Tour Of BC Street - Park Avenue | Okinawa (Near Gate 2)
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- Опубликовано: 29 июл 2020
- This is a walk-through tour of BC Street /Park Avenue. The second part of a 2 part tour. In the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, BC Street was a hopping place with tons of bars and shops catered to the American Military. Located right outside the Gate 2 entrance of Kadena Air Base, many people have found memories here.
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When I was there in the mid-80's, we called it "BC" street, as in "Bring Cash" because of the bars with naughty shows and such - there was a push around 84 or 85 to change the name to "Chuo Park Avenue", when they added some of the overhead covers and nice sidewalks. Everyone joked, because the businesses did not change much, and the joke was "It is now CP street, as in "Cash Please" As kids, we used to stop at the street food vendors outside Koza Mall for yakitori and tempura, then visit the music stores, and at night the music club near Charlie's had a great house band used to play all of the heavy metal songs popular at the time. It really did cater to the young military crowd with food places, tattoo parlors, clothing stores, and bars.
Seems like an appropriate name. Lol Listening to all these stories from people it really sounded like it was a good time. 😄
It was insane
They would literally try to drag you into the bars.
Yeah I can’t believe it looks like this now , I was also there in mid 80’s 83-87. My friends and I use to always go off base to walk BC street , we were only like 10,11,12 years old . Fun times
Was always "bring cash" to us !!!
Damn I screamed like a little girl when i saw Charlies Taco. I was lucky to have had two tours there 77-79 and 92-94. Gate 2/BC Street was hopping then. Very emotional to see what's left. Thanks for the memories. Will always be my favorite place on earth.
🤣 Thank you. My wife did a video of us eating there the same day, if you want to check it out. Soooo Delicious!
ruclips.net/video/RrDqT4be_EI/видео.html
Charlies TACOS YES SO GOOD!
and the Gyoza!
Charlie's Taco was there back Aug74-Sep75. I eaten there so many times I can't remember. Great memories. Semper Fi from an old Marine Sgt...OUT
Charlie Tacos was there when I got there in 1979, when you opened the door he would be sitting at the frying wok frying up taco shells ( made from crepe shells at the time)
75 cents a taco
1.00 for Fanta soda
Spicy hot sauce free
Colored paper and crayons if you wanted to brag about how many you ate
But do you remember the retired Marine and his Okinawan wife that sold fish filet sandwiches on Texas toast at night on BC street at night across for Charlies Tacos
Also do you remember “The Bush”?
@@racerxc70 Yes I remember the stories about the BUSH. Not a big seafood lover so I might have passed by but never had one. But I loved the shrimp fried rice at the Mt. Blanc hotel restuarant on a side street near Gate 2 street. Good times.
Thanks for bringing back so many memories I hung out on bc street back in 1972-73 was station with the 175th Ord Company right across from gate 3.
I just loved that island
You're welcome. Thank you for watching. 😊
I was on Okinawa as a MP (Armed Forces Police). I was there late 1971 to early 1973. While on duty as a MP I walked BC Street and all the side streets and alleys near BC Street. BC Street was mainly bars and nightclubs. Most of the girls were topless. They would come up close to me and flirt with me. I think it was to make me feel uncomfortable so I would leave. There was a 12:00 midnight curfew for all military. So any military had to be on base by midnight. My job was to arrest anyone that violated the curfew. The side streets and alleys had prostitutes so we visited them also. It was legal and they normally had a sign outside that shaped like a canoe with three flame like symbols coming out the top. I was also there when the USA gave the island back to Japan. The Okinawans did not want to go back to Japan. They protested at all the military gates. I was also trained to handle the protesters if they got violent since I was a MP. The USA had been good to them unlike the Japanese during the Battle of Okinawa. Over 100,000 civilians lost their life and it was because the Japanese soldiers use them as human shields. Anyway, it was odd because the Okinawans had used the American dollar since the war and drive on the right side of the street. At the time it took 340 yen to make one dollar. When I would buy something it was difficult to figure out how much to actually pay for it. It was fun though. I loved to snorkel as at that time the water was clear and the coral was colorful and so many colorful fish. I know at that time they were starting to having a problem with the Crown of Thorns Starfish as it damaged the coral. I wonder what it looks like now. I loved the Okinawan people. It was against the law to have a gun. Even the Okinawan police did not have guns. The only people with a gun were Military Police.
@@MutekiMatt keep doing what your doing I love seeing your content
Very cool to see this again. You passed the Cannon Club. I used to go see the band “Condition Green” there. The lead singer, Mike, bit a chicken’s head off on New Years Eve around 1978. I was bummed that you didn’t go in the music store. I used to go in and just stare at all of the guitars hanging from the ceiling. Sgt Peppers was a blast back then. It was the first place that I ever saw a music video. They mostly played requested albums on a turntable and displayed the album cover so that you could see what was playing. Purple Haze cocktails could make you fly. It was an upstairs club and I crashed and burned a few times coming down the stairs to the street level. Went to some clubs on Gate 2 street also. We would see another band that played mainly in the basement of a club to the far end of Gate 2 away from Kadena. I believe they were called “Murisaki” or something similar. Yes, these 2 street were known for the great rock n roll clubs and food like yakisoba, yakitori and Charlie’s Tacos. Thanks for the memories!
