Archive for April, 2014

Recent News

Nago Mayor to visit the United States in May

Nago Mayor to visit the United States in May

April 10, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 9, Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine announced plans to visit the United States in the middle of May to declare his opposition to the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station to Henoko in Nago.

He is still finalizing the details of his schedule, but tentatively confirmed the visit will take place from May 18 to 24. During his stay, he will meet US administration officials and inform them of the strong public opposition to the Henoko...

 

Fishery cooperative and companies create fund for protecting Mozuku seaweed in Kumejima

Fishery cooperative and companies create fund for protecting Mozuku seaweed in Kumejima

April 11, 2014 Tetsuya Nakajima correspondent of Ryukyu Shimpo

An agreement signing ceremony for a fund to protect Mozuku seaweed was held on April 2 at the town office on Kumejima Island. Kumejima Mayor Choko Taira, Seiji Tonaki, the president of the Kumejima Fishing Cooperative, Takayuki...

Nerpai ritual for charm against Tsunami

<em>Nerpai</em> ritual for charm against Tsunami

April 14, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

In Gusukube district of Miyakojima City on April 8, people carried out a traditional Ryukyuan ritual Nerpai to pray for a good harvest and set up charms against tsunami.

About 30 citizens of two villages, Sunagawa and Tomori, took part in the ritual....

An escaping crocodile captured at Chatan restaurant

An escaping crocodile captured at Chatan restaurant

April 13, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

Around 8:43 a.m. on April 12, the police received a phone call that a reared crocodile had escaped from a restaurant in Mihama district of Chatan. The restaurant was temporarily closed for renovations. At 9:55 a.m., the police officers found the crocodile at a site...

Okinawan makeup artist shows her talent at international competitions

Okinawan makeup artist shows her talent at international competitions

April 10, 2014 Naoki Isa of Ryukyu Shimpo

Thirty-three-year-old Akiko Yamakawa from Nago City has been training to become a top makeup artist in the United States. Although she could not speak English in the beginning, she set her mind on success and moved to the United States at the age of...

OPG to interview Okinawan Americans who worked for the U.S. military during the Battle of Okinawa

April 10, 2014 Masatoshi Inafuku of Ryukyu Shimpo

In this fiscal year, the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) will carry out a project to interview and collect the stories of Okinawan Americans who worked for the U.S. military during the Battle of Okinawa.

It will be the first time...

Conference urges Okinawans to reclaim the title of the Japan’s longest-living people

Conference urges Okinawans to reclaim the title of the Japan's longest-living people

April 11, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

A conference aimed at reclaiming Okinawa’s status as the home of Japan’s longest living people was held on April 10. Seventy-one organizations, including the Okinawa Prefectural Government and economic and medical organizations took part in it. The conference...

Ministry of Defense requests permission from Nago City to use Henoko fishing port for reclamation work for new base

April 14, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Defense Bureau of the Ministry of Defense has asked the Nago City Office if it can use the Henoko fishing port as a storage space for reclamation materials as it pushes on with the plan to build an alternative facility for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station...

Remains of former Japanese soldier returned to his family 69 years after his death

Remains of former Japanese soldier returned to his family 69 years after his death

April 8, 2014 Yoko Shima of Ryukyu Shimpo

The remains of a former Japanese soldier found in Urasoe Maeda in July last year were returned to his family members, who live in Machida, Tokyo, on April 7. DNA analysis has identified the remains of Kozo Tabata, who was a 33-year-old corporal of the...

Shisa Day event at Tsuboya

<em>Shisa</em> Day event at Tsuboya

April 4, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 3, the opening ceremony of the 13th Shisa Day event was held at Tsuboya, Naha. The Tsuboya Pottery Museum has a display of 29 ceramic shisa works made by Okinawan craftsmen. This exhibition will be held until April 20. Shisa is a traditional...

Yonaguni municipal government signs land lease contract with Ministry of Defense

April 1, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

On March 31, Yonaguni town officially leased its land to the Ministry of Defense. The Japanese government plans to station a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force coastal surveillance unit on Yonaguni Island. On April 19, the government will the groundbreaking ceremony....