Millers vacation in Japan

Denny Miller, along with his wife, Phyllis, and daughters Audra, Julie and Rachel show items they brought home from a recent trip to Okinawa, Japan. Denny's mother was born and raised in Koja, Okinawa. (BCR photo/Heather Holland)

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PRINCETON — When some people think of summer vacation destinations, Disney World or Wisconsin Dells might be the first places that come to mind. But for Denny and Phyllis Miller of Princeton and their three daughters, this year’s summer vacation was a trip to Okinawa, Japan.

Denny’s mother, Deko Miller of Tiskilwa, was born and raised in Koja, Okinawa, located about 1,000 miles away from the Japanese mainland. Deko and her husband, David Miller of Tiskilwa, wanted their son and his family to have a chance to visit Okinawa and to meet many of Deko’s family members. David and Deko gave the week-long trip to the family as a graduation present for their granddaughter, Audra, who graduated in May from Princeton High School.

On June 16, the Millers flew 13 hours to Tokyo, Japan, and then another two hours to Naha International Airport, located in the capital of Okinawa. From there, it was a two-hour drive to Koja, Okinawa, where they stayed with Deko’s uncle and cousin in the same house where Deko grew up with 15 other family members.

Denny, Phyllis, and daughters Audra, 18, Julie, 11, and Rachel, 8, visited attractions on the island, including Shurijo Castle, Gyokusendo Caves, Southeast Botanical Gardens, Emerald Beach, Sunset Beach, and a glass-blowing establishment, and also shopped in downtown Naha and at the Jusco Shopping Mall.

For Denny, the highlight of the trip was meeting family members for the first time, including his mother’s two stepbrothers, stepsister, uncle, aunt and cousin.

“It was really nice to meet them and their whole families,” Denny said. “It was nice to get to see some family members you’ve never seen in 46 years.”

Phyllis agreed.

“It was difficult, though, because of the communication,” Phyllis said. “Although, a lot of times you could tell what people were saying just through gestures.”

Because none of the Millers spoke the Okinawan Japanese language, Deko, her aunt, and her cousin served as translators because they spoke fluent English and the Okinawan dialect of Japanese.

The Miller family also had a difficult time with many of the maps and brochures because everything was written in Japanese. Tours were given in Japanese, as well.

While in Okinawa, Denny attended a high school baseball game in which Deko’s cousin’s son was playing. The high school senior’s baseball team is ranked first in the country. Denny attended the first game of the championship tournament.

“There were 4,000 people at a high school baseball game in a major stadium,” Phyllis said.

When shopping in Okinawa, they did not recognize any stores except McDonalds and a store selling Coach purses, the Millers said. In many of the malls and trendier stores, American pop music was playing.

“All the music that they would play in pretty much all of the stores was American music,” Audra said.

The Millers said it was difficult to tell where one town ended and another began because the southern part of Okinawa is highly populated. Traffic is very dense and cars are small, Denny said. The biggest cars you’d see would be about the size of a Toyota Camry, he said.

Denny noted that much of Okinawa was destroyed during World War II.

“An interesting thing while we were over there is that Monday, June 23, was a holiday for Okinawa because that’s the day World War II ended for Okinawan people,” he said.

Denny said he hopes to return for another visit to Okinawa.

“Now that we’ve been over and met the family, I’d like to take our family there again someday,” he said.

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