STRIPES OKINAWA

Futenma Flight Line Fair turning 40

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VOLUME 13 NO. 11 MARCH 7 − MARCH 13, 2019 FREESTRIPESOKINAWA.COM SUBMIT STORIES TO: OKINAWA@STRIPES.COM FACEBOOK.COM/STRIPESPACIFIC

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A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION MARCH 7 − MARCH 13, 20192 STRIPES OKINAWA

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OKINAWA – On the Miyagi Coast sits a well-loved establish-ment called Transit Café where people gather to eat and enjoy the scenery of the island. It was a normal weekday afternoon in February, the sun was shin-ing, the blue ocean waves were crashing and Staff Sgt. Jonathan McClure, a military policeman with Headquarters and Support Battalion from Camp Foster, and his wife were enjoying their meal. Meanwhile, Jillian Romag and one of her close friends were also at Transit Café chatting dur-ing their lunch break at Romag’s favorite lunch destination.

The McClure family was re-laxing and people-watching when a sudden movement caught Mrs. McClure’s attention. “What’s wrong?” Mrs. McClure asked her husband, looking to-wards the white bar. “I think she’s choking!” he said.

Staff Sgt. McClure looked up to see Romag’s vomit splatter-ing across the white floor as she stumbled, grabbing desperately at her throat. He rushed over, grabbed her shoulder, and looked into her eyes.

“Are you choking?” he asked.Romag nodded.“I’m going to help you,”

life, but to actually save their life and have the bravery and skillset to do it says a lot.”

McClure echoed the senti-ment: “I firmly believe with 100% of my heart and soul that any Marine who knew what was going on and how to react would have done so the same exact way,” said McClure proudly. “…The life lesson that this instance reminded me of is that you are forever a student. …If you don’t have the training, go out there and seek it. We need more people who are out there, trained and ready to act when a situation gets hectic or scary.”

On February 22, 2019, Mc-Clure was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for superior performance of his duties.

McClure’s exceptional profes-sionalism, unrelenting persever-ance and loyal devotion to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Na-val Service.

“I think that any MCIPAC Marine would have reacted the same way,” said Col. Vincent Ciuccoli, commanding officer of H&S Bn., MCIPAC, MCB Camp Butler. “It is one thing to say that you attempted to save someone’s

McClure said reassuring the woman as he moved to stand behind her. McClure, an experi-enced policeman, had rehearsed the Heimlich maneuver yearly as part of his annual training. Af-ter three abdominal thrusts, the chunk of steak that was lodged in her throat blocking her air-way came up enough for her to remove it.

McClure’s quick action saved Romag’s life. “This reminded me that there are really still good people out there,” Romag would later recall. “The Marine Corps takes care of its people and teaches its people how to take care of others.”

STORY AND PHOTO BY CPL. TAYLER SCHWAMB,

MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS PACIFIC

Marine saves choking civilian at café

First Sgt. Jacob Karl, right, reads Staff Sgt. Jonathan McClure’s, left, Navy Achievement Medal citation Feb. 22, at Camp Foster.

STRIPES OKINAWA 3MARCH 7 − MARCH 13, 2019 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION

YOKOTA AIR BASE — Officials at U.S. military installations across the Far East are going door-to-door, holding meetings and seeking feedback from residents following recent tes-timony to Congress and media reports about health and safety issues in military housing.

The moves echo an effort on bases in Europe following testimony Feb. 13 about mili-tary housing before the House Armed Services Committee and a series of reports by the Re-uters news agency that found housing at many U.S. bases was dilapidated and dangerous.

On Feb. 15, top military of-ficials ordered commanders to inspect all hous-ing for which they were respon-sible within 30 days and to hold town hall meetings.

For example, Air Force Sec-retary Heather Wilson and Chief of Staff Gen. David Gold-fein directed commanders at every base worldwide to con-duct a “100 percent review” of the condition and safety of all military housing by March 1, the Air Force said in a state-ment.

At Yokota Air Base in west-ern Tokyo, 374th Airlift Wing commander Col. Otis Jones wrote to residents Wednesday to inform them that military leaders would come personally to base housing and speak di-rectly to residents about health and safety issues.