Thanks Mike! Glad you enjoyed it. 😊
yes i remember condition green awesome band
The band Okinawa was excellent.
I remember in the 70’s there was a club Ledo’s on BC street.
I was there Aug 74-Sep75, crazy times back then.
70-71 I don't recognize BC St or Gate 2 except for Kadena, and even that was different.
I still felt nostalgic as you walked along. Thank you.
Club Ledos...hahahahahaaha YEP!!! We'll leave it at that!!! hahahahaahaha
I love okinawa..period.
Lmao “the banana show” ugh was kind of a right of passage in the early 90s
lol, I guess her daughter is doing it now. Kind of a weird business to hand down to your kids. 😂
Oh yeah. Had to venture out there twice when I was stationed at Kadena 2003-2006. Good times!!
Yep. In the 70s it was called the Bed and Banana Show!!
Gunny ate the banana .
I saw it happen . B.C. street. 1988.
@@motorbreath7174 always a Marine on stage both times I went and ate the banana!! 😂😂
I used to hangout in those streets back in early 60s. My mother worked at the Koza Steak House and some others.I was like 6 to 7 years old.
I was stationed in Okinawa from 93 to 95i love and miss being there. I spent a lot of time on BC Street . It brought back a lot of memories.
felt nostalgic about this place😭😉..been wandering here back in a day..2003 was my first time here..2014 was my last..damn!! missing oki😭😭😭😭
I spent lots of time there in 93-94. Still listen to the CDs I bought at Teruya Music.
I was stationed in Oki from 1994/95 while in the Marines. Best country in the world! I was at Camp Foster, then Camp Courtney. I use to eat at Mickeys late night..We use to scuba dive and club at night at BC street...cheez what a blast! ..the Banana show! lol I have a life membership at Club Tiger and another club..lol good times...remember; "honcho"..my nickname was "Habu".. I miss the Orion beer!
I lived in Sunabe and then on Kadena AB as a kid from 74-77 when my dad was stationed at Kadena. Being a drummer, I spent a lot of time on BC Street. Mainly going to Club Cannon to listen to Condition Green. Got to get up on stage my last night n the island and play a couple of songs with them. One of the best nights of my life! Also used to go watch Murasaki over at five points on Gate 2 street. I don’t remember the club they played in. Seems like it was down stairs from street level. Also there was another music store that had 3 or 4 floors on the main rut between Gate 2 and BC street, or at least there where it seemed like it was. We would sit on the top floor watching concerts on a Betamax machine they had. Shrinking, the guitarist for Condition Green would sometimes come walking thru while we were hanging out up there. I remember one time he hung out and watched a little bit of the music with us! I had their Life of Change CD that I got while passing thru in 1989 while I was at my first base Yokota AB. That cd went up in a motor home fire in 2003! Someday I’ll get that CD again! Ah s many memories!
Thanks for sharing. 😊
Fukahara music if I remember correctly!
I used to visit that mall all the time, sad to see it like that.
I was stationed at Torii Station from Feb 1965 until July 1967. BC(Business Center) street was primarily clubs with a steam bath massage in the middle on one side. I was pretty well known in the clubs. We used to try and drink a beer as far around the street as possible. We never made it even after a steam bath and massage.As soon as you made that little curve onto BC street it was a wall of clubs. Young guys out front saying "Loor Show-Loor show" ha
Sounds like a great time.
Our duty there overlapped. Me, 66-67 and my recollections are the same as yours!
I'm a former Marine from Camp Hansen (1993-1996) and (old) BC street, now Park Ave, occupies a chunky and very special part of my heart as I discovered a great deal of the best world music that I love, even today 27 years later, just browsing that street alone. And specifically Teruya Music and Used CD 69, an excellent whole-in-the-wall (now long gone) record shop just around the corner from Park Ave. I was thinking of visiting and doing what you did myself some day. But, now that what've seen how run down the place is, I feel is no longer worth the investment imho. The place is no even the shadow of the vibrant and stimulating cultural hub it used to be. It's run its course. Over time, all things naturally come to an end or suffer a major transformation. And particularly, the impact of the pandemic, is reflected in the overall decline of even strong leading cities. It's inescapable. Thank you guys for taking me down memory lane, sharing your memories, and saving me tons of time and money he he. Great job with the video too. You guys are lovely! Keep it up xoxo
Ohh no! You should still try to make a trip out here. I think you’d still have a great time. Thank you though. ☺️
you guys should do an entire seawall video from Ginowan Beach to the scuba shop down at the end.
That would be a good one. I know many people have memories of that seawall.
