 Most viewed - Kokusai-dori & Nenes/Nenez 国際通り・ネーネーズ |
My lunch.78 views
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She's selling goya (bitter melon) juice. I tried it.71 views
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Pickled vegetables.69 views
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Colorful fish in the old Makishi Public Market where you could pick the fish to be cooked for your meal.68 views
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At Pallet Kumoji mall, there was this Shuri Castle illumination monument complemented by paper lanterns. (首里城うむいの燈(あかり)モニュメント)46 views
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Shuri Castle illumination monument at Pallet Kumoji in Nov. 2020. (首里城うむいの燈(あかり)モニュメント)44 views
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Shuri Castle illumination monument at Pallet Kumoji in Nov. 2020. (首里城うむいの燈(あかり)モニュメント)43 viewsLit up in the evening until midnight from Oct. 28 to Nov 15, 2020. Many local businesses sponsored the artwork.
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Shuri Castle illumination monument was lit up in the evening until midnight from Oct. 28 to Nov 15, 2020. Many local businesses sponsored the artwork. (首里城うむいの燈(あかり)モニュメント)41 views
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Nakazato Haruhi (仲里はるひ) plays many instruments, centering on the sanshin and taiko drums.21 views
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From left to right, the current Nenes/Nenez are Kohama Rin (小濱凜), Yonaha Ruon (与那覇琉音), Uehara Nagisa (上原渚), and Nakazato Haruhi (仲里はるひ). ネーネーズ17 viewsMost are in their 20s, and two of them have grandmothers who were the original Nenes from the early 1990s. Amazing! (As of Nov. 2020.)
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On Sundays, Kokusai-dori is closed to traffic.16 views
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The sanshin is Okinawa's main musical instrument. What the sanshin is to Okinawa is what the ʻukulele is to Hawaii. Famous for the snakeskin (python) covered body, but cheaper sanshin might have fake snakeskin which is easier to care for.16 views
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Kohama Rin (小濱凜) wears a bingata kimono. 紅型 They wear different Okinawan costumes for each set. Colorful eye candy. Wish they also explained the Okinawan design of their gorgeous kimono. Crowd-pleasing entertainment.15 views
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The Nenes have been around since the 1990s, made famous when Sakamoto Ryuichi featured them in his Okinawan CDs and took them on a concert tour.14 views
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Still photography is allowed, but no videos.14 views
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Yonaha Ruon (与那覇琉音) is the youngest member and plays this Okinawan instrument called the "sanba" (三板). It's three small pieces of wood strung together to make clacking sounds. Love the sanba. 14 views
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Okinawan instrument called the "sanba" (三板). It's three small pieces of wood strung together to make clacking sounds. 14 views
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Uehara Nagisa (上原渚) is the oldest and current Nenes leader. Member since 2004.14 views
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Kencho-mae Station on the Yui Rail, the closest station to Kokusai-dori. 県庁前駅14 views
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Haisai Okinawa Building on Kokusai-dori. ハイサイおきなわビル13 views
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Taiko drums is also big in Okinawan music. 13 views
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13 views
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Noren-gai restaurant complex.13 views
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Noren-gai restaurant complex.13 views
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Lots of Okinawan restaurants on Kokusai-dori.13 views
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In central Naha, Kokusai-dori is the city's main drag of shops and restaurants. Mostly for tourists. The nearest rail stations are Kencho-mae and Makishi Stations on the Yui Rail. Large building on the right is the Okinawa Prefectural capitol.12 views
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Okinawan dolls for sale on Kokusai-dori.12 views
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The show is from 7 pm to 10 pm when they play three sets (two intermissions) for a cover charge of only ¥2,300 (as of Nov. 2020). Food and drink are extra.12 viewshttp://livehousesimauta.com/
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They've lasted this long thanks to occasional personnel changes. The current members are the sixth incarnation of the group.12 views
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In recent years, they've been spelling their name in English as "Nenez." However, the original spelling is "Nenes" which is how I still spell their name. 12 viewsNot to be confused with the Hawaiian goose. "Nene" means "sister" in Okinawan, equivalent to "ne-chan" in Japanese.
