Archive for August, 2011

Recent News

Low indictment rate for crimes involving U.S. military personnel in Okinawa

Low indictment rate for crimes involving U.S. military personnel in Okinawa

August 13, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

An investigation conducted by the Japan Peace Committee has revealed that the indictment rate for crimes (excluding vehicular manslaughter) committed by U.S. military personnel, including their family members and civilian personnel, in Okinawa was 16.2% in 2010.
The indictment rate for crimes (excluding vehicular manslaughter) committed by U.S. military personnel in all of Japan was 11.7%, considerably lower than the rate for Japanese which sat at 42.2%....

 

Anthology of Okinawan contemporary literature published

Anthology of Okinawan contemporary literature published

August 11, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

University of Hawaii has published Living Spirit: Literature and Resurgence in Okinawa, an anthology of Okinawan contemporary literature, with the concept of it being unique literature, existing beyond the bounds of Japanese literature.
In...

“The World Youth Uchinanchu Network” launched for the Festival, calls for young people to participate through Facebook

“The World Youth <em>Uchinanchu</em> Network” launched for the Festival, calls for young people to participate through Facebook

August 12, 2011 Tsuyoshi Arakaki of Ryukyu Shimpo

Ahead of the 5th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival to be held in October, the Next-Generation Project team, which is working on organizing a network for young people, has recently launched the “The World Youth Uchinanchu Network,”...

U.S. military brings radioactive waste into MCAS Futenma

U.S. military brings radioactive waste into MCAS Futenma

August 11, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

The U.S. military has transported radioactive waste and stored it in the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The waste is pollutants discharged during the decontamination work of “Operation Tomodachi” carried out by U.S. Forces as relief assistance...

Encouragement for 100 newly-hatched baby turtles to swim towards the sea

Encouragement for 100 newly-hatched baby turtles to swim towards the sea

August 11, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the night of August 3, more than 100 loggerhead and green turtles hatched at the seaside near Ogimi Village. The baby turtles swam strongly out towards the sea, just as it became rough due to the approach of Typhoon No.9.

Many people came to observe,...

Colonialist attitudes behind the ex-US Japan desk diplomat’s derogatory remarks about Okinawans

Colonialist attitudes behind the ex-US Japan desk diplomat's derogatory remarks about Okinawans

August 8, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

A written account by the students of American University in Washington who attended the lecture by Kevin Maher, former director of the State Department’s Office of Japan Affairs and former consul general in Okinawa Prefecture, exposed his derogatory remarks...

Seventy balloons released as protest against aircraft flights from Futenma Air Station

Seventy balloons released as protest against aircraft flights from Futenma Air Station

August 11, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 10, three days before August 13, the date marking the seventh anniversary of a U.S. military helicopter crashing into a building at Okinawa International University, the anti-base women’s group “Kamado guwaa no tsudoi” which has been calling for...

Pro baseball spring training camps provide economic benefit of more than 8.6 billion yen to Okinawa in 2011

Pro baseball spring training camps provide economic benefit of more than 8.6 billion yen to Okinawa in 2011

August 10, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

According to figures announced by Ryugin Research Institute Ltd. on August 9, professional baseball spring training camps brought 8.64 billion yen, a new record high, to Okinawa in 2011.
The fact that the Yomiuri Giants conducted their spring training camp...

Multiple-entry visas for Chinese tourists exceed 1000

Multiple-entry visas for Chinese tourists exceed 1000

August 9, 2011 Masaaki Umeda of Ryukyu Shimpo

The total number of multiple-entry visas issued since July for Chinese tourists on the condition of at least one night stay in Okinawa has exceeded 1000. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 748 multiple entry visas were issued in July,...

Second-generation Okinawan Filipina reunited with her father in Okinawa

Second-generation Okinawan Filipina reunited with her father in Okinawa

August 7, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

Five Okinawan children left behind in the Philippines in the chaotic times at the end of World War II visited Okinawa on August 8. The three women among them have fathers from Okinawa, and on this occasion, 69 year-old Pacita Okuma, actually met her father, 97-year-old...

Children of Okinawan emigrants participate in 10000 people Eisa Dance Parade

Children of Okinawan emigrants participate in 10000 people Eisa Dance Parade

August 8, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

“Ten thousand people Eisa Dance Parade” of the Summer Festival in Naha 2011, in which members of Youth Groups and Eisa groups from various parts of the prefecture took part in a vibrant dance performance, was held at Kokusai Street in Naha City on August 7.

Despite...