Cold Okinawa

📝Cold Okinawa｜Even during camping season, there are surprisingly chilly days.

Today was a very cold day in Okinawa.
The forecast called for cloudy skies and around 14°C, but it felt much colder. The air was crisp and cool, making it feel like a proper winter day.

In Okinawa, we get a few of these “sudden cold snap days” each year.
It’s often seen on national news as “When Okinawa is cold, the mainland gets heavy snow” – and that seems to be exactly what’s happening now. Forecasts also indicate nationwide cold weather ahead due to atmospheric pressure changes.

⚾ Pro Baseball Camp Season｜Overseas Teams Head to Okinawa Too

During this season, professional baseball training camps are held across Okinawa.
Not only Japanese teams, but overseas teams also choose Okinawa as their training location, with Korean teams being particularly numerous.

The advantages of holding camp in Okinawa include:

Being able to play practice games against teams outside Japan
Facilitating interaction between teams
Relatively stable weather

In recent years, it’s not just baseball; training camps for other sports like soccer have also increased, making Okinawa’s winter bustling with sports activity.

Okinawa is not “eternally summer”｜February can be surprisingly cold

While Okinawa has an “eternal summer” image, the reality is different.
Even celebrities from Okinawa say, “You need a down jacket in February.”

That said, it doesn’t happen every day; it’s more like 2-3 days of sudden cold snaps.
Usually, a long-sleeved windbreaker is sufficient.

Also, since it rains a lot this time of year, visitors coming for sightseeing or to watch camps should:

Spray rain repellent on outerwear
Bring lightweight rain gear
for peace of mind.

I live near the Yakult Swallows’ training camp site, but…

The Tokyo Yakult Swallows hold camp in my area.
However, due to caring for my parents and accompanying them to hospital appointments, I rarely have time to go watch.

I pass near the stadium when going to the hospital, so I only catch glimpses. Actually, I’ve never been to see the camp in person.

The Yakult Lady comes to my house, and when I asked, she said some full-time employees went, but part-timers are too busy to make it.
Surprisingly few people around me have said, “I went.”
I do have the desire to go at least once.

Memories of going to camp with my father

When my father was still healthy, we went to see the Dragons camp in Chatan and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters camp in Nago.

Fans gathered from all over, and everyone acted like little reporters chasing after the players.
I have fond memories of buying food from the stalls while watching practice sessions, exhibition games, and pitching drills.