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She plays the sanshin (三線), another icon of Okinawa. The three-stringed sanshin came to Okinawa (Ryukyu Kingdom) from China in the 16th century. It later evolved into the shamisen on mainland Japan.12 views
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The sanshin is a modest instrument, used to complement the singing. Okinawan folk songs focus on the singing, not the instruments. 12 viewsThis is opposite from the Tsugaru-jamisen (shamisen) in Aomori Prefecture which uses the showy jamisen as the main focus with long jamisen instrumentals.
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Uehara Nagisa (上原渚) plays another common Okinawan musical instrument: the finger whistle (yubi-bue 指笛).12 views
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12 views
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Rubber slippers12 views
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Rubber slippers12 views
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Don Quijote on Kokusai-dori in Naha, Okinawa.12 views
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Raunchy artwork and graffitti on Kokusai-dori.12 views
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Intersection in front of Kokusai-dori, looking toward Pallet Kumoji mall.12 views
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Shisa guardian lion-dog.11 views
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Gift shop modeled after Shuri Castle.11 views
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Kariyushi shirts, Okinawan-style Aloha shirts.11 views
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Haisai Okinawa Building on Kokusai-dori. ハイサイおきなわビル11 views
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Haisai Okinawa Building entrance on Kokusai-dori. ハイサイおきなわビル11 views
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Haisai Okinawa Building on Kokusai-dori is where the Nenes/Nenez perform at Live House Shima-uta on the 3rd floor.11 views
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Famous Nenes/Nenez perform at Live House Shima-uta on most nights. Third floor of Haisai Okinawa Building on Kokusai-dori.11 viewshttp://livehousesimauta.com/
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The show is great with colorful costumes and singing. There's also audience participation. Not allowed to go up and dance though.11 views
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Rin also plays the ʻukulele as a hobby.11 views
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Pedestrain paradise on Kokusai-dori on Sunday.11 views
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Naha Bus stop on Kokusai-dori.11 views
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Shuri Castle illumination monument at Pallet Kumoji in Nov. 2020. (首里城うむいの燈(あかり)モニュメント)11 views
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Intersection in front of Kokusai-dori.10 views
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Entrance to Kokusai-dori.10 views
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Map of Kokusai-dori.10 views
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10 views
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Beni-imo tarts are Okinawa's most famous confection and omiyage gift. Made of Okinawan sweet potato (purple yam) in a boat-like crust.10 views
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Inside the Okashi Goten (御菓子御殿) tart shop.10 views
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Beni-imo tart shop.10 views
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Lots of T-shirt shops on Kokusai-dori, but most are not made in Okinawa.10 views
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Haisai T-shirt. "Haisai" is a "hello" greeting for men.10 views
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Kariyushi shirts, Okinawan-style Aloha shirts. Make sure the shirt is made in Okinawa. Cheaper ones are made elsewhere in Asia.10 views
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Taiko drums for sale on Kokusai-dori.10 views
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Okinawan dolls for sale on Kokusai-dori.10 views
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Haisai Okinawa Building on Kokusai-dori. ハイサイおきなわビル10 views
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10 views
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Haisai Okinawa Building on Kokusai-dori. ハイサイおきなわビル10 views
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Live House Shima-uta. About 50 people can fit into the club. Entirely non-smoking. Reservations recommended.10 views
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Doesn't feel like I'm in Okinawa until I see and hear Okinawan music. Well-known Okinawan female quartet since the 1990s.10 viewsThey played their original hit songs like "Kogane no Hana" (黄金の花), Okinawan folk favorites like "Tinsagu no Hana" (てぃんさぐの花) and tracks from their latest CD.