Oh, the Sunabe Sea Wall memories are good ones, but some are foggy... either through time or alcohol haze, not sure which...
😂😂
The seawall would be nice!
B C Street 1963-64. Bars with no “A” sign above door was forbidden. Lots of signs on B C street. Loved it.
Yeah. I was on the island from June ‘71 to Dec ‘72 and was there a grand total of 16 hours before the SP’s had to escort me out of a bar because no one told me about the “A” sign designation. They explained it and cut me loose.
Yep, I remember it as ‘Bring Cash’ as well. I was stationed at Camp Kinser, ‘83-84. I did notice the sign for Cannon Club, which was a favorite of mine for live music. SGT Peppers was also cool, we used to drink Purple Haze cocktails ( with absinthe). Okinawans are some of the coolest, nicest people on earth. God bless them for putting up with all our nonsense, out raising hell on a Friday night.
lol 😂
Yep....'80-'83 The Beatles were mainstream on BC & Gate 2!!
I spent a lot of time at Sgt Peppers when I was at Kadena 79-81. Purple Haze! lol Going up to the bar and the VJ requesting a concert be shown on the big screens was awesome. All the other clubs, lol, the "drinky girls" ;)
@@SailManMedic I prolly saw you. I was a marine stationed at Kinser from Feb 1980 to August 1981. Me and my marine buddies drank a lot of purple hazes in those days. I remember Hotel Smiley and Hotel PussyCats. Lol
I just did the math I have been gone from Okinawa for 25 years
Wow! I bet it's changed a lot since then. Do you recognize a lot of the stuff in our videos?
Thanks for doing this video!Glad to see again…but sure has changed! I was there 77-78 and yes the music and bars and restaurants were booming!im a guitar player and I hung out with Shinki Sugama and Condition Green , and played onstage with them one night,at club Cannon ….I once asked Mike the singer ,as he was going by,what BC street meant and he wryly said “ bring cash”which was pretty apt! I miss those times there was fantastic!I see it sure has toned down…that’s too bad🫤 Glad to see Charlie’s Tacos still there! Best tacos I ever had! I would love to connect with Shinki again but don’t know how to do it…he’s the best!
Thanks again for the video!❤
Whisper alley!? Lol smh sorry these videos really struck a chord . I cherish my oki memories
Well....it was called Short Time Ally when I was there 71 - 72. Sorry but it was. I can still remember the way it looked. Pics now do not make sense to me. Only the ocean looks the same. The yen was so worthless kids did not pick them up. Looked like aluminum sweet tarts.
I was a dependent at Kadena when I was 7-10 years old in the mid 1950s. Lived on base, has 3 sisters that were our maids and cooks. My Mom and Dad taught them how to cook Mexican food. Tacos, enchiladas, nachos and such. We has our food supplies shipped to us from our grandparents in Texas.
Could your parents have been the reason the Okinawans created taco rice?
@@score2high There's no way to tell. We left Kadena in 1957. Had no contact with anyone since. I went back once for a 3 day weekend to play golf a Kadena. I was flying B-52's from Guam at the time. The weekend I was there was on "Reversion Day" weekend. The prices of all things doubled overnight. All I know is that my parents taught our Mama-sans how to cook authentic Tex Mex stuff of all kinds. Tacos, Enchiladas, rice, etc. We got our tortillas shipped to us, they would have had to improvise after we left. By the way on a different subject, by Dad was a sign painter before he went back into the AF. Neon signs and such. He watched the first neon sign go up in town on Gate 2 street. It was a dirt/mud street at the time.
Thank You, I love You! You are making a dream come true. Those were my stomping grounds, at least one of them. My family was stationed there between 1981 and and 1990. I went by Greg Golden at the time. Everything you say between the lines about the spirit is on the money. I would hangout on Gate Tow Street with my skateboard of BMX bike. I attended all the schools on Kadena. My Dad was the President of the Reef Rovers Dive Club, Manager of the NWR scuba locker, and Diving Instructor, at the Kadena Marina. He was also the lead singer of the top 40's band Vendetta. and the country band Ambush that played at the Kadena Carnival. Having a Dad like that I've met a lot of people, especially on a Base where people were coming and going constantly. Those years were the time of my life. I also lost my vision over there, so what you are posting is bringing tears to my eyes. Those are my memories thank You again, and A shout out to anybody whose family was stationed there and remembers me.
Your welcome Gregory. Wow! That must have been a really exciting upbringing for you with your dad having so many connections. You may just reconnect with a few people in this comment section.
I remember when they first renovated BC street, it was beautiful, and gorgeous, spent a lot of time there.
Wow. When did they renovate it?
@@MutekiMatt it was right before I got married, around 84, 85, before is was renovated it was just a dirt street and dirty with lots of bars.
Yeah I know! Me to. I was there when they did the renovation .
Renovation was in 86. Great job! Loved it. It’s actually called Chuo Park Avenue.
