Archive for May, 2013

Recent News

The Association of Comprehensive Studies for Independence of the Lew Chewans established

The Association of Comprehensive Studies for Independence of the Lew Chewans established

May 16, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On May 15, the Association of Comprehensive Studies for Independence of the Lew Chewans (ACSILs) was established to promote scholarly research in order to achieve the independence of people who identify their ethnic roots as being in the Ryukyuan Islands. The planning committee and scholars of the ACSILs announced this at a press conference held in the Prefectural Government Office. Using the U.S. military bases as an example, the committee members pointed out...

 

3,500 people call for peace in 5-15 rally despite heavy rain

3,500 people call for peace in 5-15 rally despite heavy rain

May 20, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On May 19, at the Ginowan Seaside Park, the Okinawa Peace Movement Center and the 5-15 Peace March Executive Committee held a citizens’ rally to call for the protection of life and peace. This was held in the year that Okinawa marked the 41st anniversary of its...

Former comfort woman rebuts Hashimoto’s remarks

Former comfort woman rebuts Hashimoto's remarks

May 19, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, co-leader of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, plans to meet former comfort women on May 24. On May 18, one of the women, Kim Bok-dong, held a press conference at Shalom Hall in Okinawa Christian University in Nishihara. Hashimoto...

Miminme festival held to pray for good crops

<em>Miminme</em> festival held to pray for good crops

May 12, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On May 10, or April 1 in the lunar calendar, in the Furugen district of Ozato in Nanjo, the miminme festival was held to pray for good crops and prosperity for the community. People walked through the streets for the michijune parade...

Ryukyu Immunology Corporation develops test kits to detect HIV infection

Ryukyu Immunology Corporation develops test kits to detect HIV infection

April 26, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Ryukyu Immunology Corporation, which is located in Uruma, has produced antibodies that detect the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, that causes AIDS, in the early stages of infection, and using this antibody has made assay kits for in vitro diagnostic tests...

Herbal extract from hibiscus produced in Miyako gains popularity

Herbal extract from hibiscus produced in Miyako gains popularity

May 4, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Sales are increasing of a pure herbal extract made from hibiscus grown on Miyako Island. Since last May, the Naha-based Gradir Co., which sells preserved flowers, has sold the herb extract and have shipped about 10,000 bottles in just under a year. It has grown to...

Three siblings with the same birthday

Three siblings with the same birthday

May 3, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 25, Shota and Olivia Shimamoto celebrated the birth of their new baby Rio born at the Morimoto Gynecology Clinic in Ginowan. By incredible coincidence, Rio has a four-year-old brother Rian and a two-year-old sister Rea who were also born on the same date....

Notes written by crewman on photograph of Japanese battleship Hyuga found

Notes written by crewman on photograph of Japanese battleship Hyuga found

May 3, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

Matsuo Chinen, 63, a resident of Sashiki in Nanjo, found a photograph of the Japanese battleship Hyuga, which saw service during the Pacific War, at his father’s house in Naha. His father Matsukichi, who died at the age of 75, kept a record of the ship’s journey...

25 women’s groups in Okinawa criticize Hashimoto’s remarks on comfort women

25 women's groups in Okinawa criticize Hashimoto's remarks on comfort women

May 15, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, the co-leader of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, has said that the Japanese military’s “comfort women” regime of forced prostitution of Asian women before and during the Second World War was necessary for Japanese...

Still haunted by death of civilians

Still haunted by death of civilians

May 13, 2013 Masatoshi Omine of Ryukyu Shimpo

Joe Drago, an 87-year-old Boston resident who fought in the Battle of Okinawa talked about the battle through Skype to a group of students at St. Bede’s College, a Catholic boys’ high school located in Christchurch, New Zealand. The lesson was...

Senior fellow of CFR Think Tank points out the dangers of populist nationalism

Senior fellow of CFR Think Tank points out the dangers of populist nationalism

May 4, 2013 Hideki Matsudo of Ryukyu Shimpo

There has been ongoing tension between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands, which are administered as part of Okinawa. The Japanese government emphasizes the Japan-U.S. alliance as a diplomatic cornerstone and strives to gain the support of the...