After those house calls, base housing residents may expect “follow-up with a personal vis-it” prior to March 1 to “confirm that your concerns are being addressed appropriately by our housing team.”

Residents may choose no inspection of their home, but “your leaders will still reach out to each resident family to solicit your direct feedback, document your concerns, and understand your perception of the health and safety of your home.”

On Friday, Master Sgt. Adam Brady and Master Sgt. Paul On visited residents of Yokota’s eastside housing area to ask them about issues with their single-story row houses.

By early af-ternoon the pair had visited 47 out of 50 homes on their list but had found no

major problems, Brady said.“There are issues that Civil

Engineering needs to identify but there is nothing that affects someone’s life or safety,” he said.

Eastside resident Margie Riddell, 40, of Dallas, said she had a visit from a survey team Thursday.

“They are taking it very seri-ously, which I think is the right response,” she said.

Riddell’s family haven’t had problems with military housing in Japan, although their home is smaller than they’re used to, she said.

Some other bases in the Far East are holding meetings to talk about housing issues.robson.seth@stripes.comTwitter: @SethRobson1

BY SETH ROBSON, STARS AND STRIPES

Published: Feb. 22, 2019

Officials going door to door for

housing feedback

STRIPESOKINAWA.COM WHAT IS HAPPENING ON YOUR BASE?

EXCLUSIVE NEWS FROM:

Master Sgt. Adam Brady, right, and Master Sgt. Paul On talk to residents of Yokota Air Base housing on Feb. 22, about issues with their base homes. Photo by Allen Onstott, Stars and Stripes

A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION MARCH 7 − MARCH 13, 20194 STRIPES OKINAWA

1. ANA INTERCONTINENTAL MANZA BEACH RESORT: MARCH 3. On the beach opening day, ocean park (water obstacles) is scheduled to be available for free, and food booths are scheduled to be set up on the beach side PARKING FEE

COSTS: 1,500 or 2,000 yen depending upon dates OPEN: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. TEL: 098-966-1211

WEBSITE: www.anaintercontinental-manza.jp/ GPS COORDINATES: 26°30’27.9”N 127°51’28.9”E; 40 minute drive from Camp Foster.

2. SHERATON OKINAWA

SUNMARINA RESORT: MARCH 17. Water activities such as jet skiing, snorkeling tour, marine boating are available. PARKING FEE COSTS: 500 per hour, 2,000 at most OPEN: from 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. TEL: 098-965-2222 WEBSITE: https://sheraton-okinawa.co.jp/en/ GPS

COORDINATES: N 26.462751, E 127.812365; 40 minute drive from Camp Foster.

3. KARIYUSHI BEACH: MARCH 23. Water activities such as obstacle courses, parasailing, and boat tube are available PARKING FEE COSTS:

Free OPEN: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. TEL: 0980-52-4093 WEBSITE: http://www.kariyushi-beach.co.jp/

GPS COORDINATES: 26°31’55.1”N 127°55’45.9”E; 60 minute drive from Camp Foster

4. KANUCHA BEACH: MARCH 31. Water activities such as obstacles courses, parasailing, and flyboard are available PARKING

FEE COSTS: Free ADMISSION FEE COSTS: 1,500 yen for adult, 500 yen for children (ages 5-11) TEL: 0980-55-8880 WEBSITE: https://www.kanucha.jp/en/ GPS COORDINATES: 26°32’47.3”N 128°04’38.1”E ; 20 minute drive from Camp Schwab

5. ZANPA BEACH: APRIL 1. Water activities such as flyboard, banana boat, parasailing are available PARKING FEE COSTS:

Free OPEN: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. TEL: 098-958-5000 (for info on water activities) WEBSITE: https://www.daiwaresort.jp/en/okinawa/activity/index.html (water activities) GPS COORDINATES: 26°26’09.0”N 127°42’57.3”E ;15 minute drive from Torii station.

6. SUNSET BEACH: APRIL 13. A beach adjacent to American village. A popular spot for families and couples PARKING FEE COSTS:

Free OPEN: 9 a.m. - 5: 30 p.m. TEL: 098-936-8273 WEBSITE: http://www.uminikansya.com/ GPS COORDINATES: 26°18’50.4”N 127°45’18.7”E; 10 minute drive from Camp Foster and Kadena Air Base.

