Archive for September, 2016

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At IUCN workshop, Nago mayor calls for support to stop new US base construction in Henoko

At IUCN workshop, Nago mayor calls for support to stop new US base construction in Henoko

September 6, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo Washington correspondent Sakae Toiyama reports from Honolulu

On September 4, Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine presented at a workshop at the sixth International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress. At the workshop, Inamine reported on the issue of the new base construction being carried out as part of the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago City. “I want to bring back safety, peace of mind and tranquility...

 

NGO Human Rights Now criticizes Japanese government for blocking protesters in Henoko and Takae

September 2, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Authorized NPO and human-rights body Human Rights Now issued statement criticizing the Japanese government for violently cracking down non-violent protesters in Okinawa. It came ahead of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) 33rd regular session, which...

Japanese government allocates over 400 million yen for preventing US military-related crimes

August 26 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Japanese government approved the second additional appropriation for the fiscal 2016 in a Cabinet meeting. The appropriation for Okinawa-related items was 17.6 billion yen. The government allocated 410 million yen for a “Patrolling Party for Okinawa Community...

80-year-old Shinzato keeping traditional homestretch fishing for 50 years

80-year-old Shinzato keeping traditional homestretch fishing for 50 years

August 25, 2016 Hideaki Yoneda correspondent of Ryukyu Shimpo

An eighty-year-old fisherman in Tokashiki Village has practiced skin-dive fishing on his home island for more than 50 years. His name is Takemitsu Shinzato, a member of the Tokashiki Fisheries Cooperative, and he is known as a master...

Sanshin grand master Terukina to receive 2016 HUOA’s legacy award

Sanshin grand master Terukina to receive 2016 HUOA's legacy award

September 3, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Hawaii United Okinawa Association (HUOA), led by President Tom Yamamoto, will give its 2016 legacy award to National Living Treasure of Japan Choichi Terukina, 84, who lives in Naha City. The HUOA presents the legacy award annually to honor individuals who...

Editorial: The Government of Japan should abide by IUCN advisement regarding Henoko

September 2, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Six Japanese NGOs, including the Nature Conservation Society of Japan, jointly submitted a recommendation to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on how to deal with invasive species that will be introduced during construction of a new base...

Rare butterfly spotted around planned site for US helipad in Takae

Rare butterfly spotted around planned site for US helipad in Takae

August 24, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Ryukyu uranami janome, a butterfly species endemic to Okinawa prefecture and considered to be at risk of extinction, was found on the forest road next to the N1 zone gate to the U.S. military’s Northern Training Area on August 23. The area is a planned site...

(United States) Cheers for Okinawan rhythms at Nisei Week Japanese Festival

(United States) Cheers for Okinawan rhythms at Nisei Week Japanese Festival

August 29, 2016 Sadao Tome, Correspondent of the Ryukyu Shimpo

The Nisei Week Japanese Festival, which started over 100 years ago with the theme of celebrating Nikkei culture and the local community, was held for the 76th time (it was cancelled for the period around World War II). The festival...

Six hundred people gather to congratulate Okinawan immigrants on 110 years in Peru

Six hundred people gather to congratulate Okinawan immigrants on 110 years in Peru

August 30, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 28 (August 29 Japan time), a 110-year commemorative ceremony for Okinawans who immigrated to Peru opened at the Okinawan Association of Peru Center in Lima, Peru. About 600 people of Okinawan heritage attended the ceremony.

Governor of Okinawa...

More than 100 protesters struggle to block US military’s helipad construction

More than 100 protesters struggle to block US military’s helipad construction

September 1, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

[Helipad coverage team] From 10:25 to 10:55 on the morning of September 1, the Okinawa Defense Bureau carried ten dump trucks of gravel through the gate to the N1 zone, one of the planned sites where new helipads are to be constructed as part of the plan to...

Nakagusuku and Katsuren castle ruins rank among Japan’s best 20 castles

Nakagusuku and Katsuren castle ruins rank among Japan's best 20 castles

August 26, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 25, TripAdvisor, the biggest travel review website in the world, announced the “Top 20 Japanese castles in 2016.” Nakagusuku castle ruins (covers Nakagusuku and Kitanakagusuku villages) ranked 10th and Katsuren castle ruin in Uruma City ranked 11th....