I remember this place from 2000 to 2004. Thank you for the video. I miss okinawa so much
Watching your gate 2 and bc street videos . I was there as a navy seabee in 1971-72 . My grandson will be there as a marine next year. Streets are a lot different now Except Charles tacos!!!!. Never had one till one night we stopped there with a Texas fellow seabed. Had my first tacos at Charlie's non A sign restaurant. Found out I loved them. I was from Ohio and we never had taco bell till years later loved your videos
Thank you two for the tour. I commented on Kit's channel where you guys got rained on. I was stationed at Camp Kinser then Camp Foster back in 1995 as a Marine. I was told BC stood for Bring Cash as someone else commented. That whole area seemed livelier back in 1995 even the covered mall. There used to be more dance clubs there back then. The Banana Show was a must see for all who were stationed on island. If you didn't see it, well you never experienced Okinawa :) lol! The whole island was a fun year for a young me back then. Thank you!
I'm really glad you enjoyed the video. I'm sad I never got to experience Okinawa then. 😅 Although, Kit tells me, it's not really something you wanted to see, it's just more something that you can't look away from... 🤣
@@MutekiMatt I would argue if banana show is one's idea of the definitive Okinawa experience, they really didn't see much of Okinawa. For me it was SCUBA diving every other weekend off Maeda. Watching the surfers off the seawall in Chatan. Hanging out with Mongol800 every other month in Naha. And the occasional midnight drag races on Miyagi Island that would bring in people from Tokyo.
Also that patch store used to do the lettermen jackets for the high schools. I am so glad all the buy me drink clubs are gone. The guy that gave guitar and drum lessons was also a Elementary School or High School teacher cannot remember. But he always wore long sleeve shirts out and about because he had full sleeves tat'td on him. He was my good friend Masaru guitar teacher. He also gave instruction to the bass player of Bleach. The Butcher Bar and Grill to the right of Club Central was a Subway at one point if memory serves. The Banana lady was rich drove a Benz, I heard she passed away a few years back rumor has it her daughter does an ice show in Naha. I miss TERUYA music store I have probably spent over 10,000 dollars in there buying guitars, basses, amps everything. Hideaway moved to the new location when the music town on gate 2 was built. I heard that Hideaway was put on the off limits list because a dependent spouse entered a wet tee shirt contest and the husband was furious not sure if that was true but that is the rumor mill. After your stop at 7 Eleven, I notice my buddy Jamie business across the street she and her husband run Run Oki. B.C. Street stands for Business Center Street. I heard for a while it was also called Park Avenue.
Christopher, you my friend, are a wealth of knowledge. Subway sandwich shop? Wow, I guess the Banana Lady would be pretty well off. 😆 Ya, Kit was saying you taught a few, now famous people how to play. You know the owner of Run Oki? That would be someone I'd be interested in meeting at some point. Do you still live on the island?
@@MutekiMatt I am currently stationed in South Korea. About to retire from the Army and with plans on moving back to Oki. Not to get it confused I did not teach famous people I just know a few famous. I was more hitting on her old instructor taught a few famous people. LOL.
Thank you for your video.
BC St. in the 60's was where it was at. Anything you wanted was there. A lot of good bands and good times. I miss it. I had Okinawan friends everywhere. I was their guest and they accepted me with open arms.
I could, and did, walk the streets of Koza BC St. and Gate 2 St. and beyond any time of the day or night, and never worried about my personal safety. I loved the New York Restaurant. I use to bring the waitresses big bags of buttered popcorn from the popcorn stand next door. The cook would even let me go back in the kitchen and make my own meal. I also introduced them to the Denver sandwich which they added to their menu. So if you ever ate a Denver sandwich there, now you know how it got on the menu.
After the Kinbasha closed it's doors, I migrated around the corner to the Cannon. The Cannon wasn't new to me as I knew the door boy Nakamoto, Charlie, a valuable asset should trouble ever come my way. The cannon was a nice small bar with a decent house band, that I became friends with, as well as all those who worked there.
I use to bring cans of fruit I bought at the commissary to the Cannon to share. At first they were afraid that they would be in trouble if the MP's came in and saw the cans of fruit. Only one way to solve that problem dish up the fruit and throw away the can. I think there were probably a few confused GI's at the cannon when I came in with my cans of fruit, as all the girls working there would run up to the bar for a glass filled with fruit leaving the guys alone in the booths.
It's a shame that BC St. has fallen on hard times. As we all know, nothing lasts forever. I'm just glad I was there in BC St.'s heyday to experience it and to make friends with so may Okinawan's while I was there.
Could someone please invent a time machine so I can go back one more time before I die.
For anyone interested, there was a book written several years ago titles B.C. Street by E. A. Cooper. I felt like a fly on a wall when I read it.
How about a walk through Kin Village showing and talking about how it was back in it's heyday and today. I had a lot of fun up there.
At the west end of B.C. St. on a street to the right and little way down the road was an area called New Koza. Does it still exist? I guess that it was the place to go for fun in the 50's according to a friend who was there in 1957. By the time I was there in the late 60's it was really run down.