7. IKEI BEACH: APRIL 7. A popular beach on Ikei island. Water activities such as fly board, banana boat, and boat tube are available;

ADMISSION FEE COSTS: 400 yen for adult (middle school student and above), 300 yen for ages between

elementary school student and 5 years. Free for 4 years old and below

OPEN: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; WEBSITE: http://www.ikei-beach.com/ GPS

COORDINATES: 26°23’18.1”N 127°59’28.2”E; 30 minute drive from White Beach.

8. EMERALD BEACH: APRIL 1. Adjacent to Expo Park, this beach dazzles visitors with its emerald green and cobalt blue

PARKING FEE COSTS: Free OPEN: 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. TEL:

0980-48-2741 WEBSITE: http://oki-park.jp/kaiyohaku/en/inst/75

GPS COORDINATES: 26°41’55.6”N 127°52’40.0”E; 90 minute drive from

Camp Foster.

9. CHURA-SUN BEACH:APRIL 7. Resort beach home to many

events and concerts. Water activities such as sea kayak, banana boat, and boat tube

are available PARKING FEE COSTS: 500 yen at most OPEN: 9 a.m. - 6p.m.;Tel 098-850-1139 WEBSITE: http://churasun-beach.com/ GPS

COORDINATES: 26°09’25.2”N 127°38’51.9”E; 40 minute drive from Camp Foster. Close to Naha Air Port.

10. TROPICAL BEACH: LATE APRIL. Resort beach near MCAS Futenma and a good spot to have a beach BBQ party

at. Water activities such as boat tube, banana boat and flyboard is available PARKING FEE COSTS: Free OPEN: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. TEL: 090-4471-0581 WEBSITE: http://www.ginowantropicalbeach.jp/ GPS

COORDINATES: 26°16’54.3”N 127°43’52.8”E; 10 minute drive from MCAS Futenma.

11. UPPAMA BEACH: MARCH 30. Beautiful beach on Nakijin peninsula. Water activities such as jet ski, sea kayak and boat tube are available PARKING FEE COSTS: 500 yen TEL: 0980-56-2767 (hotel)

WEBSITE: https://belparaiso.com/activity/ GPS COORDINATES: 26°41’30.0”N 127°59’34.9”E; 90 minute drive from Camp Foster.

12. SESOKO BEACH: MID APRIL. Beach on Motobu peninsula. water activities such as parasailing, banana boat, and jet ski are available PARKING FEE COSTS: 1,000 yen OPEN: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

TEL: 0980-47-7000 WEBSITE: http://www.sesokobeach.jp/ GPS

COORDINATES: 26°39’00.8”N 127°51’22.1”E; 90 minute drive from Camp Foster.

T hanks to its sub-tropical climate, some beaches in Okinawa are open to visitors all year round. But, that doesn’t mean celebrating beach openings on sub-tropical islands is out

of the question. Starting March, mark the official start of beach season with visits to local beaches and events sure to be fun for the whole family. Some are resort-oriented while others offer a quiet environment to enjoy nature. Don’t miss the best spring break beaches that Okinawa has to offer.

W hite Beach Naval Facijust for ships making to replenish their foo

and load up troops. The U.S. basgreat place for servicemembers lies to enjoy some recreation andtion on Okinawa.

Located around the tip of Peninsula, White Beach featuresnished log cabins located on a bmiddle of the facility. The view ful and the cabins are only a shothe beach. Camping trailers andlocated next to the beach are alsofor rent. Pet lovers, there are d“pet friendly” cabins and campable.

As you walk around this sprawity, the beauty of the ocean and sprinkled off the coast draw yourThe clean, white sandy beaches afor tossing frisbees with friendssand castles with your kids or tak

You’ll also notice local tombalong the coastline of the facilispectful. And you may have thtunity to come across some curitures because nature is well p

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BY SHOJI KUDAKA, STRIPES OKINAWA

File photo

Photo by Shoji Kudaka

TEL: +81(98)962DSN: (315)644-4NOTE: Facilities

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STRIPES OKINAWA 5MARCH 7 − MARCH 13, 2019 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION

Although Torii Station may not stand out when comes to its size and the number of servicemem-

bers it hosts, the small Army base is home to a beachside recreational area that will leave a big smile on your face: Torii Beach.

