Archive for May, 2018

Recent News

Whale returned to the sea in Nago after six-hour rescue effort by discoverer and Churashima Foundation employees

Whale returned to the sea in Nago after six-hour rescue effort by discoverer and Churashima Foundation employees

May 20, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Nago – A rescue party was spontaneously formed on May 19 after a 4.85 meter-long short-finned pilot whale was found washed ashore at Nago Bay.

The rescue party included the person who initially discovered...

 

Editorial: 46 years after the reversion of Okinawa to Japan, a fundamental change to Okinawan Promotion must be made

May 15, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

On May 15, 1972, Okinawa was returned to Japanese control. In November of 1971, at the 67th extraordinary Diet, also known as the Okinawan Diet, Chief Executive of the Government of the Ryukyus Chobyo Yara submitted a proposal outlining steps to return...

Twice-adopted U.S. singer-songwriter returns to Okinawa after 27 years

Twice-adopted U.S. singer-songwriter returns to Okinawa after 27 years

 

May 18, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Chie Tome

 

“Dear Okinawan mom in heaven, thank you for making me your daughter.

” Crystal Joy Kinjyo (English name Teesa Houston), age 30, is a vocalist, singer, and songwriter of KOLAJ, a band that is based in Los Angeles.

She...

Iriomote Cat killed in traffic accident on Iriomote island for third time this year

Iriomote Cat killed in traffic accident on Iriomote island for third time this year

 

May 5, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

An Iriomote cat, one of Japan’s protected species, was found dead on prefectural route 215 in Taketomi town on Iriomote Island around 6:00 AM on May 4. The cause of death is thought to be by traffic accident, and it is the third case its...

Prefectural citizens’ rally gathers 3500 people protesting military base reinforcement

Prefectural citizens’ rally gathers 3500 people protesting military base reinforcement

 

May 14, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

In the afternoon on May 13 at Ginowan Seaside Park’s Outdoor Theater, the 5/15 Peace March Action Committee and the Okinawa Peace Movement Center held a prefectural citizens’ rally to protect peace and life.

In commemoration...

Born before Okinawa’s reversion to Japan, Michiko Oshiro will be reunited with her ex-Marine father at his grave

Born before Okinawa’s reversion to Japan, Michiko Oshiro will be reunited with her ex-Marine father at his grave

 

May 15, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Hiroshi Massaki

 

A woman began searching for her estranged father, an ex-U.S. Marine, 30 years after she was separated from him shortly after birth in 1969, just before the reversion of Okinawa to Japan.

Her name is Michiko...

JTB to strengthen Okinawa tourism via training of 300 employees in Okinawa

JTB to strengthen Okinawa tourism via training of 300 employees in Okinawa

 

May 8, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

For fiscal year 2018, JTB, the largest domestic travel agency in Japan, is training 300 of their salespersons from all over the country in Okinawa.

These salespersons sell tours at the front line.

The purpose of this training...

Okinawa vice-governor gives progress report on new Okinawa development strategy to make prefecture “the launch pad to Asia,” playing a role in Japan’s economic revitalization

Okinawa vice-governor gives progress report on new Okinawa development strategy to make prefecture “the launch pad to Asia,” playing a role in Japan’s economic revitalization

May 10, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

Looking to solidify the plan to stimulate the Okinawa economy starting 2022 onwards, Okinawa vice governor Moritake Tomikawa delivered a progress report on the new Okinawa development strategy May 9 at the Prefectural Office.

Vice-governor Tomikawa said that...

Hawaii Okinawa Plaza fund raising approaches 100 million yen goal

Hawaii Okinawa Plaza fund raising approaches 100 million yen goal

 

May 10, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

The money raised by the Hawaii Okinawa Plaza Fund Raising Committee for the construction cost of “Hawaii Okinawa Plaza” in Waipahu, Hawaii has reached 91 million yen, which means as of May 9 it has surpassed 90 percent of its 100 million...

Chikako Yamashiro receives prize at international film festival for Mud Man, which depicts the anguish of bearing military bases

Chikako Yamashiro receives prize at international film festival for Mud Man, which depicts the anguish of bearing military bases

May 9, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

On May 8 the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen was held in Oberhausen, Germany.

There, artist and filmmaker Chikako Yamashiro from Naha City, Okinawa was awarded the Zonta Prize for female filmmakers, for her film Mud Man (Tsuchi no Hito).

The...

IUCN defers site spanning Kagoshima and Okinawa nominated for Natural World Heritage status

IUCN defers site spanning Kagoshima and Okinawa nominated for Natural World Heritage status

 

May 4, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition

 

In the early morning on May 4 in Japan, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an advisory body to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), deferred the Japanese government’s...