I may have gone to it in my other video: ruclips.net/video/tSRMDjuRRPA/видео.html
That's a great idea too.
Sounds like it was a great time. 😊
Everything changes as time goes by, but what we did things at that time can clearly remain in our memory which give us pleasure, don't they.
Okinawa City was Sun City Mall 87-90. Whole area was packed with people. Was a road off that had dunkin doughnuts and a deli that started making tempura at 4 am
Spent alot of time in the Sun City Mall, the old A&W in there had the best french fries I have ever eaten, still to this day, super crispy outside and soft inside. I bought alot of CD's in that SCM music store that you entered from the 330 side.
BC street was like a Red light district in the 80’s and 90’s. There were also allot of bars where Filipino girls dance and would chill with a guy if you bought drinks. I was there when they actually did the renovation to what it is today.
Yeah tell me about it I remember those days it used to be a serious party district had lots of fun back in those days barely recognizable nowadays
yep....
Club tiger was my hangout
Whisper Alley... "take me to big BX GI"...
Back in 1982-1983 we called it BC street, I thought it stood for Business Center street.
Used to go to a bar on that street called Sgt Pepper's, the sign was the album cover from Let It Be, the staff wore red button down shirts with Sgts strips sewn on the sleeves.
That "underground" was packed with stores and shoppers back in the day. Sorry to see it so run down and deserted compared to what I remember.
I think part of it is the curfews you mentioned becuase back in the day we'd be running around Gate 2 and BC street until the wee hours of the morning.
I also think more areas with shopping and entertainment have been built. For example I hear a lot about the American Village over on Hywy 58 and a lot of Americans go there, that did not exist back when I was there.
Great videos, I will see if I can find my photos from my time there, I used to have a few of Gate 2 and BC circa 1982-1983.
Spent quite a bit of time in "Sgt Peppers"🤣
Sgt Pepper's was the only non-disco bar that I visited when I was down south. Dang did that bring back memories. I won a bet who had the loudest boom box with a rock & roller. The bet was to go to a disco if I won and to Sgt Peppers if I lost. After going to my favorite club on Friday night Saturday night I went to Sgt Peppers with the Marine who lost. So I continued to go when I was not in the mood for disco and dancing. Thanks for bringing back my Sgt Peppers memories!!!
I was fishing on a chartered boat with friends when a Navy Sub surfaced about 50 yards from us. We could see and talk to the men.
Awesome. I was in MAC at the time. Just came out of SAC. But we did eat on SAC side for meals. AC building. We could have 1 beer with lunch. Machines on sight.
I was stationed on Kadena AB, '90-'94. Thanks for that tour. It does look very run down and empty. So sad. When I was there, I only ever knew tat as BC Street. To the best of my recollection, BC = Bring Cash. Back then there were a lot of live music bars and also a lot of "Girlie Bars" for the lack of better terms. I didn't go there very often. Thanks again though!!!!
I was stationed there 1967-1971, loved every minute. BC and gate 2 streets was where everyone hung out, sure has changed. Spent a lot of time at moon beach. The people and lifestyle are fantastic. Like to go back and visit someday.
I was stationed at Camp Hansen in 2001 and miss Kin dearly.
Here's a video I saw just before seeing the Gate 2 & BC street videos:
ruclips.net/video/3KD08DcBLEg/видео.html
Cannon Club was the place to go for live music 87-90
I was stationed at Kadena from 88-90 and 92-95 and loved Mickey’s yakisoba. Back then, it was at the end of gate 2 street. I visited in 2017 and found Mickey had moved to Park street. I went in and had some yakisoba-just as good as it always had been. I asked the owner (also the main cook) about them moving. The owner lady said her mom owned the original but she had did a while back. The daughter moved the restaurant and took over ownership.
Man, I loved the yakisoba!
Camp Foster, 82-83.
I sure remember going to Sgt. Pepper's Rockhouse.
So loud you couldn't even have a conversation in a place.
I was there in 82-83 with USAF, lots of clubs and sound bars. Great food...cool shops sad to see it so run down. Man we spent a lot of money there lol
I was there the same time you were, but up north at Camp Scwab as a grunt. Didn't travel very much down south due to not having transportation. Unless I took a bus, but then we'd have to cab it back and that got expensive on a E3 budget! hahaahahaaa
1984-1986, my hangout was a coffee shop/bar called the Boyden with one wall a speaker and turntable on a huge plinth. Many great friends, my little Japanese translation book and motorcycle to explore the corners of the island.
I should have bought more records....
Boyden was located where Bamboo Cafe is located in this video.
Great video
I loved the tour it brings back a lot of memories
I have been all around the world and I never seen anything close to bc Street
Really? That's amazing! Thank you.
Thank you for the video. I was there many years ago and your video brought back some good memories.
This was a great tour, loved it! I think these streets do look more authentic than America village, which is fun but also rather kitschy (still likeable tho). I hope the neighbourhood rebounds...