Whether you’re a family looking to play in the water and picnic, or a group of friends in the mood to camp, play a little volleyball and unwind, Torii Beach is the perfect location.

Located in the west part of the instal-lation, beach access from Torii’s main gate is very simple. All you need to do is

go straight down the hill, make a left at the end, and you should be close to the beach’s entrance in less than five minutes. Pass-ing by sugarcane fields, the ocean blue and white beaches come into sight. It’s beautiful and peaceful, the perfect place to

get away from the daily grind. And, yes, if you can’t go without your mobile devices, WiFi is available.

Lining up along the long stretch of white sand are cabins, a campground, pavilions, a water slide fit for kids of all ages and shower and bathroom facili-ties. MWR Torii has you covered with any camping, grilling and water sports gear you might need to rent, so it is the perfect place for beach parties with family and friends, or unit parties.

Although events like the Torii Beach Summer Party Series and Ghost on the Beach can pack the facility, this nicely secluded location always gives off a re-laxed vibe. It’s a great place to run along the shore, read a book or sit alone enjoy-ing the peaceful view.

Just a 20-30-minute drive away from Gate 1 of Kadena Air Base, Torii Beach offers a quick getaway from the ordi-nary. kudaka.shoji@stripes.com

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For those of you looking to break a sweat, basketball and tennis courts, a softball field and swimming pool are available.

When you get hungry or need a break from the strong sunshine, take refuge at Port of Call Club. Having a fresh sandwich at Sub-way or spicy wings at Wingz@Beach are quick solutions for those who don’t feel like grilling at their campsites.

For those who run out of snacks and drinks can count on Skoshi Mart for a quick replenishment. Plus, there are lounge chairs, game rooms with slot machines, pool tables and computer access when you need a timeout from camping.

There are places outside the gates of White Beach that people should also check out. There is a paintball facility about a 10-minute drive from the gate, as well as notable historic sites like the remains of a sugar factory located a minute away.

Located in a secluded area, is the per-fect getaway for families and groups of friends. So take in the scenery, take advan-tage of the recreational facilities and reju-venate a White Beach. kudaka.shoji@stripes.com

I f you are on the island of Okinawa, you have the opportunity to see world-class reefs in crystal clear water. And you can explore

this marvelous water world with a mask, fins and snorkel. Once you learn how to snorkel properly, it could become your favorite hobby during your stay on Okinawa. I guarantee that your encoun-ters with all the marine species will be a lifetime experience.

I’ve had opportunities to dive and snorkel in Hawaii, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, La Paz, Baja Calif. and some islands in Thailand and Indonesia. But honestly, Okinawa is my most fa-vorite place to snorkel because of the amazing colorful coral and countless tropical fish. There are many easy entry spots with shallow reef ar-eas (5 to 30 feet) and dynamic drop offs. Water visibility is extremely high and on any given day, the sky is as clear as the water.

And if you’re lucky, you’ll also have the op-portunity to swim along with turtles, manta ray and various types of reef sharks. You can liter-ally spend hours floating over Okinawa’s endless coral heaven.

Here are a couple places I recommend for snorkeling while on Okinawa Island:★Cape Maeda, in the center of Okinawa, is the

most popular snorkeling spot on island. Many diving shops offer snorkeling tours to this area. There is a wide variety of marine life, but one of the best parts is a cave you can swim into. If you’re new to snorkeling, this is a great place to start. It also has good facilities – bathrooms, places to eat - at the site. swimming can be prohibited depending upon weather. *Current status is indicated on the following website. http://www.maedamisaki.jp/en/

★Odo Kaigan, also known as John Man Beach, near the southern tip of Okinawa Island, also offers good snorkeling and is less crowded than Cape Maeda. But note that there are a limited number of free parking spots.

STRIPES OKINAWA

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SEE SNORKEL ON PAGE 6

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TEL: 098-954-1877

DSN: 622-1877

HOURS (RESERVATIONS DESK): Monday-Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

FACEBOOK (NAVY MWR, OKINAWA): www.facebook.com/

NavyMWROkinawa/

FOR MORE INFO: www.navymwrokinawa.com/programs/

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White Beach B

+81 (3) 5441-9800

A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION MARCH 7 − MARCH 13, 20196 STRIPES OKINAWA

SAFETY TIPS Don’t snorkel

alone.

