Okinawa Japan Night Life Experience
"If we play with intensity, physicality and technically play well, we will have a great chance in the competition.Unless we do that, we will struggle."You should keep in mind that many of these hostesses may have financial problems back home and that is what they hope to alleviate by being here. So, it is possible to set up dates with them, but generally they will be expecting to get paid for their time. It is very uncommon for one of them to go out with you because they like you only. After all, if you like them you must be sensitive to their personal problems.Saturday:The scars of 2007 have been erased, and after Brian O'Driscoll's claim in midweek that Ireland went into that tournament with an 'un- Irish' cockiness, O'Connell believes they have the right attitude this time around."You get very little respect in New Zealand unless you perform, which is probably the way it should be," said the Munster legend.Ireland meet the USA in the opening match and for a number of reasons, will be no walkover.So far, he concedes, Ireland have only gained a "measure of respect" from the Kiwis.You going to need to get up around 11ish and get down to the Jing'an district to get a big greasy breakfast at either Rendezvous Caf� (pp) or City Diner, both of which have great breakfast specials. After having the requisite amount of coffee head down to old town to buy antiques and souvenirs for yourself and your friends and family back home to prove you were in Shanghai. Head back to your hotel for a shower and to change for Sunday night.With less than one month to go to Ireland's opening clash with the USA, O'Connell insists Ireland are in a good place mentally.CafeShanghai's nightlife scene is fast paced and cut throat with new bars, lounges, and clubs opening and closing weekly. It is almost impossible to keep abreast of all the changes happening, however, the following section lists some of the more popular nightspots and their chief selling points.Rock houses were originally designed with an American theme. There a few still left, most from the 80's and 90's. The most well known are 8 Beat, Abbey Roads, and Downtown All located in Okinawa City's Naka no Machi bar district and a couple in Kin Village. This is where the young crowd go to meet and listen to great music. There are no hostesses and house rules are pretty much like any bar in the States.These are places where the hostesses may wear fancy lingerie and serve you while half clothed. In some, the hostesses take turns dancing on stage and partially remove some of their lingerie. These are not to common on Okinawa but there are a couple in Naha and up in Nago around Midori Michi. They are expensive and most do not allow foreigners. "Nihonjin dake!"Maoming Road: It all began on Maoming Road. Although its glory has somewhat faded in the light of new, bigger, and better night spot options, Maoming Road still continues to offer some highlights to the indiscriminate bar hopper. Bar girls abound in this street which is home to some of Shanghai's oldest pubs and clubs. Those looking to sample some of that old school Shanghai vice could do worse that spending a night and early morning staggering up and down this famous strip. (Key venues: Babyface, Judy's Too, Woodstock, M factory, Maoming Manhattan Bar)Ireland have never beaten the All-Blacks in over a century of Test matches between the sides, and were hammered 66-28 in New Plymouth last summer, and 38-18 in Dublin in November.Park Avenue / Peace Park Avenue (BC Street)Bar StreetsNightclubs are similar to those in the rest of the world. There are generally one to two discos in nearly every major drinking area. They offer some form of entertainment which is usually a live band, stage act, or dancing. There may be male hosts as well as hostesses, but they only provide the business services of taking orders and delivery your order.CabaretLive music entertainment is also concentrated in Okinawa City, where one can find hard rock, soft rock, and even reggae music. Weekend nights in Okinawa City belong to a world different from what is found elsewhere in the prefecture.These places have outstanding sound systems, play good music in a nice nostalgic setting, and have good food and drinks for a fair price. Be careful in these areas though. It's best not to go alone when it is late after 11:00 p.m., especially if you are new to the island. But definetly worth going and checking out.Friday:Head down to Sasha's on Hengshan Road to enjoy the half priced drinks from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M and then pop next door to Zapata's to try the best Mexican food in Shanghai. After finishing the meal and a few drinks proceed south down Hengshan stopping in at whichever place looks happening. Narcissus and Bourbon Street usually feature live acts and are good if you are looking to see a cover band and Beni's is a great pub to have a pint. After you've sampled a bit of the Hengshan Road pubs head off to the main event at Mural Bar: the 100 RMB all you can drink special. Mural is the place to be on Friday night with an open bar and great music keeping the party going till 2 A.M. The open bar shuts down at two in the morning and depending on the state you're in, your going to want to end the night right here or go for broke at Windows Too. The Mural' s indows combination is a time honored classic Friday night lineup designed for those who want to drink and dance themselves into oblivion. Alternately, if you