Glad you enjoyed it!
I know I'd go "Bar hopping" a lot & a couple of time I'd walk uninformed into a couple of gay bars..."Pearl" was one I think... Very awkward, but nice folks..🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
First time stationed in Oki was the late 90s and BC street was a lively shopping/restaurant place during the day, and bars at night…lots of seedy juicy bars too. I recall there being a pretty nice irish pub at the end of the street too.
As for Mickey’s, what you showed in your video was where it was relocated. It use to be on the corner where koza music town is now. Back in the day, that whole block was juicy bars, karaoke bars, restaurants, etc.
lol…I went to the banana show. God bless that lady. May she rest in peace. And that jerk chicken place is great. And you guys are great. Thank you for this video. I saw your haunted hotel vid too. I have many stories from there. I love Okinawa. I miss it tremendously. God bless.
I was there 83-85. BC street (bring cash) sure has changed. Glad the music store is still there. Used to hang out at Cannon club (owned by George Murasaki) and Club Kokesi.
Thank you so much i was in okinwa 89 and 90. I worked there and stayed at a mansion in park avenue ..it has change wow ..but i love okinawa i havent visted yet ..was planning but the pandemic happned
Park ave. Was the scene
Amo box sign ... Teruya music wow i bougt a lot there hahah
Patch shop ..it was the time of top gun hahahaaha
Ty ty oh im from thehilippines
Yes tje spiders hahaaha
Thanks for the memories.
Just wanted to add a comment about Charlies Tacos. When I was there in 1972, Charlies Tacos was on a side street near BC street, next door to an ice store (yes, really ice blocks). When we had money we would go to Charlies for the great tacos. It was a tiny store and when you walked in you held up your fingers for how many tacos you wanted. The walls were covered with notes from mostly US service people handwritten on how many tacos they had eaten at Charlies that day. At that time I think the record was about 20 or so. I could never afford nor eat that many. Charlie (not real name of course, heard he used to work at one of the base chow halls) manned the taco shell oil fryer (with a very stoic face) and a couple of ladies made the tacos. I heard the taco shells were actually made from potatoes, and they were great. Always had Crystal Hot Sauce on each table. On a hot and humid Okinawan day (with AC working inside Charlies), those tacos and an Orion beer were like heaven. Dave Hyder
That sounds absolutely amazing!
the best tacos I ever ate or maybe it was the purple haze drinks lol
86-90 Cannon Club!!! that band played Rush
I remember second story East Coast Rock Bar from 1989 and the place that had a lady singer singing Ozzy's "kwayjee train"
Now this was something!!! I watched both Gate 2 and BC videos. I remember my first tour BC Street and my 2nd tour it was Chuo Park Ave. I don't remember very much of either as I spent most of my time up north '81-82 at Camp Schwab and '84-82 Camp Courtney. Nago was my stomping grounds and I was fortunate to learn some of the culture because I spent my time in the local areas and far up north. "Guygin" normally wasn't allowed, but because many knew I was trying to learn the culture and language I was 'tolerated'. ;-) When I was 'down south' it was more of the 'disco' scene my two tours. I'd spend hours at this one place off Gate 2, which I don't remember the name', and played Galaxy and studying my Japanese books. I often run into local girls wondering what I was doing. I would ask their name in Japanese. Then try to write it. If I got it correct they would all just laugh. If I got it wrong, they would correct it. To this day I still can write names in Japanese. I will revisit Oki after I retire next year. Looking forward to just seeing the island again as my memory of the island by gone days have faded. I bet even the local bars up north and is no longer around.
That is in fact THE Mickey's. It used to be on the corner where Koza Music Town is now. I used to eat there all of the time my first time in Oki.
Lived in Okinawa in 1971. All of Okinawa was great .
@5:09 LOL the Legend of the Banana Lady. I wasn't in Oki then but when I was there in 2019 I've heard many stories about her from the marines. Let's just say she "did" many things with bananas, and leave it at that.
Great tour. I was there from 1980 to 1983. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching
Wow. I was stationed on Okinawa while in the Marine Corps in the early 80's. I'd heard that BC street got "cleaned up" sometime in the 90's. I would not have recognized it today. Glad I got to see and experience it back in it's heyday. Thanks for doing that video!
That's where we used to go as teens for music and chillin'
Amazing changeover was there 78-79. Sergeant Peppers was a popular rock ‘b’ roll bar
Thanks for giving the tour Kit, it was cool to get to hear about your memories of Park Ave/BC street. I definitely have some crazy memories of the bar and club night life there! In particular, the place you passed at 3:29 is very appropriately named. Imagine walking out of this place thinking, "I'll never forget this night. What's this place called?" Then turn around and see Club Memory!
Thank you, glad you liked it. You have memories of Club Memory? 😂
Charlie's tacos never knew the name in the early 90s I ate the best cheeseburger I've ever had in my life there thanks to your video I remember alot of good memories I had on that street
I was in the Marines and was there from 91 to 95. I remember The Patch Shop and im surprised it still exists. There was a club i would go to for live music called the Cannon Club. I just saw it but i think its in a different location now.