Wear a life jacket if you are not confident in the water.

Check the current and times of tides before entering.

Always remember the entry spot and look back often to check your location. This will

help you to recognize if the current is pushing you.

If you are caught up by the current, swim parallel with the beach calmly until the

current settles.

Respect the reef. One of the main threats Okinawa reefs face is damage caused by

humans. Avoiding direct contact with the reef is the first rule of snorkeling.

Watch out for habu jellyfish and its poisonous tentacles.

Make sure to put on lots of sunscreen.

Drink a lot of water before and after snorkeling to prevent dehydration.

Here are some of the recommended spots in the Oki-nawa Island chain.★Yonehara Beach, Ishigaki Island: This place has an amazing

drop off at the outer edge of the reef. Please note the current is extremely strong at times, so snorkelers and divers should know what they are doing if they venture out a long way from shore. But if you do, you’ll really enjoy the drop off. In this spot I once saw 10 sea turtles in less than an hour. This beach also has a shallow inner reef area for beginner snorkelers, but there are no lifeguards or jellyfish nets to protect swim-mers. Current can be fast and it is advised to exercise cau-tion. A camping site is located right behind the beach, which attracts many backpackers from not only Japan but around the world. It is not family oriented beach, but if you are look-ing for some wild beach life, this is the place.

★Nishibama Beach, Hateruma Island: Hateruma Island is the most southern island in Japan. There are so many amazing snorkel spots around this island, which makes it very popular with both single backpackers and families. The water here is a beautiful emerald green. The beach offers a large inner reef for both beginners to experienced snorkelers. There is also a 10–15 feet drop off outside the reef for expert snorkel-ers to enjoy. Don’t miss watching the sunset from this beach because it will be the best sunset of your life.

It takes practice and experience to be a good snorkeler. The key is being relaxed, which only comes if you spend a lot of time in water. I recommend practicing in a pool, especially if you are bringing along children. You can all practice clear-ing your mask when water comes into it, controling your fins in the water and breathing through a snorkel properly.Listen, if you are not an experienced snorkeler, I highly

recommend taking a snorkeling tour from a local diving shop, which will provide step-by-step instructions. Even if you are an experienced snorkeler, it is good to use local snorkeling tours because guides will brief you on the local fish, landscapes and condition of the area.

When I travel to Okinawa to snorkel and dive, I will always make sure I’m aware of the high/low tides, wind conditions and currents. Respect the ocean before entering it.

Now, go grab your gear and hit the water.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

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.

snorkel:

Be safe

STRIPES OKINAWA 7MARCH 7 − MARCH 13, 2019 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION

ACROSS1 Ballroom move5 Skirt feature,

sometimes9 M, to Einstein

13 Study aide15 Garden

walkway16 Death notice,

briefly17 Addams Family's

Fester, e.g.18 Law firm newbie20 Something huge22 Seller of Alaska

in 186723 UPC part24 Foreshadow25 In the direction

of28 Big bully29 SNL segments30 Refinery residue31 Scruff of the

neck35 Biblical boat 65 Tear apart 28 Great time 48 Bailiwick36 Understanding 30 Flat replacement 49 Eagle's home 39 Greyhound, e.g. DOWN 32 Go up against (var.)40 Commuter line 1 Concert 33 Knitting stitch 50 Exorcist's target42 Right on the memento 34 Perceive 51 Ecological

map? 2 It can be hard to 37 In the _____... community43 Seize illegally carry, for some (for now) 53 Stars and 45 Abstract style 3 Cut into glass 38 Christmas Stripes, e.g.