are looking to keep a certain level of integrity, or at least, something a little more exotic, try the Dragon Club on Fenyang Road instead. This venue is Shanghai's most popular after hours bar and although the cover charge and drink prices are a little on the pricey side, it can always be counted on the be packed early into the morning.Many of the Okinawan discos are large and elaborate, and some are even well-known to tourists from mainland Japan. Young Okinawan men and women dance enthusiastically and sometimes even more wildly when mixed with Americans. The discos are places where communication between young Okinawans and Americans can take place without knowing a common language; they make themselves understood through dancing. Through the mutual enjoyment of discos, they become friends. During the summer, young people from Japan come to Okinawa City to experience an exotic atmosphere that they cannot find on the mainland. Because so many places to visit in Okinawa City are located in a small area, some people may visit three or more discos in one night."We'll take each game one at a time and make each game the biggest game in the competition," he said. "If we do that, everything else takes care of itself.Sunday night should be all about deetox and what better way than to purge the system that having ten or twelve beers at the best dive bars in Shanghai? For dinner, head over to Malone's to chow down on one of their specialty burgers and hang out on the patio. An evening on the patio accompanied by a few pints and a few burgers is a great way to ease oneself into a good Sunday night. From here take a cab to Windows Scoreboard which offers great prices and value (provided you stick to bottled beer). The bar also offers pool and a large screen T.V. C's bar is also a local favorite and the prices and atmosphere are great for lounging and hanging out with friends. For those who want a classier night, head on down to the JZ Club, Shanghai's premier jazz performance venue to take in a live jazz show. If you're in luck Shanghai's own Coco will be performing.Hostess in these clubs employ the age-old time tested tricks and treats to get drunk. This is to entice you to buy the hostess expensive drinks (which are not included in the entry fee). Naturally, she will do or say anything to get you to feel as generous as possible. If you do not have the cash to blow I'd stay away. Be warned now if you get trashed and cause and argument about how much you did or didn't spend and didn't even get... The bouncers will come from the wood work so to speak. Most of these thugs are younger kids without jobs paid to be there and most of them have girlfriends working as hostess there or are very close friends with the hostess or mamasan.The Weekend BenderThis is one of the most famous watering holes to those who were here during the 70's, 80's, and early 90's. In the old days BC Street was the place for nighttime entertainment. It was the wild west. Boasting every type of floor show imaginable, both sides of the street were lined with club after club. But I'm dating myself."We haven't beaten them, and that's really how you get respect in the Southern Hemisphere. You are playing against excellent players all the time whether it be playing against a province, the Maoris or the test team.There is a Japanese word used in bars "oshibori", which refers to a little hot (or sometimes) a cold towel they give you to wipe you hands and face when you first come in. Along the true path of intent is the Japanese verb "shiboru or shibori" to squeeze or ring out till dry. "O" in front of a Japanese word makes it polite or honorific. A common joke in these places is that the hostesses are actually are there to politely ring out your wallet until it's dry.Most of these clubs place limits on when the hostess can leave the club and when she must be at the boarding house where she lives. So if you plan on trying to date one expect a thousand valid excuses. If she leaves either place when she is supposed to be there, she has to pay a fine, sometimes as much as $300 or about 30,000 yen. The intention is to keep them "off the streets". Her sponsor, generally the club owner, is responsible for her behavior and it will be trouble for his business should the hired help be outside of a specific liberty area.For travelers that prefer the nightlife to the sights, the following schedule will ensure an unforgettable weekend in Shanghai.Night clubs and DiscosThe rules in the cafe are about the same as in a salon. They are fairly common in drinking neighborhoods. The only women customers are hostesses from other similar places. Watch out for oshiburi. These are different from coffee shops and when your toasted and enter the wrong one you'll be able to quickly discern the difference.SnacksNowadays, clubs could be packed one night during a specific event, opening or promotion and completely deserted the next night. Avid club goers would be wise to consult local print media (That's Shanghai, City Weekend) or web sites (www.smartshanghai.com) to keep abreast of the scene."Obviously the World Cup is a little bit different because you are playing different nations, but there is no doubt New Zealand are favourites. They are in really good shape and playing great rugby."Fashsion or Lingerie ClubsSunday:
Though it is mostly just gift shops for the mainland tourists who come to Okinawa, there are still a few nightclubs and a Fillipino bars left for the hard core party animals.
Author: Hiromi Tso
