Archive for June, 2013

Recent News

[Editorial] US and Japan need to investigate Agent Orange in Okinawa

June 19, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Construction workers have unearthed dozens of barrels bearing the words: “The Dow Chemical Company” at a soccer ground on land returned by the U.S. military in Okinawa City. The United States based company is the second-largest chemical manufacturer in the world. During the Vietnam War they produced Agent Orange, a chemical defoliant containing dioxin.

The discovery has increased the possibility that the U.S. military stored the defoliant in...

 

War artifacts exhibit of Peace Memorial Museum faces difficulty

War artifacts exhibit of Peace Memorial Museum faces difficulty

June 14, 2013 Masaaki Umeda of Ryukyu Shimpo

Every June, the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum in Mabuni, Itoman, holds the “New Artifacts Exhibition” to display items that individuals and groups have recently donated. However, because the museum has not received as many...

Daughter of war victims from abroad joins plaintiffs in Nuchidu-Takara lawsuit

Daughter of war victims from abroad joins plaintiffs in <em>Nuchidu-Takara</em> lawsuit

June 13, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On June 12, Katsue Shingaki Garner, a 75-year-old resident of Georgia, United States, who is originally from Nishihara Cho, added her name to the list of plaintiffs in the lawsuit called Nuchidu-Takara. The group seeks an apology from the central government...

Rainy season in Okinawa ends early

Rainy season in Okinawa ends early

June 14, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Meteorological Observatory announced on June 14 that the rainy season in Okinawa has ended.

The rainy season in the region usually continues until around on June 23, so it has ended nine day earlier than usual.

This year, the Okinawa region’s...

Legendary Okinawan boxing trainer closes gym

Legendary Okinawan boxing trainer closes gym

June 14, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

This year, Shinkichi Kinjo, manager of the Okinawa Shogaku High School boxing club, will close the Winner Boxing Gym, which he has been running for the last 30 years in Shuri, Naha. The gym has turned out many famous boxers and has had a significant impact on Okinawan...

Okinawan karate men win at East Asian Senior Championship

Okinawan karate men win at East Asian Senior Championship

June 10, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

In the 3rd East Asian Senior Karate Championship, which began on June 8 in Wuhan, China, Japan won all the Kata divisions for individual men, women, and teams. Okinawan Ryo Kyuna (Ryueiryu) has now won two consecutive years in the men’s Kata Individual Division....

Moving song about Himeyuri students

Moving song about Himeyuri students

June 7, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

A song that 86-year-old Naha resident Teruko Omine wrote as a memorial to her friends who died during the Battle of Okinawa as Himeyuri nurse-aides is arousing people’s sympathy. Omine attended the former Okinawa Daiichi Women’s High School, which...

International tourism revenue in Okinawa up by 36%

June 8, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On June 7, the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) announced the results of a survey on international tourists’ level of satisfaction with tourism in Okinawa in fiscal 2012. Revenue from tourism increased 36 percent to 22.7 billion yen because in comparison...

Doctor joins handball team to pursue his dream

Doctor joins handball team to pursue his dream

June 6, 2013 Noriko Oshiro of Ryukyu Shimpo

A doctor has joined the ranks of Japan’s top handball players. Shogo Nakamura, 30, from Iwate Prefecture, has passed the tryout for Ryukyu Corazon, a team in the Japan Handball League. He came to Okinawa on June 4 and joined the other members...

Dolphin in giant aquarium of Okinawa Churaumi

Dolphin in giant aquarium of Okinawa Churaumi

June 4, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On June 1, a spotted dolphin in the large main aquarium Kuroshio Sea has been open for public viewing at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Motobu.

This is the time for the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium to put a dolphin in this tank. It provides a valuable insight into...

Free Ie Beef for high school students from neighboring islands

Free Ie Beef for high school students from neighboring islands

June 5, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

“We hope students from neighboring islands will eat well,” said Kenji Naka, 37, the manager of the Itoman direct sales shop of the Agricultural Production Cooperation Group Ie Gyu. This shop, which opened in April in Nishizaki, Itoman, offers support for high...