Archive for March, 2017

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People related to Oshiro in former Ozato Village gather for first time in half century

People related to Oshiro in former Ozato Village gather for first time in half century

March 6, 2017 Celso Akihde Shiroma, Correspondent of Ryukyu Shimpo

On February 12, at the house of Tetsunori Futenma in Kotia near Sao Paulo, Brazil, people related to Oshiro of the former Ozato Village (now Nanjo City) gathered for the first time in half a century. The gathering was the result of a call-out to immigrants and their descendants as part of work to compile an ethnohistory book of Ozato. Participants agreed to keep in touch with each other and cooperate.

Twenty-seven...

 

ODB begins work to set up silt protectors on Oura Bay

ODB begins work to set up silt protectors on Oura Bay

March 11, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On March 10, the Okinawa Defense Bureau (ODB) began work to set up silt protectors in the temporarily restricted area on Oura Bay, Henoko, Nago, to mitigate the impact of construction of a new airfield, which is part of a replacement facility for the U.S. Futenma...

Dawn of new era of Okinawa Karate, celebrated by 700 people with opening of new facility

Dawn of new era of Okinawa Karate, celebrated by 700 people with opening of new facility

March 5, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
Hailed as the home of karate in Okinawa, the birthplace of karate, The Okinawa Karate Kaikan opened March 4 at the Tomigusuku Castle Ruins Park in Tomigusuku. Around 700 people including members of the karate community from both Japan and abroad, and people from...

Court orders Okinawa to cancel documents disclosure decision in Japanese government lawsuit

Court orders Okinawa to cancel documents disclosure decision in Japanese government lawsuit

March 7, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo 

On the morning of March 7 the Naha District Court handed down a decision in the case concerning the Okinawa prefectural government (OPG) decision to disclose an agreement between the governments of Okinawa, Japan, and the U.S. on the use of prefectural road 70,...

Walking underwater in Okinawa with google underwater street view

Walking underwater in Okinawa with google underwater street view

March 2, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

The online search engine, Google, added eight underwater sites around Okinawa to the company’s map application, Underwater Street View. The application provides underwater panoramic views and lets its users enjoy “taking a walk” around sites including the...

Anti-Henoko activist released after being detained for more than 3 months

Anti-Henoko activist released after being detained for more than 3 months

March 8, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On March 8, 66-year-old Hiroshi Inaba, who has been active in the protest against construction of the new base in Henoko, Nago, which is part of the relocation of the U.S. Futenma airfield in Ginowan, was released after being detained in the Naha Detention Center...

Furusato taxes reach record high, continuing to rise since Onaga administration

February 26, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

Donations to Okinawa Prefecture’s “Chura Yuimaru Donation,” part of the Furusato Tax Program, which allows residents to divert part of their residence and income tax to a local government of their choice, are increasing. In the fiscal year 2016, as of the...

Okinawa Karatekaikan, new sacred place for Karate practitioners

Okinawa Karatekaikan, new sacred place for Karate practitioners

March 6, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

The highly-anticipated inauguration of Okinawa Karatekaikan was held on March 5. With the building open to the public, Karate groups showcased their exercises. Those who visited the building said they were happy to see it completed.

Kazuhiko Shimoji of Shorinryu...

Sanshin Day: citizens perform traditional music and dance in front of Henoko gate, as protesters resolve to use the power of culture to stop new US base

Sanshin Day: citizens perform traditional music and dance in front of Henoko gate, as protesters resolve to use the power of culture to stop new US base

March 4, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawa Henoko New base construction Sanshin Day

On the morning of March 4, Sanshin Day, an Okinawan musical instrument concert was held in front of gate of Camp Schwab at Henoko, Nago, where citizen groups have been staging a sit-in-protest against construction...

Pointing out the contradiction of deploying Ground Self-Defense Forces

Pointing out the contradiction of deploying Ground Self-Defense Forces

February 28, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On February 28 at the Diet, a citizens group that opposes the Ground Self-Defense Force being deployed to the Nansei Islands held negotiations with the government requesting that the troops be removed. The citizens group pointed out the government’s contradiction....

Aircraft circle private property in Ginoza despite local appeals against use of nearby helipad

Aircraft circle private property in Ginoza despite local appeals against use of nearby helipad

March 3, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On March 2, aircraft from Futenma Air Station including MV-22 Osprey vertical takeoff and landing aircraft conducted low-altitude flight training at a helipad commonly called “Falcon” in the vicinity of Ginoza Village, Shirohara Ward. At its highest the sound...