I always heard BC Street was ‘Business and Commercial”. As opposed to Goya Four Corners, the next intersection over, which had the roughest bars. Long before Kadena High School existed. Charlie’s Tacos were the bomb!
Gate 2 street BC street and whisper alley. I was there 88-91 it’s a lot different now. I was there again in 2012 and the old days are gone. Good memories
The first place some marine buddies took me to was whisper alley when I arrived in Okinawa in 1977.
As a military brat who lived on Oki in the 90’s I remember buying some of my clothes from Ammo Box. So sad to hear they are no more.
Thank you for making this video...
I was 20 when I was there - now 73 - things have change alot.
Whoa! I was there on the base from 90-92 as a teen. It’s sad to see the mall and street area so quiet and deserted. I have so many fond memories of shopping, eating, dancing etc. I don’t remember why we called it BC street but I remember it more for the strip type clubs and yes “dirty” stuff and some bars. There used to be signs and posters outside of a lot of those shops of the women inside. You could look at them to see if you wanted to go in for a “show”. thanks for the tour!
That mall area is called a shoten gai. Sad to see it in decline. What's happening is what is going on all over Japan. Those businesses that flourished in the 80s and 90s were owned by folks who have aged and passed on.
I was stationed at Camp Foster 1987-1989. Used to go to the Canon Club to see a band called Breeze. Somewhere I still have a video I shot of one of their shows in October 1988. If I had any technical know how I'd try and put it up on RUclips.
I was there 77-79. Wild place. Great memories. There was a seldom enforced midnight curfew. All bars were supposed to close no later than 12 pm. The bouncer would sit outside the front door and pretend to be reading a paper. If a GI wanted in after 12, the bouncer would look up and down the street for JPs and if all clear would open the door. To leave the bar, they would let you out the back door into the alley. There was a place called "The Roaring 20's on Gate 2 Street, in the basement of the building across the street from the KFC. To leave it after midnight, you went through the ladies room, into the sewer and up a flight of stairs to a maintenance door that opened out on the street.
Stationed at Camp Hague 74-75 D 2/12.... BC street... Club Orion, Judys...good times
Just watched the Gate 2 street video before this one. Seeing both of these videos brings back a flood of memories! I spent a lot of good times on both of those streets from 2003 to 2015. I miss it!
cool!! missing this place back in a day😢😢😢same, i've been here 2003 march until 2014..so sad😭😭 this place has changed a lot!!
1970-71 - 267th Chemical Co.
Thank-you for making this video! I am going to search for the Gate 2 Street video next. I was 18-19 years old when I was stationed at Kadena in 1966-67. This street was called BC Street when I was there but is very different now. The covered walkways did not exist then and the street itself was wider and the sidewalks narrower. What we mostly there were bars with either musicians playing or strip tease places. It wasn't a place where you'd want to take family. In the alleyways, sexual favors were abundant and so were diseases as a result. But I am glad that Koza actually cleaned up what goes on there now but dismayed that so many places that replaced what was there when I was there have also disappeared. I am guessing COVID had a lot to play with that and based one what you said about a curfew for Kadena airmen and women. There was no curfew when I was there so many things happened in the night. Thank-you once again for showing how things look today and what may happen tomorrow as a result of what you shared today!
71 -72 was my tour of duty. Could not walk 30 feet without girls saying...hi how are you...lets go.
They were building a McDonalds when I was leaving. Funny thing was when a B-52 landed there all of the non military Okinawan would go on strike until it left. I miss seeing the
SR-71's taking off and landing. Got a chance to see one at the Tucson museum in February. That is when the C5 came on the scene. Man that plane is big. 90 feet from ground to tip of tail. Engines had to be lifted from a crane built in the wings. They were 30 feet long ...12 feet high with a 8 foot intake. We had one in a warehouse in the building I worked in. 603rd MASSQ. Military Airlift Command. Came out of SAC.
Good memories.
When I was a teen in the 60’s we called it bc street = bars and clubs street, because that was all there was then. Not sure the original reason it was called bc street.
That's what I thought it might have stood for. I think it's still mostly that. Thanks
It probably was that - we said it was for Bring Cash. LOL
B C street was business center street. Those clubs back in 1965 to 1967 were for sure the center of business ha
So I was in the Army stationed there in the mid 70’s and it was always known as BC street. Mostly bars that were slowly dying out. Fun place to hang out as an 18 y/o getting ripped off by the bar girl’s having to buy them drinky’s for their company. Didn’t go there on payday or when the Marines would come in from the field as the prices and activity shot up. Also I had a black friend who went to an area known as the Bush close by that Whitey wasn’t welcomed. Biggest mistake I made was not extending there and leaving to spend my last 9 months in the service at Ft Benning, Ga. HELLO McFly,
“You’re in the Army now”
I was their as a child in the early 1960's and wondered if you did a video where it shows that big mountain that you could see and hike which you could see from the base? we use to slide down that mountain using cardboard boxes as a child and there use to be a candy factory that made taffy behind where we lived when we lived there and across the street they use to have a benjo ditch and next to that they had sugar cane. we also had bars on the widows back then because of the stealy boys which is what we called them back then
I was there in 90-91.