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The food and drinks at Live House Shima-uta are good. This is goya-chanpuru (¥700), my Okinawan favorite. You can eat during the two intermissions.10 views
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Live House Shima-uta menu. Reasonable prices. Official website usually has a coupon for a free side dish.10 views
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The club had their CDs on sale, but they weren't autographed.10 views
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Heiwa-dori shopping arcade, a side street off Kokusai-dori.10 views
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Heiwa-dori shopping arcade10 views
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Not so many people during a pandemic.10 views
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Most cheap clothing not made in Okinawa. The cheap ones especially.10 views
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Okinawa Mart10 views
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10 views
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Goya chips.10 views
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Colorful neon signs at Kokusai-dori, Naha.10 views
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Nice Okinawan shop signs here and there on Kokusai-dori.10 views
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Tenbusu Naha てんぶす那覇 10 views
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Noren-gai restaurant complex on Kokusai-dori. のれん街10 views
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Don Quijote does have an impressive selection of Okinawan products.10 views
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A&W restaurant's Kokusai-dori branch is at the entrance to Kokusai-dori on the 2nd floor.10 views
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A&W restaurant (Kokusai-dori branch) is another Okinawa favorite from the US. Took only a few root beer sips to relish teenage memories. Too much sugar for me now.10 views
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Blue Seal ice cream, another brand associated with Okinawa.10 views
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Kencho-mae Station on the Yui Rail, the closest station to Kokusai-dori. 県庁前駅10 views
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Entrance to Kokusai-dori.9 views
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Entrance to Kokusai-dori is flanked by two shisa guardian lion-dogs.9 views
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Shisa guardian lion-dog at the entrance of Kokusai-dori.9 views
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Shisa guardian lion-dog at the entrance of Kokusai-dori.9 views
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9 views
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In central Naha, Kokusai-dori (国際通り), main drag of tourist shops and restaurants. Lined with palm trees.9 views
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9 views
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Gift shop modeled after Shuri Castle.9 views
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Beni-imo tart is sold everywhere in Okinawa. Like macadamia nut chocolates in Hawaii, there are many Beni-imo tart brands in Okinawa. I'm told the most famous brand is Okashi Goten (御菓子御殿), the confection's inventor. 9 views
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This new tart flavor is also good.9 views
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Habu liquor or habu-shu with a dead habu snake inside. Made with awamori or brandy. The extract from the snake supposed to be good for you. The snake's venom is somehow neutralized by the alcohol, so it's not poisonous when you drink it.9 viewsNever tried it. What do people do with the snake after drinking the sake? Would a bird of prey eat an alcohol-soaked snake? ハブ酒
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"Okinawa Aloha," apparently Hawaii is idolized in Okinawa.9 views
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Sanshin for sale on Kokusai-dori.9 views
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9 views
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Ichiba-Hondori shopping arcade. 9 views
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Surprised to see Don Quijote on Kokusai-dori. One of the few shops that's not Okinawan, but I was glad to see Kokusai-dori not overrun by non-Okinawan businesses. Hopefully we'll never see Gucci, etc., here either.9 views
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Sam's Maui on Kokusai-dori, Naha.9 views
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Naha Bus on Kokusai-dori. There are larger buses too.9 views
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Rawhide on Kokusai-dori.9 views
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Not so many tourists in Okinawa during the coronavirus pandemic.9 views
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Another Okinawan live house on Kokusai-dori.9 views
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Lizard on Kokusai-dori.9 views
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Go to Travel discounts were great in autumn 2020 in Naha, Okinawa.9 views
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Washita Shop's Kokusai-dori branch. Well-known chain selling Okinawan products. They also have branches in Tokyo (near Yurakucho) and major cities in Japan. https://www.washita.co.jp/info/shop/ginza/9 views
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Washita Shop sells CDs besides food and drink.9 views
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Beni-imo soft service ice cream cone from Blue Seal.9 views
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At Pallet Kumoji mall, there was this Shuri Castle illumination monument complemented by paper lanterns. (首里城うむいの燈(あかり)モニュメント)9 views
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Pallet Kumoji steps.9 views
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