Archive for January, 2015

Recent News

Island-Wide Council to appeal to the United Nations, working with the Okinawa prefectural government

January 14, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 13, Director Yoshikazu Tamaki of the “Island-Wide Council for Leading to the Future and Realizing the Okinawa Statement” has announced an international strategy at a press conference held at the Okinawa Prefectural Building. Among the plans is an enhanced effort to lobby international organizations such as the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to increase international awareness of Okinawa’s military base issues. The...

 

The first Megamouth Shark fossil to be found in Asia has been unearthed in Okinawa

The first Megamouth Shark fossil to be found in Asia has been unearthed in Okinawa

January 21, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawan researchers have unearthed the fossilized tooth of a megamouth shark on the east coast of the southern island prefecture. There are few fossil specimens of the shark worldwide. Fossilized remains of the shark had only been found in North America and Europe...

Okinawa Governor asks for construction work of US base to be halted while panel examines its legality

Okinawa Governor asks for construction work of US base to be halted while panel examines its legality

January 27, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 26, Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga set up an independent panel to verify whether there is a legal flaw or not in then-Governor Hirokazu Nakaima’s approval of landfill in Henoko, Nago. The governments of Japan and the United States plan to move...

Coast Guard officer takes excessive action against female citizen: JCG denies the accusation

Coast Guard officer takes excessive action against female citizen: JCG denies the accusation

January 23, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

In Oura Bay, Nago, a 51-year-old female filmmaker Asako Kageyama was on a ship protesting against the plan to build an alternative base in Henoko, Nago, for U.S. Marine Corp Air Station Futenma in Ginowan. When Kageyma was filming offshore construction being carried...

Tonaki Village Council protests against parts of US Marine helicopter falling near Tonaki

January 22, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

Parts of a U.S. Marine AH- attack helicopter belonging to the Futenma base fell during flight in training airspace near Irisuna Island, Tonaki on January 15. The parts weighed more than 200 kilograms, including a hellfire missile launcher. In a meeting held on...

Charter flights between Thailand and Okinawa come into operation

January 14, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

Jumbo Tours, a travel agency, has recently resumed charter flights between Thailand and Okinawa (photograph). Charter flights were suspended for about a year due to the unstable political situation in Thailand.

Two-hundred-eighty people from Okinawa departed...

Okinawa Association of Bolivia holds New Year’s party

Okinawa Association of Bolivia holds New Year's party

January 19, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 17, the Okinawa Association of Bolivia held a New Year’s party with Okinawan Bolivian students who are visiting Okinawa, in Naha. The Bolivian students are third generation Okinawan Bolivian and came to Okinawa with scholarships from the Okinawa...

Asahi Shinbun feature article helps Kikukawa to encourage Okinawa under U.S military administration

Asahi Shinbun feature article helps Kikukawa to encourage Okinawa under U.S military administration

January 13, 2015 Mamoru Yasuda of Ryukyu Shimpo

Sixty years ago, on January 13, 1955, the Asahi Shinbun, one of the five national newspapers in Japan, published a feature article on Okinawa under the U.S military administration. It was a groundbreaking article, which reported on the oppressive...

Okinawan companies increase profits for a record seventh period in a row

Okinawan companies increase profits for a record seventh period in a row

January 17, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 16, the Okinawa Development Finance Corporation announced the results of a business conditions survey on the period from October to December 2014 in Okinawa. The diffusion index of business sentiment (DI) in this period increased over the same period...

Okinawa Governor conveys his opposition to new US base

Okinawa Governor conveys his opposition to new US base

January 15, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 14, after cabinet approved the fiscal 2015 promotional budget for Okinawa, Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga visited the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet Office. At his meeting with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiro Sugita, the governor...

Coast Guard officers take excessive action against citizens in Henoko

Coast Guard officers take excessive action against citizens in Henoko

January 21, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

The governments of Japan and the United States are moving forward with their plan to relocate U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago. On January 20, workers employed by Okinawa Defense Bureau set up an oil fence from off the coast of Camp Schwab...