Archive for January, 2012

Recent News

Men parade to encourage prosperity ― traditional doudoi held at Kushi, Nago

Men parade to encourage prosperity ― traditional <em>doudoi</em> held at Kushi, Nago

January 18, 2012 Taichi Hirayasu of Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 3 at Kushi in Nago, a traditional event called a doudoi was held to wish for prosperity among descendants. People made a cross called an uma out of wood cut out from a stand of trees, and used it to carry a man who hopes to have babies around Kushi. This year, Hidekazu Miyagi rode on the uma and local residents paraded to the community hall with him calling out “Doudoi, doudoi.

Miyagi...

 

Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off

Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off

January 20, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

Taiwan cherries have begun blooming and attracting people to see them at Mt. Yaedake, Motobu. The Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival started on January 21 with the catchphrase of “One jump ahead.”

On January 19, the temperature in Ishigaki island...

Okinawa Prefectural Board begins to review Defense Ministry’s environmental impact assessment report for relocation of Futenma U.S. Marine Corps Air Station

Okinawa Prefectural Board begins to review Defense Ministry's environmental impact assessment report for relocation of Futenma U.S. Marine Corps Air Station

January 20, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 19, the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Review for the environmental impact assessment report (EIA) for the alternative facility construction plan of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Henoko, Nago, convened in Nishihara. At the beginning of...

Calling out Hoi to ward off evil spirits ― Satiparo held in Miyakojima

Calling out Hoi to ward off evil spirits ― Satiparo held in Miyakojima

January 18, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 17 at Uenonobaru in Miyakojima, a traditional ritual called satiparo was held. With children wearing masks and performing as a visiting deity pantu in the lead, wrapped in vines, women carrying yabunikkei twigs in their hands...

International NGO visits Henoko and Takae and recommends to appeal on the world stage

International NGO visits Henoko and Takae and recommends to appeal on the world stage

January 16, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 15, Daisuke Shirane, member of the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), an international non-governmental organization devoted to eliminating discrimination through United Nations agencies, visited the planned...

Planting of rice begins on Ishigaki Island – the earliest in Japan

Planting of rice begins on Ishigaki Island - the earliest in Japan

January 17, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 15, the planting of rice commenced on Ishigaki Island, which is known as the top rice producing area in Okinawa. This is the earliest planting of rice anywhere in Japan. Atsushi Nakaarashiro a 75 year-old rice grower who produces koshihikari...

Aiming for the London Olympics – Korean national football squad in camp at Onna

Aiming for the London Olympics - Korean national football squad in camp at Onna

January 17, 2012 Takesaburo Koyama correspondent of Ryukyu Shimpo

From January 6 to 10 at Akama Sports Park in Onna, 41 players for the Korean Olympic football squad went into a camp at which they made their final adjustments ahead of the Olympic Asian qualifying tournament. On January 6, a...

Complaints from local residents after six CH 46 helicopters fly over Ginowan City

Complaints from local residents after six CH 46 helicopters fly over Ginowan City

January 14, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 12, it was confirmed that six CH 46 helicopters that operate out of the United States Marine Corps Air Station Futenma flew in formation over an area of Ginowan City adjacent to the base. These helicopters are rarely known to fly in formation. The Ginowan...

”Good luck” shisa cheer up Fukushima at an exhibition in Koriyama

”Good luck” <em>shisa</em> cheer up Fukushima at an exhibition in Koriyama

January 17, 2012 Kiyoshi Ujiie of Ryukyu Shimpo

In attempt to offer encouragement to the people of Fukushima, who are worried about radioactivity from the nuclear accident following the Great East Japan Earthquake, 35 year-old shisa craftsman from Naha, Mitsuo Miyagi crafts shisa...

Hiwat from Suriname practices karate in Okinawa

Hiwat from Suriname practices karate in Okinawa

January 10, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

Sherus Hiwat from the Republic of Suriname in South America, who is traveling to learn five countries’ martial arts including Korean taekwondo, Muay Thai of Thailand and Chinese kung fu, came to Okinawa at the end of last September to study karate where it originated....

FEC to distribute its Funny tales about U.S. military bases in Okinawa on an on-demand video service

January 14, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 13, the Performance Corps FEC and C-POPTV commenced a dedicated channel on acTVila, a content-on-demand service, on which they began to distribute the Funny tales about U.S. military bases in Okinawa Part VI. FEC is going to distribute its...