OMG!! 😲😳the gate 2 street and BC street no longer the same when i stationed in COMFLEACTS in Kadena AB in 1982 -1986! 😢😭
Thanks, Kit. Around what years were you hanging around BC street? Totally brought back some fond memories of the whole place, there and Gate 2. So sad it’s been so run down. There was a place on BC, not sure of the name, maybe it was Live House? Where live bands would play. Loved going there. Koza was where I met my future wife actually, at a dance club called Eight Beat. Remember that place?
@@isrod69 I kind of remember Manhattan and probably ventured into it once or twice. Everyone had their hangout and mine for sure was Eight Beat. 😄
Boy spell correct or fat fingers one! Shinki was the guitarist for Condition Green. By the way, Shinki was scouted by some record company back then to come to America. But they just wanted him and he turned it down from what I understand because he was loyal to his band mates. Listen to Condition Green Life of Change. Awesome musicianship from all on the album!
I used to play in a band of little kids at Condition Greens bar when I was 12 from about 81-85. Also played with Shinki and Jesse a few times and we made the cover of the tv guide on Kadena! Crazy times
Club Cannon at the 4 minute mark. Is that the same bar that the Okinawa band played in the early 80’s? With George Murasaki?
love this video. I was looking for what was. "the Apple House".
Was stationed there 81-82 at camp kinser
Yes, Ive eaten at Charlie's Taco back in Aug 74-Sep75. Love your videos. Im a new subscriber too.
Welcome to the channel! Charlie’s is still amazing.
@@MutekiMatt I loved Charlie's Tacos. We thought it was so funny, American Marines, in Okinawa, eating Mexican food. Is there anything there like a menu you could mail me. Loved that place.
I’ll go there next time!!
I’m so glad I stumbled upon this channel. I started watching your videos yesterday. I’m honestly jealous of your discount stores. Dollar Tree is embarrassing compared to your stores but then again I haven’t been to one in ages. I usually go to Big Lot’s. Is there a Japanese version of Target?
Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying my videos. 😊
Nothing like Target, as far as I know. There are some other cool stores though that I have yet to do a video on. 😆
Naha Music Club.
Nuff said.
dude! 😂😂😂
Wow. I was stationed at Kadena 91-94, spent a lot of time on Gate 2 and BC. Thanks for sharing, brings back a lot of memories. What time of day was this video taken? Not a lot of people out. Makes ya wonder how any of the businesses survive.
This was probably around 4 or 5 in the afternoon. Some of it might be the virus, but it was still pretty dead ever before all of this happened.
Was there in 1967, everything is different now,
Wow, was there anything you recognized at all? I know Charlie's Tacos has been around since 1956, but it may have been a different building.
Oh...the bananna shows!🥶🥶🥶🥶
I remeber Charlie Taco. I was at Kadena 75-77.
I was there in the early 70's stationed at camp shields. Lots of prostitutes and of course "whisper alley". Good to have fond memories in your latter years.
I use to hang out on BC AT THE 8 beat bar. It was upstairs. Is it still there? I was there in the mid to late 70’s.
Thank you! Also, there wasnt just a bananna lady, it was every other bar along with smoke show and can catch coin show . 81-83
Thank you so much!! I was 17 in 1994 … I’m blown away at these videos.. such a different scene… that what I knew.. Do you know anything about Apple house it was left out gate 2 ?? I’m trying to remember …
Wasn't NewYork Club near the Apple House?
Apple House closed many moons ago.
Here are a few more of my memories I used to love a good plate of yakisoba. back in1976 i worked the night shift. so by the time i got out of the front gate it was about 12;30. There was this one place I used to go that had the best Yakisoba. After the 1st plate I was still hungry. Mamasan. gave me a dirty look but she always got a good tip. Of course Okinawa had its typhoons. On one occasion . A few of us got cabin fever. We were restricted to the barracks . Only thing allowed on the road were 2 ton trucks. It must have been 100 mph winds. It was no easy task getting to the front gate. But front gate was closed. So we went over to the Rice Paddies were the G.I's would sneak the Bar Girls in.. When we got to BC street I remember having a corndog or something there were a few places open.and a handful of people of people weathering the storm.....That night I remember the Bar Girls were Off the Clock. Everyone Just Had Fun and Danced... The year was 1977 or so They were Line Dancing to the Village People.. The Typhoon was over about 6-7am I remember going home..
That's an amazing story! The way you told it makes me feel like I was right there with you. Sounds like a great time.
I think BC had a bar named for every state and big city ( NY bar, Texas bar, etc. ) in ‘71.