It’s coming up time for me to choose a new duty station and one of the billets I’m considering is on a ship out of Sasebo, Japan. I was wondering if anyone is familiar with Japan in general and Sasebo in particular and had any words of wisdom or advice while I’m trying to decide what to ask the detailer for. Obviously I’m expecting mostly military responses, but if any non-military types have an opinion, please reply. I hear that Sasebo is pretty good for outoor activities, biking, running, etc.
Well, since I’m an officer in the U.S. military, and we need bases in foreign countries to support our foreign policy, and since the Japanese seem to thrive on Western culture of their own accord, I’m going to call it, “not helpful in any way to the questions I asked.”
“we need bases in foreign countries to support our foreign policy,”
I understand that but the social consequences is that bases tend to force the good and the bad aspects of American/western culture on the locals whether they need this or not. Often it’s detrimental to them. Ever wonder why there have been so many “Yankee go home” signs pop up at various “friendly” places throughout the world.
As a military brat, I understand your situation and sympathize. The reason I personally never chose a military career is because I didn’t want to “check my brain at the door” which really means that in the military you tow the company line whether or not you have doubts. You have no choice but to submit to authority even if you morally question it. That’s part of the reason my dad resigned as a Colonel in his mid 40’s after a quarter century of military service.
“the Japanese seem to thrive on Western culture of their own accord”
Western culture, for better or worse, is a bull dozer. Okinawa is a true tragedy. The younger people are probably the first people on the planet that are guaranteed a shorter less healthy lifestyle than their grandparents. Instead of dumping McDonald’s on them we should be implicating their long life diet into our society.
Sorry I can’t help you directly with the original questions that you’ve asked. I would if I could, but this is the Lavender Room isn’t it?
Sasebo is very near to Nagasaki on Kyushu island (the southern island of the four main islands). It’s not in Okinawa.
I’ve not been there yet so I can’t tell you what it is like first hand, but it is supposed to be nice.
FWIW, Ironman Japan is held on Fukuejima which is a 30 min flight south of Nagasaki. There are 3 ITU races held in Japan and one is quite close to Nagasaki I believe.
There are heaps of triathlons, running and adventure races in Japan - helps if you know someone who speaks Nihongo though since almost everything is in Japanese only. they like gaijin’s in the races though and will do their best to look after you. I’ve had local TV crews who speak no english trying to interview me with my nearly non-existent nihongo before! Also up here in Tokyo there are lots of races held on US bases - I assume the same occurs down there.
One other slowtwitcher is based near Hiroshima - that’s a few hundred km’s from where you are but closer than I am.
If you decide to be based here let me know and I will do a race near you sometime to meet up.
Thanks. I’m recovering from a torn Achilles, and will be going from relatively light shore duty to a relatively arduous sea duty, so I’m not sure what kind of time I’ll have available to train while I’m in Japan, if I even get there. However, if it looks like I’m going to have the kind of time to train for races while I’m there, I’ll definitely look you up.
Yeah, we have nice sites for our bases. You kind of need to be near the ocean for my job. Plus, I mostly end up seeing haze grey metal walls and deck gray steel floors and the least they can do in exchange for me not actually being in port very much is make it a nice place while I’m there.
You work for a great organization. They are doing God’s work in the aftermath of the tsunami, that is for certain. There is nothing like having an aircraft carrier in town when you need an unlimited power source, 500,000 gallons of fresh water produced per day, a floating hospital and air distribution resources to move aid to where the people are trying to survive.
I have to admit, I don’t think I appreciated the Navy enough until this disaster. That is a mistake I won’t repeat.
I’ve only been to Yakuska (deep water harbor). Most of the people I met near the base were nice (except the lady who ran myself and a couple of guys out of her shop with a broom) even though we pulled in about 2 months after the 3 military (2 marines and a navy guy I think) raped the little girl in Okinawa. Getting through the main gate was hell though since the Marines kept a close eye on everyone (worse than any other port I had been in).
The base at Yakuska had tons of facilities (softball, pool with dive well, couple of gyms). I was on a carrier so we got protested every time we pulled in or out (they test the water also), but the Japanese have a right to be upset with the American use of nuclear power after Godzilla and everything
Everything was expensive but since you’ll be stationed there you won’t have to eat out every meal like us guys on liberty.
My advice is what the hell the worst possible outcome is you have to live somewhere you don’t like for awhile. And ask you detailer to be in change of either the mail room or MWR, those are the two most slack departments in the Navy.
Slowguy - I concur with davet’s comments. I was based in Tokyo for 2 years and had a great time. There is a strong tri scene in Japan, but local language helps. Try get hooked up with a local club. Also you can get the Japanese tri magazine which lists upcoming races - sorry can’t remember the name. Usually for each race there is an email contact and you can enter that way. On the day they will really look after you, but make sure you study the course as I have been in many races where westerners have done too few or too many laps. Overall races are pretty expensive as the Japanese go over the top in organisation - which is kind of nice. One of the big races is held on one of US airforce bases American Japan Friendship Tri the swim is in a pool. Approx 1800 people enter with each person jumping in the pool 5 seconds ends up as complete mayhem but fun.