of the '60s 4 Skunk crackler 54 British title47 In a monotonous 5 Sudden gush 41 Area prone to 55 Word said

way 6 Whip's blow flooding before opening48 Merlot, for one 7 "___ a deal!" 44 Marine hazard the eyes51 "___ here long?" 8 Leaving no 46 ___ Piper 56 Fabric quantity52 Embroidered stone unturned 47 Attorney's 58 Little fella

hole 9 Wet charge53 Success at the 10 Put down

expense of 11 Peaceful protestothers 12 Place of another

57 Anteater's 14 Penitent's cousin emotion

59 "The Audacity 19 Rudely terseof Hope" author 21 Simon's couple

60 Big cat 24 Chris of 61 Palindromic term "Jurassic World"

of address 25 Ivan the Terrible,62 Xbox enthusiast e.g.63 Repair, as 26 Creole veggie

clothing 27 Online prefix 64 Nose out with -pedia

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

B E E C H S W A T A C I DE N V O I P O S H B O D EA N E N T L O S E H A L ER U N T C E D E T O T E RD I S A B L E S P U R T

G O I N G S O N A R KA C T I O N R O T A T I O NT A R O C H I R P E L S EO P E N S H O P L E S S E EP E A T E L E C A S T

S T O R Y U N E A R T HS L U R P W A R T M E R EH A R E P E R T P E C A NO M E N R E E L A N T I CW A R D O K A Y S T O L E

DID YOUKNOW?

Language Lesson

Kanji of the week

Cherry blossoms are a symbol of re-newal and hope. Hanami gathering are said to have started at the Impe-

rial Palace as early as 794 AD. In 1910, as a symbol of friendship and goodwill, Japan sent 2,000 trees to Washington D.C. but inspectors from the Dept. of Agriculture found the trees

full of insects and disease, meaning the trees would have to be destroyed. In 1912, the Tokyo mayor at the time sent about 3,000 more trees, which were accepted. In 1965, 3,900 more trees were sent from Japan. To this day, the “Yoshino” hybrid trees still line the Tidal Basin, National

Mall and Potomac waterfront.

sakura/ou (Cherry)

Have a nice weekend!

Yoi shuumatsu wo!

Stripes Sports Trivia

Answer

How many different countries have won the World Cup?

8 (Brazil, Italy, Germany, Uruguay, Argentina, France, England, Spain)Answers to Last Week’s Sudoku:

A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION MARCH 7 − MARCH 13, 20198 STRIPES OKINAWA

Some of you may be new to the island, while others may just seem to forget

about Okinawa’s bus lanes. Don’t be another Y-plate car pulled over for driving in these lanes!

It’s a familiar scene I see all too often on the southbound lane between the south end of Camp Foster and the entrance of MCAS Futenma.

When driving south on Route 58 to MCAS Futenma, you need to merge to the far-left lane at some point in order to make a left turn into the facility’s gate. However, doing that too early can lead to trouble.

The bus lanes are those that can only be used by public buses during certain times of the day. And the penalty for violation can

be 6,000-7,000 yen.This law is an important one

to know and should be covered anytime someone is new to Oki-nawa. If you’ve been here for a while, you’ve likely have heard about quite a bit.

There is nothing difficult

about understanding the rule, to put it simply, it is a lane designat-ed for buses and most likely to be the far-left lane, But it may re-quire a special attention to note an actual bus lane when you get behind the wheel.

Although some bus lanes are colored green, some are not.

Drivers need to note what time of day it is, because the rule only applies certain times of the day – typically rush hour in the morn-ing and evening.

It is simple, but there are some smaller details one needs to know when driving during bus lane hours.

Did you know that when you only merge into a bus lane for a left turn once you’re close enough to the intersection where you will make the turn? Or that there are roads that turn exclu-sively into bus lanes, not allow-ing any personal vehicles to trav-el in certain directions at certain times?

According to the Okinawa Prefectural Police, the best ad-vice for drivers to avoid bus lane violations, is to be aware of the rules before you drive. And ide-ally, have an idea of which areas are affected by the rule.

And with all the people I see getting pulled over, maybe a re-fresher course would be worth the time.kudaka.shoji@stripes.com

BY SHOJI KUDAKA,STRIPES OKINAWA

Stay out of Okinawa’s bus lanes!If you’ve lived on the island for a while, you

know traffic on Route 58 can be heavy at any mo-ment. But there is a shortcut that will shave off a significant amount of time for those headed to and from Naha Air Port.

