Virtual Okinawa Blog

Hello, my name is Jeffrey Ferris and I was stationed in Okinawa from 2000-2003. Let me just say that my three years in Okinawa were an amazing three years. I met so many interesting people and had so many great experiences. I can’t wait to visit there again to see how things have changed and/or remained the same. I was stationed on Camp Foster and then on Futenma. I always used to go snorkeling by Maeda point and Cape Zanpa. I always loved to window shop on Kokusai street in the heart of Naha. Anyways, just thought I would share that.

I was stationed on Okinawa for 2 years the first time and 5 years the last time, I really miss okinawa for one big reason. How beautiful a place and people can be! I never really hung out with other service members because all the ever did was disrepect the the people and culture, so I learned the Japanese language and made friends with my neighbors and others that I’d meet while out and about. They taught me alot about the culture and history of the island, we’d go out and have lots of fun with no violence in site. I even began to learn some of the Okinawan language from the elders that I’d sit and talk with. Imagine being the only American allowed in a place were no other americans could go because you understood the culture and truly respected the people. I was an honor. The serenity of Okinawa cannot be explained and you cannot understand if you are on base all the time. My wife Masayo, who I met in okinawa wants to return there upon my retirement from the military and I am praying that we do!! I hope to live away from the bases in one of the smaller villages, but close enough to her family so that my daughter is not deprived of her heritage!!

Start your own blog! Tell us where you’re from and if you’re currently living in Okinawa or were once here.  Do you have a good tale about Okinawa or your experiences on Okinawa? We’d love to hear your stories, good or bad. There’s also the opportunity to share your photos of the island and it’s people. We’d also welcome suggestions of where we ought to make some ‘virtual tour’ photographs, bearing in mind that we usually need a 360 degree landscape.

Hello to all you “Okinawans” both old and new. As you know the site has been down for a while; a short time ago we were given the chance to buy the site so we took a look at what we could find out about Okinawa apart from the fact that there was an American base there. I should explain that ‘we’ is Andy and Rob, I’m Rob and Andy is the clever one, you’ll here more of us later!

I’ve always had a love of the Orient and its people and have wanted for a long time to visit Japan, a short study via the internet convinced me that this was my sort of place. A good climate, proximity to the sea and fabulous beaches plus traditions going back centuries with influences from many different countries a fabulous sounding mix.

I’ve read a few stories from other sites of American servicemen who couldn’t wait to finish their tour of duty and get back home yet there are others who have revelled in the new experience and have been sad when it’s come time for them to leave.

I shall be coming out to visit next year to experience the place for myself and to do some virtual tour photography but in the meantime I would love to hear of the life on Okinawa, both in the present and in past times. Please remember that what soon becomes a way of life and the ‘norm’ to anyone living on Okinawa is often fascinating and interesting to strangers. We would love to hear tales and see photographs of all aspects of Okinawa life, I can’t offer payment but I can certainly promise an invitation to join me for a few beers when I finally visit you.

We want you to feel that you’re part of this site, your contributions will be there for all to see for years to come, by starting your own blog on VirtualOkinawa.com you’ll become part of the site and will influence the way the site develops from here on in. Please don’t feel that you have to conform to any norms (apart from decency and respect for others) as we want a variety of opinions and experiences on all manner of topics and facets of life on Okinawa.