Archive for December, 2013

Recent News

[Editorial]Okinawa Governor Nakaima should resign for betraying the Okinawan people by approving the Henoko landfill

December 28, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima has approved land reclamation work in the Henoko district of Nago in preparation for moving U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. With this he has effectively reneged on his pledge to move the base outside Okinawa.

This politically motivated move runs contrary to the will of the majority of Okinawan people and is a mistake of historic proportions. It is something that we simply cannot accept.

In the 2010 gubernatorial...

 

Okinawan player comes second in World Harmonica Festival

Okinawan player comes second in World Harmonica Festival

December 17, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Chromatic Harmonica player Sachito Higa, 28, won second place at the category of solo chromatic with a set piece in the World Harmonica Festival 2013 in Germany.
Held once every four years, the festival is the world’s top international contest for harmonica...

Shipping volume of kariyushi shirts exceeds 400,000

Shipping volume of <em>kariyushi</em> shirts exceeds 400,000

December 20, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

The annual production volume of kariyushi shirts has exceeded 400,000 items for the first time. According to the Okinawa Clothing Sewing and Manufacturing Industrial Association, the volume of these shirts shipped from January to November 2013 totaled...

Extra edition:Okinawa Governor approves Henoko landfill for relocation of U.S Futenma base

Extra edition:Okinawa Governor approves Henoko landfill for relocation of U.S Futenma base

December 27, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima held a press conference at his official residence in Naha at 3:00 p.m. on December 27. He announced that he has approved the government’s application for a landfill at Henoko in preparation for relocating the U.S. Marine Corps...

Okinawa Governor appreciates Japanese government’s suggestions for reducing base burden

December 25, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Prime Minister’s Official Residence in the afternoon of December 25. The two leaders discussed the application to carry out the landfill at Henoko in preparation for moving U.S. Marine...

Diving attracts foreign tourists to Okinawa

Diving attracts foreign tourists to Okinawa

December 19, 2013 Wu Li Jun of Ryukyu Shimpo

The number of foreign tourists who visit Okinawa for diving is increasing. According to a survey carried out by the Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCVB), 5,177 foreign visitors experienced diving in the prefecture’s waters between January...

Dedicatory ceremony held at Shuri Castle

Dedicatory ceremony held at Shuri Castle

December 21, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Shuri Tonokura Community Association held a Nubi dedicatory ceremony at Shuri Castle on December 22. In this ceremony, people traditionally took water from the Heduukka River in Kunigami and the Takushi Hija River in Urasoe and presented it to the...

Hawaii United Okinawa Association gives awards for distinguished service

Hawaii United Okinawa Association gives awards for distinguished service

December 9, 2013 Chikako Nago of Ryukyu Shimpo

On November 3 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, the Hawaii United Okinawa Association held a ceremony for the Yujiri Legacy Awards 2013. This event recognizes individuals who have contributed to the well-being of Hawaiian society and provided outstanding...

Number of tourists to Yaeyama Islands reaches 810,000

December 19, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On December 18, the Yaeyama Office of the Okinawa Prefectural Government announced the figures for the estimated number of inbound tourists to the Yaeyama Islands. From January to October it was up to 810,000 people, a 32.5 percent increase over the same period...

Okinawan American veteran used Uchinaguchi to save local residents during the Battle of Okinawa

Okinawan American veteran used Uchinaguchi to save local residents during the Battle of Okinawa

December 18, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Hawaiian resident 90-year-old Takejiro Higa was born in Hawaii and raised in Okinawa from the age of two-years-old. After returning to Hawaii when he was 16-years-old Higa joined the US military and served in the Battle of Okinawa. On December 4, he visited his...

Illumination at American Village

Illumination at American Village

December 13, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Night-time illumination has started at the American Village in Mihama, Chatan. It will run until...