Nishikaigan Douro (Nishikaigan Road), which opened in 2018, connects Uchidomari in Ginowan City to Irijima in Urasoe City. The 4.5 kilometers road/bridge spans over the coastline, overlooking Camp Kinser on the shoreside and the ocean on the other.

The road is also connected to a street that goes along the west coast of Naha City, providing an almost straight route from Camp Foster to the airport. Depending on time of day and traffic, Nishikaigan Road reduces travel time between the facility and the airport from 40 minutes to 30 minutes.

Taking this road helps reduce the chronically heavy traffic on the main road. Plus, it provides a great view of the ocean. It’s a beautiful drive.

– Shoji Kudaka, Stripes Okinawa

Nishikaigan Road offers shortcut to airport

Bus LanesLOCATION: Southbound lane of Route 58

(From Isa intersection near the south end of Camp Foster to Nakanishi, southern end of Camp Kinser)

TIME: 7:30 - 9 a.m.NOTES: Y-number plate cars are often

stopped by local police on the road between Isa intersection and the sign of MCAS Futenma.

- LOCATION: Southbound lane of Route

58 (From Jitchaku intersection to Aja intersection)

TIME: 7:30 - 9 a.m.NOTES: This is a short section south of Camp

Kinser, where you would drive if you don’t merge on to an elevated bridge that runs parallel.

LOCATION: Southbound lane of Route 58

(From Ameku to Kumoji Intersection)TIME: 7:30 - 9 a.m.

NOTES: This is a long section that runs near the central part of Naha. Traffic on this portion of Route 58 becomes very heavy in the morning. But drivers of regular vehicles cannot take advantage of the less crowded lane on the far left.

LOCATION: Northbound lane of Route

58 (from Asahibashi Intersection to Jitchaku)

TIME: 5:30 - 7 p.m.NOTES: The northbound lane of Route 58 is

regularly flooded with cars on their way home during the time period.

LOCATION: Northbound lane of Route 58 (from Nakanishi to Makiminato Overpass)

TIME: 5:30 - 7 p.m.NOTES: If you go out Gate 1 of Camp Kinser

during the time, drivers should not drive on the far left lane.

LOCATION: Northbound lane of Route 58 (from Ojana to Isa)

TIME: 5:30 - 7 p.m.NOTES: This section has newly introduced

for the bus lane regulations. Drivers around MCAS Futenma and Camp Foster need to be careful of this new bus lane.

LOCATION: Kokusai StreetTIME: 7:30 - 9 a.m. (Southbound) 5:30 - 7 p.m.

(Northbound)NOTES: During the above time period, this

main street will be exclusively available for buses.

LOCATION: Route 222 (Between Naha High

School and Yogi Intersection)TIME: 7:30 - 9 a.m. (Naha High School

bound) 5:30 - 7 p.m. (Yogibound)NOTES: During each time period, the road

will be exclusively used by buses except

for the Yogibound lane between Kainan and Naha High School, where the far left lane will be designated for bus lane.

LOCATION: Route 330 (From Kohagura

through Yogi, northbound lane)TIME: 7:30 - 9 a.m.NOTES: Heavy traffic is regularly seen on

this road, which runs almost parallel to Route 58

LOCATION: Route 329 to Route 507 (from

Kanegusuku to Kohagura)TIME: 7:30 - 9 a.m.NOTES: Heavy traffic is regularly seen on

this road. LOCATION: Route 29 (Between Asato near

Kokusai street and Yamagawa near Shuri Castle)

TIME: 7:30 - 9 a.m. (Asato Intersection/

Kokusai streetbound lane), 5:30 - 7 p.m. (Yamagawa/Shuri castlebound)

NOTES: The Asato Intersection/Kokusai Streetbound lane near Shuri Castle between Yamagawa and Matsugawa is exclusively used by buses during the time period. This road tends to see heavy traffic going to Kokusai street or Shuri Castle. There is a reversible lane running at the center, which is used as an Asato Intersection/Kokusai streetbound lane from 6 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. whereas from 5:30 p.m. through 6 a.m., it becomes a Yamagawa/Shuri Castle/Matsugawabound, according to the Okinawa prefectural government.

- Okinawa Prefectural Police

*There are no base lanes effective on Saturdays, Sundays, National holidays in Japan, and January 1st through 3rd.