Archive for December, 2012

Recent News

Number of active users of Facebook in Okinawa ranks second in Japan

Number of active users of Facebook in Okinawa ranks second in Japan

December 7 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

According to the Okinawa Internet White Paper 2012-2013 published by web-design company Lideli Co., Ltd., at the end of October 2012 the number of people using Facebook in Okinawa accounted for 10.3 percent of its online population.
This is second in Japan following Tokyo. It appears that the number increased around the period when the 5th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival was held last October. The paper suggests that more people started using the Internet...

 

Osprey aircraft fly from Futenma Air Station to Guam for training

Osprey aircraft fly from Futenma Air Station to Guam for training

December 8, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

In the morning of December 7, three of the 12 Osprey aircraft deployed to U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan flew to Guam for training, arriving there that afternoon. This is the first time that the Osprey aircraft have participated in training conducted...

Number of Osprey flights increase 1.3 times in the two months since deployment

Number of Osprey flights increase 1.3 times in the two months since deployment

December 1, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

On December 1, two months passed since the MV-22 Osprey vertical take-off and landing transport aircraft were deployed to Okinawa. According to investigations carried out by the Ryukyu Shimpo, the number of flights by the aircraft from Futenma Air Station in...

Shipment of Japanese tiger prawns gets into in full swing

Shipment of Japanese tiger prawns gets into in full swing

December 2 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

Into December, all over Okinawa shipment of Japanese tiger prawns, a popular gift during the o-seibo or gift-giving season in early winter, has started in full swing. On November 30, workers at the Japanese tiger prawn farm in Ginoza were busy sorting...

Okinawan-Canadian receives honorary degree after 70 years

Okinawan-Canadian receives honorary degree after 70 years

November 27, 2012, Masaaki Umeda of Ryukyu Shimpo

Before World War II, Roy Oshiro enrolled at the University of British Columbia in Canada hoping to become a teacher after graduation. However, the war broke out and he was expelled from the university, discriminated against because he was the...

Rock band Shores releases its first album called Beginning | End

Rock band Shores releases its first album called <em>Beginning | End</em>

November 27, 2012 Takahiro Miyagi of the Ryukyu Shimpo

On November 14, the rock band Shores released its first album called Beginning | End through BORNtoLOVE Records. Produced by MEG from 2side1BRAIN and SHUNTAROCK, the album sells for 1575 yen, and contains eight songs with constructive...

Ninety-six year-old motorcycle rider parades in celebration

Ninety-six year-old motorcycle rider parades in celebration

November 29, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

On November 24, a celebration known locally as kajimaya was held for 96 year-old Shinfuku Tamaki at his home in Takazato, Ogimi. He obtained his driving license before Okinawa’s return to Japanese sovereignty, and has been riding a motorcycle for...

New special local product Mozuku Jelly from Ie

New special local product <em>Mozuku</em> Jelly from Ie

November 18, 2012 Yukito Kinjo of the Ryukyu Shimpo

The Fisheries Cooperative Association of Ie has created Iejima Mozuku Jelly containing fucoidan essence. On October 31, in order to promote the product, Ryuichi Hachimae, the president of the Association, visited Mayor Katsumasa...

Rallies calling for the withdrawal of the Osprey held in 24 municipalities

Rallies calling for the withdrawal of the Osprey held in 24 municipalities

December 1, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

December 1 marked two months having passed since the United States deployed the MV-22 Osprey aircraft squadron to U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. There are still strong voices being raised among Okinawan people seeking the withdrawal of the Osprey. Starting...

Ahead of the general election, Okinawa Governor Nakaima reiterates his demand for the relocation of Futenma Air Station outside the prefecture

Ahead of the general election, Okinawa Governor Nakaima reiterates his demand for the relocation of Futenma Air Station outside the prefecture

December 1 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

On November 30, in a routine interview, Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima made reference to the assertion by top officials of the Liberal Democratic Party’s headquarters that they would construct the alternative facility for the relocation of Futenma Air...

Residents around Kadena Air Base sue the U.S. government

Residents around Kadena Air Base sue the U.S. government

December 1, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

With regard to ongoing legal action in which about 22000 residents living around the U.S. Kadena Air Base claim that the U.S. government is responsible for health problems arising from the presence of the base, 144 residents initiated a lawsuit against the White...