Archive for August, 2016

Recent News

SEALDs Ryukyu continuing to protest against construction of US base in Henoko and helipads in Takae

August 11, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa branch of Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy (SEALDs), a student organization that was set up to oppose Japan’s controversial security bills, announced on August 10 that it would continue its activities despite the national organization dissolving itself. While SEALDs announced it would dissolve itself on August 15, SEALDs Ryukyu said it would continue its work. The organization intends to keep holding events such as “Salon,”...

 

2020 Olympics karate event expected to increase tourism to Okinawa

2020 Olympics karate event expected to increase tourism to Okinawa

August 5, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has determined that among four other sports, a karate event will be added to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Due to the influx of karate practitioners and enthusiasts who will be traveling from around the world to Okinawa...

Lummis urges Veterans for Peace to support retraction of Henoko relocation plan

Lummis urges Veterans for Peace to support retraction of Henoko relocation plan

August 16, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Sakae Toiyama reports from Washington DC

On August 14 at the 31st annual convention of the Veterans for Peace (VFP), a representative of the Ryukyu-Okinawa Chapter Douglas Lummis, and an associate of the same chapter Yoshikazu Makishi called for the VFP...

Helipad construction protestors surprised by First-Lady Akie Abe’s Takae visit

Helipad construction protestors surprised by First-Lady Akie Abe’s Takae visit

August 7, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 6, the prime minister’s wife, Akie Abe, visited a sit-in protestors’ tent at the N1 rear gate of the Northern Training Area set up in opposition to helipad construction. She listened to the protestors explain the sit-in site. The protestors showed...

Karate added into Olympics

August 4, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 3 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) held a meeting and voted to add 18 events in five new sports including Karate, which originated in Okinawa, to the next Olympics to be held in Tokyo 2020. Baseball, softball, skateboarding,...

Okinawan fishing association seeks withdrawal of US Marine Corps from Okinawa

Okinawan fishing association seeks withdrawal of US Marine Corps from Okinawa

July 31, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

An association representing people involved in the Okinawan fishing industry who oppose construction of a new U.S. base in Henoko, Nago, held a regular general meeting in Uruma City on July 30. The association unanimously passed a special resolution seeking the withdrawal...

Onaga: “Government trying to wrest Okinawa into submission” with lawsuit

Onaga: “Government trying to wrest Okinawa into submission” with lawsuit

August 6, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 5, the first hearing in a new lawsuit brought by the Japanese government against Okinawa Prefecture was held at the Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court. The lawsuit is an “action for the declaration of illegality of inaction;” the government wants...

During lawsuit Onaga states local autonomy will fail if all decisions are made on national level

August 4, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 3, the Okinawa Prefectural Government submitted written statements to the Fukuoka High Court from Governor of Okinawa Takeshi Onaga and Mayor of Nago City Susumu Inamine. The statements relate to a case the central government brought against the prefectural...

Self-determination association forms with an eye on Ryukyu independence

Self-determination association forms with an eye on Ryukyu independence

July 25, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On July 24, the newly-formed “Nuchi du takara (life is a treasure)! Ryukyu self-determination association (preparatory association)” held an event to celebrate its formation at the Central Community Center in Nishihara Town. Approximately 150 people attended...

A walk through vibrant forest along Arakawa gawa and Fun gawa

A walk through vibrant forest along Arakawa gawa and Fun gawa

July 28, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Chie Tome and Chosho Yakabe

The forest in Yambaru, where the U.S. and Japanese governments plan to build new military helipads, is one of Japan’s most treasured nature spots home to more than six thousand kinds of rare and new species of animals and plants....

Yoichi Iha attends first Diet session, vows to convey Okinawa’s situation

Yoichi Iha attends first Diet session, vows to convey Okinawa’s situation

August 1, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

[Tokyo] On the morning of August 1, Yoichi Iha, who was recently elected to represent Okinawa in the House of Councillors, attended his first Diet session. With a look of determination on his face, Iha said, “It is a heavy responsibility to become a Diet member...