Archive for January, 2014

Recent News

Re-elected Nago Mayor Inamine asserts he will prevent Futenma relocation to Henoko

Re-elected Nago Mayor Inamine asserts he will prevent Futenma relocation to Henoko

January 20, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

Winning the Nago mayoral election on January 19, reelected Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine held a press conference in the morning of the next day. The focal issue of the election was to move U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to the Henoko district of Nago. In the office of his support group in Onaka, Inamine said, “A day after winning the election, I will do my best to stand strong against what will come.” He showed his determination to work on preventing...

 

Haebaru Town revives traditional performance of Haberu moui for the first time in 64 years

Haebaru Town revives traditional performance of <em>Haberu moui</em> for the first time in 64 years

January 17, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 11 at the Motobu District of Haebaru Town, a traditional performance of “Haberu moui” was performed at a New Year’s party held at the Children’s Hall for the first time in 64 years since 1950. Many people visited the...

Cherry blossom festival starts in Okinawa earlier than other parts of Japan

Cherry blossom festival starts in Okinawa earlier than other parts of Japan

January 19, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

Cherry blossom festivals have started in Motobu and Nakijin earlier than other parts of Japan. The flowers are in full bloom at the event sites. Walking under trees with the flowers colored in various shades of pink, the participants celebrated the arrival of...

Perfect Okinawa soba

Perfect Okinawa <em>soba</em>

January 16, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Soba Development and Heritage Association has started selling a new Okinawa soba called Perfect Okinawa soba as a souvenir. It enjoyed popularity when limitedly sold in the Okinawa Foods Exhibition held outside the prefecture...

Nago Mayor Inamine opposing the building of new U.S. air base in Henoko wins his second term

Nago Mayor Inamine opposing the building of new U.S. air base in Henoko wins his second term

January 19, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

The incumbent, Susumu Inamine, 68, who opposes moving U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago, won his second term against Bunshin Suematsu, 65, a former Okinawa prefectural assembly member who backs the government’s relocation plan, in the...

Okinawa Association of Hong Kong holds year-end party

Okinawa Association of Hong Kong holds year-end party

January 13, 2014 Yoshiyuki Nakamura, correspondent of Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Association of Hong Kong Urizun held a year-end party at the Okinawan tavern Izakaya in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.

About 400 people took part in the party and enjoyed it. The head of the association...

Over 120 plaintiffs join lawsuit for withdrawal of Henoko relocation approval

Over 120 plaintiffs join lawsuit for withdrawal of Henoko relocation approval

January 10, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

The plaintiffs group and legal team of 126 people has been seeking cancellation of the approval of the Henoko landfill by initiating an administrative lawsuit. They held a press conference at the Okinawa Prefectural Office on January 9. The suit is against the...

Muuchi Day to wish for children to grow up healthy

<em>Muuchi</em> Day to wish for children to grow up healthy

January 8, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

January 8 (December 8 in the old lunar calendar) is the Muuchi Day to wish for children to grow up to be healthy and strong. Muuchi is a rice cake wrapped with sannin or shell ginger leaves. On January 7, cake shops in a market in Naha...

New poster girls for Orion Beer

New poster girls for Orion Beer

January 11, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

Selected as poster girls for Orion Beer in 2014, Eika Nagayoshi, Sakiko Hanaoka and Aimi Uehara visited Ryukyu Shimpo on January 10.
Nagayoshi, who is from Itoman, said, “I would like many people to drink Orion beer.”

Hanaoka from Uruma...

Narcissus in full bloom on Iejima

Narcissus in full bloom on Iejima

January 12, 2013 Yukito Kinjo, correspondent of Ryukyu Shimpo

Flowers of narcissus are in full bloom at fields owned by Shunwa Uchima who runs a drugstore in Ie Village. The flowers fascinate the villagers and tourists.

Uchima has two fields near entrance to a fountainhead at north shore...

OCVB promotes Okinawa resort weddings in Hong Kong

OCVB promotes Okinawa resort weddings in Hong Kong

December 18, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB) exhibited at the Hong Kong Wedding Expo 2013 held from December 13 to 15 in Hong Kong. Ten companies from Okinawa, including the Okinawa Resort Wedding Association and the Chiyoda Bridal House, had a presence...